Is it OK to continue swelling each week after 9 weeks post op tummy tuck? Was completely flat week 4 but not now (Photo)

Hello. Great question. I am sorry for your post op difficulties. A personal examination is needed to determine if it is swelling or fluid collection. I will suggest scheduling a follow up appointment with your surgeon for a detailed examination.

It's not typical for swelling to resolve and then begin again. You are doing the correct things by keeping in close contact with your surgeon and following post op instructions. From your description your surgeon is monitoring you and exploring potential causes.

It is not uncommon to experience swelling as late as 9 weeks. If you had continued lymphatic massage and compression the swelling would have gone down by now. If not, consider scheduling an appointment again with your board certified plastic surgeon for a re-evaluation and management. 

Sorry to hear that you have this concern.  Glad to hear, however, that you have seen your surgeon to make certain that the protrusion of your abdominal wall is not due to a fluid collection or seroma.  You should know that many patients experience swelling for months after surgery, especially if a lot of liposuction was done as part of the procedure.Consider that the lymphatics, the channels that drain tissue fluid are injured during surgery, so in the early post operative period every patient is swollen.  As the lymphatics heal, the swelling gradually declines.  But then, a few weeks after surgery, patients become more active, as "life gets in the way" and patients return to work, daily responsibilities, even exercise.  With these activities, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood flow increase.  This increase may overwhelm the healing lymphatics, "the plumbing."  Consequently, many patients experience increased swelling weeks after their procedure.  As the lymphatics slowly heal, the swelling will gradually resolve. I would encourage compression and continued lymphatic massage.  Perhaps most important, make certain that you have regular follow up with your surgeon to optimize your post op care.  Good luck!

Thank you for the question. Your plastic surgeon will guide you when it comes to specific postoperative instructions.
When a tummy tuck operation is performed, many of the veins and lymphatic channels that normally drain  the abdominal wall are divided (severed).   After the procedure, the abdominal wall swells because these channels are not functioning.  Initially, after the operation, many patients are "pleased with the results"; as swelling increases, the flatness that they appreciated dissipates for a period of time.
  Longer-term swelling after tummy tuck surgery is not uncommon;  swelling may persist for many months and even up to one year after the procedure is performed. Often, patients will report that the swelling increases as their activity level increases and gets worse later on in the day. Sometimes, the use of compressive garments may be helpful to control the edema.  
I ask my patients to where the abdominal wall binder for one month after surgery;  most patients are eager to “burn” the garment  as soon as possible.  Some patients however prefer to keep  some form of compression garment on for a longer period of time, stating that the garment gives them  a feeling of “security”.  The use of compression garments such as "spanx" may be helpful thereafter.
 Generally, it takes many months for swelling to resolve after tummy tuck surgery and it may take up to one year (or greater) a complete skin redraping to occur.
I hope this helps.

Hi Lara & thanks for your query. It is somewhat difficult to tell based on your side profile photos alone but 9 weeks post op is still within a relatively early period after a major procedure such as an abdominoplasty. From what I can see in your photos, there doesn't appear to be one isolated area that looks swollen but the things to rule out are - abdominal bloating due to decreased bowel activity (a lot of pain medications can cause constipation), seroma formation (a collection of fluid which can often form after an abdominoplasty procedure) and finally, if you had tightening of your abdominal wall, possible dehiscence or rupture of the internal suture line. I'm sure your surgeon would have ruled out these possibilities but if you have ongoing concerns it would be best to discuss with them again at a further review. 

Hi and welcome to our forum!I am sorry that you are experiencing excessive swelling after abdominoplasty. This is not uncommon and results from surgical division of tiny lymphatics and veins during the procedure. Circulation will reestablish itself but during the interim, the swelling can be significant, especially as you resume your normal everyday activities.We recommend compression and lymphatic massage as well as the use of radiofrequency devices to facilitate drainage. It may take up to a year for the swelling to fully subside.Continue followup with your plastic surgeon.Best wishes...