What’s wrong with my body? 1 year post-op Brazilian butt lift & stomach isn't flat (Photos)

Question

I am one year post op. What is wrong with my body.. I did have a baby about two years ago and was thinking I maybe had diastisis recti.. but I’m just not sure what’s wrong. My stomach is not flat and I have scarring and splotchy discoloration. Am I just taking longer to heal?

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @oliviahansen, thank you for your question. Depending on the surgical technique and approach, there may be some causes of inflammation for a period of time. There are generally predetermined times for a surgery. The early stages of recovery usually happen between the first and second months following surgery, while a full recovery can take up to eight months. The more technology used, the more quickly the tissues recover however it is important the expertise of the surgeon using this technology. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS).

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear oliviahansen,,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Geuris Cruz Quiroz, MD · Answer

Thank you so much for your question. Based on your pictures looks like you need a abdominal muscle repair in order to archived the results you are looking for as a flat abdomen. Have a physical consultation with a board plastic surgeon and talk about your concerns.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Quiroz

Hope this helps.
Dr. Quiroz

Karl William Schwarz, MD · Answer

Your shape is due to internal or otherwise called visceral fat so you can get a flat stomach with weight loss. All of the external fat has been removed with liposuction so the only remaining fat is the internal fat. As for the coloration we can see this after liposuction--it usually will get much better but can take a couple of years to do so.

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

HELLO DOLL, IT IS VERY COMMON FOR WOMEN TO HAVE DIASTASIS OF THE RECTUS ABDOMINALS AFTER GIVING BIRTH AND THAT IS PROBABLY YOUR CASE, HOWEVER YOU NEED BETTER PHOTOS TO EVALUATE YOURSELF BETTER, YOU CAN PROBABLY IMPROVE WITH A TUMMY TUCK

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Based on the posted phots you have split muscles. Best to have open muscle repair as in a TT. Best to virtual consult with . Fee $8,000 because difficult muscle repair ding limited TT.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

There are four variables that determine what someone’s abdomen looks like.In other words if someone doesn’t like their belly it is because of one or more of for different reasons.The four variables are abdominal skin laxity, excess subcutaneous fat, muscle separation from previous pregnancies or excess visceral fat.You don’t have a lot of skin laxity and while your skin is slightly uneven from your previous liposuction it is not contributing negatively to your overall body contour.Your subcutaneous fat layer is thin because you’ve had previous liposuction. At this point your subcutaneous fat layer is probably less than 1/2 inch.That leaves muscle separation and visceral fat and my best guess is you have both.To make an assessment on the outcome of an operation we always need to see proper before and after pictures.If you don’t have a proper before and after pictures and ask your surgeon to forward the ones they took.If your pregnancy was prior to the procedure and your weight has not gone up(Weight should go down after liposuction including the BBL) then the muscle separation and or visceral fat is probably visible on your before pictures.Visceral fat and muscle separation can look similar and to accurately differentiate between the two is best done with an examination.Both visceral fat and muscle separation should’ve been discussed during your in person consultation before your BBL.It’s part of making an accurate assessment and predictively limits what’s possible with Liposuction alone.There are two ways to help differentiate between visceral fat and muscle separation.One is to take your nondominant hand and press your abdomen flat in a standing position. If it takes a significant amount of force or pressure to get your abdomen perfectly straight then visceral fat is contributing.The other way to differentiate is to see what your abdomen looks like when you lay on your back. if it goes flat when you lay on your back then muscle separation is the primary problem and visceral fat is not contributing significantly. if it’s still bulging when you lay on your back then visceral fat is contributing and weight loss is in order.My best guess is you have both excess visceral fat and muscle separation and the best way to handle those is the first successfully lose weight. After successful weight loss you can consider a full tummy tuck.A substantial number of people gain weight after having liposuction procedures whether fat transfer is done or not.It looks like your procedure was fairly aggressive so I’m guessing 3 to 4 L of fat was probably removed. that means you should weigh 6 to 8 pounds less than you did the day of surgery.It’s not uncommon for people to come back six months after the procedure wing exactly the same amount.The brain seems to stimulate eating to compensate for the surgically removed fat.Friend dividual‘s who have moderate amounts of visceral fat this can have a negative consequence making the abdomen appear larger.If you don’t recall your exact weight on the date of surgery then contact your surgeon and ask them to forward your medical records including your operative report, your weight and all of your before and after pictures. you can then compare where you were weight wise compared to today.To get an accurate assessment I suggest having a few in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons.Individuals who have excess visceral fat should reduce their weight and get the visceral fat under control before considering a full tummy tuck.Best,Mats Hagstrom MD

What’s wrong with my body? 1 year post-op Brazilian butt lift & stomach isn't flat (Photos)

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