How Long Does Tummy Tuck Surgery Swelling Last?

Thank you for your question. 

It is very common to get swollen in the lower abdomen after tummy tuck.  There are a number of factors involved.  In the early phase the abdomen may seem bloated because many of the narcotics used for pain can slow down the GI tract and cause bloating or  constipation.  This will generally resolve itself within a few weeks.

In the second phase, the tissues above the lower abdominal scar become swollen because the scar tissue stops fluid from migrating downwards.  The peak of the scar  tissue is about 12 weeks after surgery.  This can also be the peak of the puffiness.  As the scar tissue matures over 6 to 12 months the fluid in the lower abdomen can travel more normally  and the swelling diminishes. While most patients will see a dramatic decrease in swelling about 12 weeks after surgery, the swelling can even improve out to a year. 

Lastly, the final healing process of the tummy tuck is the abdominal wall stretching again as it decides how tight it can remain after muscle tightening.  Even after tightening, the abdominal wall will relax somewhat and find a new equilibrium. As one might expect slender people tend to stay flatter than people to carry more weight inside the abdomen.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

 

 

 

Swelling after a tummy tuck is completely normal and expected, especially in the first few weeks following surgery. Most of the swelling typically begins to go down within the first month, but some degree of swelling, especially in the lower abdomen, can persist for several months. You may notice that it fluctuates throughout the day, often being more pronounced by the evening. For most patients, the majority of the swelling resolves by about 3 to 4 months post-op, although it can take up to a year for all the swelling to fully subside. Wearing your compression garment as directed, staying active with light walking, and following all post-operative instructions can help speed up the recovery process. If you ever notice increased swelling, firmness, or asymmetry, be sure to let your surgeon know, just to rule out any complications like fluid collections.

Swelling after a tummy tuck is a normal part of the healing process and can vary in duration. Generally, the majority of swelling subsides within the first few weeks to a month. However, it's not uncommon for some degree of swelling to persist for several months after the procedure.

By three weeks, as in your case, you should have noticed a decrease in initial swelling, but it's normal to still have some present. The timeline for complete resolution of swelling can extend up to a year, with gradual improvements over this period.

Each person's recovery is unique, and factors like individual healing processes, the extent of the surgery, and adherence to postoperative care can influence the duration of swelling. For the most personalized advice, it's best to consult with your plastic surgeon, as they are familiar with your specific case and can provide guidance tailored to your recovery.

Depending on the extent of the procedure, the bruising is usually minimal in my patients, but swelling can last several months or more. That is normal. If there are any concerns, please reach out to your surgeon.

This is a great question and one that I always draw my patients attention to before the operation.I tend you say that you look at your best in the first few hours after your operation. The swelling then begins to start and usually continues to get worse up until 6 weeks after the operation and then starts to get better and you will be back to your best by 3 - 6 months post op. Things to reduce the extent of the swelling is not overdoing things in the first 6 weeks.Wear you compression garments religiously in the first 8 weeks and ideally carry on till 6 months, if possible and I recommend as tailored regime regarding this depending on recovery.A tip to speed up the recovery is to get some lymphatic massage but speak to your plastic surgeon for guidance on this and see if it will be appropriate for you.So don't be disheartened at the 3 weeks stage, thinks may get a little bit worse over the next few weeks but then things will start getting better and it will be great at 3 - 6 months.

Swelling after Tummy tuck can last as long as 4 months. During the first 2 weeks there is a mixture of tissue swelling and stomach bloating. Tissue swelling can be worse if liposuction was performed at the same setting. For Lipo-abdominoplasty patients I usually recommend early lymphatic drainage massage (LDM). For patients undergoing drainless TT with a quilting technique, I encourage early mobilisation and I find LDM combined with a compression garment to be very beneficial in reducing the swelling. Once the bloating subsides, usually after 10-12 days, the tissue swelling will also start to gradually reduce. During the first 12 weeks some patients notice that the swelling becomes much worse later in the day, especially when they have been up and about during the day, This type of oedema should get better in the morning after sleep and should not be confused with seroma. Seroma is fluid collection which is present all day and is unlikely to go without aspiration. The tissue oedema will continue to improve and by 12 weeks, when healing has occurred and the scar tissue has settled, most of it will be gone. The good news is that a TT is a thing that keeps on giving! If you maintain a balanced diet and exercise regularly after you recovered from surgery your result will continue to improve.

A tummy tuck procedure needs post op binder to help with swellings. I recommend a first stage binder for 6 weeks and a second stage binder for 4-6 months to give you a good result. Generally swelling is down to acceptable level to start light duties in 2-3 weeks and should be able to do all normal activities in 6 weeks. For exercise involving lifting weights it is advisable to wait for 3 months

The swelling experience following abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), will present differently for each patient. Following surgery, you will expect swelling to peak between day 3-5. You may experience a feeling of bloating and tightness. We recommend wearing a compression garment to ensure we can maximise the reduction of swelling following surgery. We arrange a compression garment for you prior to surgery. Swelling will start to reduce three weeks post-surgery. You will start to feel more like yourself. The swelling will then further reduce over time but can last up to 6 months, and it can take this long to see the overall outcome of the surgery

Hello and thank you for your question.  You will notice swelling for a few months to a year after surgery. This does not mean you will noticeable swelling to others this far out but swelling you will notice if you are active. Best of luck!

Swelling after tummy tuck usually lasts 3-6 months, although you should see a lot of improvement by 3-4 weeks . Thank you for your question. Dr H 

Thank you for your question. Swelling can last anywhere up to 3 months, however, swelling tends to improve between 3-6 weeks. Please refer to your surgeon with post op and care instructions.