Can a tummy tuck cause intestinal adhesions?

A standard tummy tuck is completely above the muscles and internal organs are never exposed.  More commonly, constipation results from pain meds and change in abdomen from the tightening.Close follow up with your plastic surgeon is recommended.

Hello,Thank you for your question. An Abdominoplasty procedure does not involve your intestines or anything inside the abdominal cavity. Regarding your bowel issues you will need to see a specialist who can investigate causes further for you.All the best

 The short answer to your question is no. Typically when a tummy tuck is performed we stay completely outside of the abdominal cavity. In order for adhesions to form, which is scar tissue within the abdomen cavity,  there has to be an entry into the double cavity. So unless your surgery was combined with hernia repair this would be exceedingly unlikely. 

Dear driven,   Sorry to read about your problem   Intestinal adhesions are caused by intra abdominal scarring that can cause bowel obstruction. If that is tyour case, you have to be admitted  to a hospital and be seen by a general surgeon ASAP, who, hopefully , can relieve the obstruction by non surgical measures.  Plain tummy tuck is performed totally outside the abdominal cavity , so it is extremely unlikely to cause bowel obstruction. However, if the diasthesis recti (muscles separation) was very wide and the surgeon was not careful with the muscles tightening sutures, it could have caught the bowel and cause an obstruction.    Another possibility is if umbilical or epigastric hernias were repaired during the tummy tuck procedure, a bowel could have been caught by the sutures repair.   I can't imagine, that it could occur in the hands of an experienced board certified plastic surgeon. In my 29 years of practice , I never heard about such a complication.    In any event, if indeed you have a bowel obstruction, 'Realself' is not the forum for your care, but rather go to the local emergency room and get medical help.                    All the best,                                        Dr Widder

Intestinal adhesions occur after surgery within the abdominal (peritoneal) space.  A standard tummy tuck does not involve surgery inside this space and therefore cannot cause adhesions.  It sounds like you need a work up from a gastroenterologist.   You did not comment on any other prior abdominal surgery, but that is the most likely cause if you truly have intestinal adhesions.  There are also other unrelated conditions that can cause your symptoms.  

Thank you for your question and I am sorry to hear of your colon issues.  A tummy tuck procedure is performed at the level of a patient's stomach muscles and above and does not involve the intestines or organs that are contained deep to your muscles.  As a result intestinal adhesions can not form.  Hope this helps.  

During an abdominoplasty, the abdominal cavity is not entered, therefor it is not possible to get adhesions from an abdominoplasty.

Thank you for your question. A tummy tuck can not cause intestinal adhesions. Only intra-abdominal surgery can cause adhesions. Please follow up with your plastic surgeon.

No. A surgeon has to actually be inside the abdominal cavity in order for there to be a risk of causing adhesions. In tummy tuck surgery all of the surgery takes place outside of the abdomen unless there is some extensive true hernia repair work being done at the same time.

I'm sorry to hear about the problem you are experiencing. If the constipation does not resolve, make sure your plastic surgeon is aware of the situation; additional help may be necessary. The tummy tuck operation is performed superficial to the abdominal wall muscle and fascia; the intraperitoneal space is not entered and intestinal adhesions cannot result from the procedure. Best wishes for a speedy resolution of the problems you are experiencing.