Should I have laxity and bulging after full tummy tuck? (photo)

Question

I had a full TT 4 months ago and I am extremely dissatisfied, my stomach bulges out and I find myself having to suck it in if I want a flat profile but as soon as I let loose It drops. When I wear pants my stomach comes up and out over it. I don’t understand if that’s the best I can get or mine wasn’t a good job.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Hello. Great question. Thank you for your picture. However, a personal examination is needed to determine if your bulge is skin laxity, fat, fluid or swelling. Please schedule a follow up appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon for a detailed examination.

Ira H. Rex III, MD · Answer

From your photograph, it does seem like you have some excess laxity after your surgery. There are a number of things that govern this, including the quality of your tissues, intra-abdominal fat, a running suture that may have broken, simply not enough tightening, and others. You should talk to your doctor about your concerns.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear animama,I understand your concern and it is quite normal to be concerned about the outcome following a tummy tuck surgery. However, you are still in the very early stages of the healing process.Your will need to be patient at this moment and follow what your surgeon has instructed you to do post operatively.At the early stage of the healing process, the tissues are still swollen. Once the swelling subsides  you will be able to see the final result of your surgery.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Though it can take longer to see your final results I can appreciate your concern.  I encourage you to speak with your surgeon about this.  It appears that you continue to have muscle wall laxity.  It could be visceral fat as well, but an exam would be needed to determine the underlying cause for the contour.

David Finkle, MD · Answer

Sometimes after a tummy tuck a revision needs to be performed.  I would need to see the before and after pictures and review the operative record to determine what type of tummy tuck was performed and why.  A tummy tuck is wonderful procedure that consists of 3 basic steps:Skin removalAbdominal muscle repairSubcutaneous fat removalThere are many different types of tummy tucks and each tummy tuck is individualized to every patient to obtain the maximum result.  This is an outpatient procedure performed under a general anesthetic.  A break through drug, Exparel, a long acting local anesthetic, is now used on all tummy tucks and alleviates post operative pain for up to 3-4 days.  This speeds up the recovery time and decreases the use of opioid analgesics.I would talk with your surgeon about the results and maybe obtain a second opinion from a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in body contouring procedures.Good Luck!

Christopher L. Hess, MD · Answer

When a tummy tuck is performed, most of the time, we bring the rectus muscles together in the midline with large sutures.  This repairs the diatasis but won't necessarily make the abdomen flat.  The rest is the tension of the muscles.  Even if the diastsis is repaired the abdomen will never be flat if the muscles are flaccid.  The key to a great result is strong abdominal muscles.

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello dear!!
Thanks for the question and provided information as well.
You are still early on the healing process, it can take up to six months to see your final results, so please be patient. At the stage you are in, inflammation is normal.
If you have any concerns, please follow up close with your plastic surgeon.
Good luck :)

Ahmed Abd EL Gawad, MD, FEBOPRAS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Hi, thank you for sending your question and photos. I would be delighted to offer my advice. 
It would be difficult to advice without seeing Your before photos. My impression that you would benefit from muscle tightening again.
I hope this helps.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Although I understand your concerns, it is still too early to evaluate the long-term outcome of the procedure performed. Given your concerns, I would suggest that you focus on strengthening your abdominal wall muscles, under the guidance of your plastic surgeon. In other words, get his/her okay to proceed with abdominal wall strengthening muscles to improve strength/tone. You may notice that with these efforts your abdominal wall contour will improve.  Of course, this is assuming that the abdominal wall plication performed was tight enough and that there has been no disruption. Best wishes for an outcome that you will be pleased with longer term.

Should I have laxity and bulging after full tummy tuck? (photo)

Answers (9)

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