Excess skin on upper abdomen AFTER extended Tummy tuck? (photos)

It is advisable to keep using your compression garment. I recommend my patients wear their garments for a minimum of 3 weeks full time then for 12 hrs (day or night). if not a lot of redundant skin following liposuction to a maximum of 6 weeks. To be effective the garment needs to fit snug but not too tight as to cause pressure problems (inspect your skin if discomfort and when skin is exposed), or prevent you from sleeping.Swelling which could appear to be excess skin 5 months post op is possible but you should check with your surgeon just to be sure. #tummytuck#tummytuckpostop

Thanks for your question.  I would highly recommend that you let your surgeon know your concerns and listen very closely to his/her response.  If you are not happy with the response (or if the response doesn't make sense), you should seek out a qualified plastic surgeon for a second opinion.  Based on what I see in this picture, its unlikely that this will settle out with time.  You really need to be seen in person to determine the cause of this finding presented in the picture.  Best of luck to you.  

Hello, couple of quesions... did you have much laxity to your upper abd before surgery... and did you lose a large amount of weight before surgery. If your answer is yes to either of those, then you may have been a candidate for a fleur de lis abdominoplasty which removed excess tissue in the central abd using an additional vertical incision. If you fail to improve with conservative compression and time...you may need the fleur de lis abdominoplasty to address the skin.I would discuss this with your PS. Good luck. 

This could be a side effect of swelling. Try wearing your compression garment and be really careful with salt intake in your diet. See if that helps over the next couple of weeks. If not, schedule an appointment to see your surgeon. Best, Dr. Nazarian

While healing after tummy tuck there is a range of swelling that can be normal. In my opinion, I would suggest that you continue to wear a garment for compression to help with your swelling. Sometimes diuretics help for fluld retention. It is important to discuss your concerns with your surgeon.

You had skin removed in the vertical direction and then had your horizontal excess re-draped over your abdomen.  This is the usual way that the surgery is done and the results you see should improve.  An alternative would have been to take out the horizontal skin excess as well.  This would have left you with an unattractive vertical scar.

It is not possible to determine why you have what you see. Photos show that at this juncture you have vertical skin excess. It can only be corrected with a vertical skin excision. That will need a mid line vertical incision on your entire abdomen. 

Dear txmommy2015:It would be helpful to review your before photos.   First, you are only 5 weeks from your surgery so you need to give more time to allow for healing and resolution of postop swelling.    This could be from under-dissection in the upper tummy area or it could be from residual excess that you had before surgery.    There are some limitations on what a tummy tuck can treat in the upper abdomen in severe cases of excess skin. Hence a review of your before photos would be helpful.   If this does not get better with time, options include a fleur de lis incision (midline incision to tighten loose skin) or a reverse tummy tuck (with a breast crease scar).  But before you opt to do anything, please give it more time.  follow-up with your PS as scheduled.  Best wishes,Dr. BasuHouston, TX

In your presented case ONLY IN PERSON second opinions could allow a response....>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hi, there.You are early in your recovery course.Your result will improve with time.However, if you still have excess skin that bothers you in 6 months, you may be a candidate for FDL (fleur de lis) tummy tuck.Please share your concern with your plastic surgeon and follow up with him/her closely.Best regards.