9 months post op, do I need a TT revision? I have to constantly suck my tummy in hard to make it look anywhere near flat.

Question

Hi, in June 2021 i had surgery for lipoabdomialplasty, which included muscle repair. Eveything went well and my ps said id had a 9cm gap to repair. Straight after surgery my tummy was tight and flat.... now, 9m down the line my skin i flabby again and i have to constantly suck my tummy in hard to make it look anywhere near flat like it 1st was. My ps insists my muscles are where he put them and that my muscles just dont work and nothing needs doing. Im so sad, do i need a 2nd opinion???

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Charming605751,
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

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Very hard to advise with just some photos. Best in person opinion or at least a virtual consult. Expect revision full TT with completion of muscle plication $10,000. If lipo can improve that fee $5,000-$8,000.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Patients who bulge after a while done tummy tuck typically do so because of excess visceral fat pushing against the muscle wall. Often this presents with fullness in the upper abdomen but it can be in the mid abdomen as well though rarely in the lower abdomen.

Weight loss will reduce the visceral fat and allow your abdominal wall to be straight without effort.

One way to assess whether a bulging abdomen is due to visceral fat or insufficient muscle tightening is the press against the abdomen until it’s flat and see if this requires much pressure. Likewise if pressing the abdomen flat by someone else creates a feeling of having a full abdomen with difficulty to take a deep breath comfortably then this would be consistent with excess visceral fat taking up space inside the abdominal cavity.

If your surgeon did a 9 cm repair then most likely this represents visceral fat and weight loss is the way to fix it.

Without an examination or having seen how the procedure was performed it’s hard to make an assessment other than it looks like a well done tummy tuck.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

9 months post op, do I need a TT revision? I have to constantly suck my tummy in hard to make it look anywhere near flat.

Answers (3)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck Revision

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

9 months post op, do I need a TT revision? I have to constantly suck my tummy in hard to make it look anywhere near flat.

Answers (3)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck Revision

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.