Pain, Swelling and Spasms 2 Weeks Post-Tummy Tuck - Normal?

Question

I have been feeling great and am two weeks post op tt. So yesterday morning I did alittle house work. Well last night I felt very swollen with spasms. I did have muscle repair with lipo. The Dr removed twelve pounds! I had three big boys and lost about sixty pounds. I do wear a compression garmet. I was very fatique and am late for my mestral cycle(not prego had tubal). I do have bad cramping during that time of the month. Is this normal? Do pain and swelling of abdomen have to do with this?

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

It is common at this stage in your recovery to experience these symptoms.  Please limit your physical activity if you would like to reduce their severity. You should begin adding a bit more physical activity slowly and gradually.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.
	As always, it is best to be seen in person ( by your plastic surgeon) for precise diagnosis and treatment.
	Abdominal wall "swelling" after tummy tuck may be related to:
	1. Swelling in the soft tissues.  This may take several months to resolve and may worsen with increased activity  or at the end of the day.   Patience  is required to allow for resolution of the swelling. The swelling occurs because of the interruption of venous and lymphatic channels that occurs during the tummy tuck operation.
	2. Fluid accumulation in the space between the skin and the abdominal wall muscle.  this may consist of blood ( hematoma)  or serum (seroma).  This fluid accumulation can generally be diagnosed by physical examination ( occasionally ultrasound  may be helpful).  Treatment consists of aspiration;  several episodes of aspiration may be necessary. 
	3. Separation of the abdominal wall muscle repair may lead to a swelling/bulge appearance. This may be diagnosed on physical examination  with your surgeon examining you in different bodily positions. One of the steps of a tummy tuck procedure involves reapproximation (plication)  of the rectus muscles.  These muscles have spread apart during pregnancy and/or weight gain. Bringing them together again in the midline helps to &ldquo;tighten&rdquo; the abdominal wall as well as to narrow the waistline.
	4. Residual adipose tissue may be confused for swelling. Again this is most easily diagnosed by physical examination. Additional liposuction surgery maybe necessary to improve the results of surgery.
	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.

Sugene Kim, MD, FACS · Answer

It is normal to have pain, swelling, and spasm 2 weeks after tummy tuck especially if you have exerted your body (with house work). Patients will have pain after tummy tuck. Most of my patients take pain medication for about 1-2 weeks; 3 weeks if their pain threshold is low. Swelling is expected after tummy tuck. With liposuction, swelling will persist longer. If you do activities, swelling will increase as well. Spasm is also common as tummy tuck involves tightening the abdominal muscle. Continue wearing your compression garment and avoid too much physical activities.

Lawrence Bundrick, MD (retired) · Answer

Its not uncommon for the abdomen to respond with additional swelling and spasms after the first real physical exertion post abdominoplasty and liposuction.  Any new symptoms (that are different from the average expectations given to you in your post operative guidelines) should always be reported to your surgeon.   Some of this could also be related to  pre-menstrual bodily changes as well.  Since you have had a  tubal ligation, your menses could be late or disrupted from the stress of surgery and anesthesia.

Pain, Swelling and Spasms 2 Weeks Post-Tummy Tuck - Normal?

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