20 weeks post tummy tuck, is this a possible MR failure? (Photos)

Question

Does the bulge in my upper abdomen appear to be muscle repair failure? My stomach was not like this for the first 8 to 9 weeks and suddenly this bulge appeared. My doctor says it is not muscle repair failure but I am left to wonder what it is.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear yayme8217,I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment it would be difficult to determine what is wrong. In most cases this bulge is caused by failed muscle repair or intra-abdominal fat. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment. Only after thorough examination you can get proper recommendations and advice. Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

and its very easy to confirm your muscle repair... do a crunch and if you cannot feel a depression in the midline, your repair is still intact.  Skin is pulled towards the midline with muscle repair as well and this can be addressed with an office revision using liposuction.  Finally, sometimes if the bottom is sutured too snugly, it can make the top protrude a little more.  But all of these will be present from the get go and only a disruption of the muscle repair will produce a marked bulge that was not present initially.  You still have a pretty good result.

Justin B. Maxhimer, MD, FACS · Answer

I’m sorry you are having issues this far out postop.  It’s difficult to tell what is going on without an in-person exam.  it’s not likely that you have a failure in the muscle repair. I would follow up with your PS in their office and make sure it’s not something more acute like a fluid collection or focal swelling.  Good luck!

Richard J. Brown, MD · Answer

Most likely your surgeon is correct. So there is only  so much we can tighten the muscles. Even after that you may have some bulging of the abdominal wall. It usually is what we call visceral fat or internal fat. This is the fat that surrounds your organs. That visceral fat adds volume to the abdomen and pushes out on the abdomen from the inside causing a buglge. The cure..................lose weight. This fat can not be addressed surgically at all by anyone and its quantity is a function of how much extra weight you carry. If you lose 20 pounds you will see that bulge go down, can promise you that. So surgical intervention can get you most of the way there, but you the patient has to do the rest. I think your tummy looks, great and you look great, and if you lose weight on your own your result will be even better! Best of luck.

20 weeks post tummy tuck, is this a possible MR failure? (Photos)

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