I Am 8 Days Post Op from a Full Tummy Tuck but when I Touch my Belly It Feels Like a Water Bed?

Swelling can indeed give the impression of having a waterbed on the abdominal wall. This will subside. No treatment is necessary unless a seroma develops under the flap.

It sounds like you have fluid collecting.  I typically leave the drains in longer than 24 hours to drain the fluid that collects from the surgery.  You should make an appointment with your PS so he can aspirate/drain it in the office.  ac

If it feels like a waterbed, there is likely some undrained fluid, and that would need to be addressed by your surgeon. Pass this info along and set up an office visit. All the best. 

This is a classic seroma after the drains are removed from a tummy tuck. It will need to be aspirated in the office and most likely several aspirations will be needed over the next few weeks until the internal fluids stop seeping from the tissues

Tummy Tucks are a wonderful way to contour your abdomen.  After surgery edema or swelling is present.  Also, fluid collection known as Seroma may occur.  Both may result in a feeling that is similar to touching a water bed.  In many instances, fluid collection will become progressively larger. A small collection may be treated with a simple needle aspiration.  If needle aspirations do not work or if the collection is moderate, then drains may be placed in the office. The best solution is to consult your Plastic surgeon as soon as possible.  Your Plastic Surgeon will be able to diagnose a fluid collection or post-op edema.  Best wishes!

Every body responds differently to surgery.  Most patients will have some swelling after a tummy tuck.  Compression garments and ice frequently help.  Some people may have more pronounced swelling of the soft tissues or a fluid collection (seroma).  Your plastic surgeon is very comfortable  taking care of all these situations.  My recommendation is to call and go in for a visit.

With the story you describe, you most likely have a seroma, or fluid collection under your skin.  The fact that your tummy looks like a "waterbed" is characteristic of this.  That is called a "fluid wave," and it happens because the fluid cannot be reabsorbed as fast as it is produced under the skin.  Drains are placed to help prevent this by carrying that fluid away until the body can absorb it, and usually when they are placed, they stay longer than 24 hours.  Sometimes we will use internal sutures which may make it possible to remove drains earlier or not use them at all, but you would have to ask your surgeon if this was done in your case as it is not always done by all surgeons.  Seromas aren't dangerous, but they should be drained so that the tissues will eventually heal normally and there won't be a chronic fluid collection.  Best to have your surgeon evaluate this sooner rather than later. Good luck.