Hard lump under incision? Could it be scar tissue? Should it be going away by 3 months?

The firm lump you are feeling is common following a tummy tuck.   As mentioned, fat necrosis in one likely culprit.    This occurs because of poor blood supply in the area, and/or, a fat lobule is trapped in the closure sutures.     Often these do get better over time and sometimes go away.         If it bothers you after a year or so, talk to your plastic surgeon about possibly excising it in the office. 

Hi there,
What you experienced is not uncommon as all healing and scarring takes 12-18 months to fully mature!
The scar will fluctuate in a variety of subjective and objective ways especially in the first 6 month post op recovery period. I think what you're describing is consistent with some internal induration from the internal scar tissues and provided all your surgical wounds are healing well and strong, you should try some aggressive localised massage with bio-oil to help soften the area. Mechanical modulation at this post op period can be quite effective but of course it'll be best to double check with your surgeon at your next post op follow up visit.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes
Ellis Choy

Hello and thank you for your question. It is good to hear that otherwise your healing has gone well. I would first off recommend that you request to be seen in the next few weeks so that your plastic surgeon can examine you - they, having performed your surgery, may have more insight to the lump based on the location and how the area feels and what was done during the surgery. It could be a deeper layer suture or an area of fat. If the area is painless and the appearance of the overlying skin is normal that is reassuring; however, your surgeon should be able to provide more insight. Best of luck to you!

Hi there, I'm glad to hear that your healing has been fairly textbook. A lump under your incision can also be a typical outcome of surgery. It could be an accumulation of fluid, called a seroma. It could also be a deposit of fat, which tends to have a stiffer, 'hard', feeling. If it's really close to the incision site it might be tissue surrounding a suture.
In any case, it's best to consult with your surgeon to determine what exactly the lump represents, and what your options are for treating it.

Hello! Thank you for your question.
The lump in the pubic region is scar tissue and inflammation, often associated with absorbing sutures deeper under the tissue. This is often more notable in this area because of the hair follicles in the pubic region which house inflammatory cells, so there is gently more inflammation in this area. The other possibility is that it is a lymph node helping the area heal. Three months is a normal time to see this. It typically takes around 4 months for the early phase of wound healing to end. I recommend you massage this area well in the shower for several minutes to help smooth lumps. If the area becomes red, tender or drains you should consult with your plastic surgeon.

This is not unusual. It may represent a slowly dissolving suture, or a small cyst, or some fat necrosis. Massage is the best option the early post-op phase. Have your surgeon re-evaluate at 6 months, if still persists, it and can be excised in the office.

Thank you for your question.It is possible that it is scar tissue, at 3 months you are still healing. There is still swelling present as well at 3 months. I would recommend having the lump looked at in person to determine exactly what is going on. 

thank yu for your question,
this scar tissue is really common after a tummy tuck, it will take around 6 to 12 months but with the help of a massage everyday you can accelerate the healing process.

good luck!

Thank you for your question.  It is normal to have some scar tissue under the incision line.  Typically swelling can last 6-8 months after surgery.  I typically will do a kenalog (cortisone) injection into the area when it is proper time and also typically recommend doing some massage in the area.  I would recommend following up with your surgeon and address your concern and see what they recommend.  Best of luck to you. 

Thank your for posting your question. It is impossible to evaluate without an examination or at least some photos. But if it is scar tissue, this is not uncommon. The healing process for a Tummy Tuck takes months. It can even take a full year in some cases. Please be patient. Time plus massages and pressure on that spot should help. But most importantly, please inform you plastic surgeon so he or she can evaluate you in person.Best of luck,Dr. Miguel Mota