1 year 3 months after tummy tuck with lipo & still very tight, will this disappear?

Question

So it's been 1 year and 3 months since ive had my tummy tuck procedure with liposuction. Honestly, i am blown away by the result, i didn't think it was going to be this good but i still feel a lot of tigthness, y stomach feels like a rubber (resistance band) and it just seems like its getting worse and not better everyday. Is it likely, that this will disappear? I mean i knew that i was gonna have a little bit of numbness even after i heal but this is kind of too much.

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @mirakuruyall, thank you for your question.  While it's normal to experience some tightness and numbness after a tummy tuck, the severity and duration of these symptoms can vary from patient to patient.
It's important to keep in mind that everyone's healing process is unique, and some patients may take longer to fully recover from their procedure than others. Additionally, certain factors such as the extent of the surgery, surgical technique and the patient's preoperative characteristics can impact the healing process.  Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS.  American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS), American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP)

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

I'm glad to hear that you're happy with your tummy tuck and liposuction results! Feeling tightness and numbness after a tummy tuck is normal, but it usually improves over time. However, each individual's healing process is unique, and some patients might experience these sensations for an extended period.

At 1 year and 3 months post-op, it's possible that you might still be experiencing tightness due to the natural healing process. One way to potentially alleviate the tightness is by incorporating exercises that focus on stretching and strengthening your abdominal muscles. This can help improve your range of motion and promote a more comfortable sensation in the area.

That being said, I highly recommend discussing your concerns with your surgeon or another board-certified plastic surgeon. They can evaluate your specific situation and provide tailored advice and recommendations.

Thank you for your question, and I wish you the best of luck on your journey to feeling more comfortable.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear mirakuruyall,
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, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

The numbness from your belly button down to your scar will remain. The tightness you feel may be partially do the tightening the muscle. Although you may not want to hear this, gaining weight and then losing the weight may stretch you out enough for some relief.

Jeffrey S. Yager, MD · Answer

15 months and still tight usually means some fibrosis and scar tissue under the skin. Did you have post op massage? I would recommend an evaluation for some post op massage to loosen the tension and break up the scar.

Daniel Schmid, MD · Answer

The tightness you are feeling is likely due to some scar tissue developing.  Everyone develops differing amounts of scar tissue and you may develop more than the usual person.  Having said that the way to combat this is deep massage of the area and stretching/exercise to soften the scar.  The more you massage and use the muscles the more collagen will be converted to softer more organized fibrils of collagen and will make the scar more flexible.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

At a year and three months post op you are fully healed from your surgery.  If you are still experiencing tightness you may want to consider massages and regular stretching exercises.  Remember to go slowly and build intensity gradually.

Nancy de Kleer, MD, FRCSC (Plast) · Answer

It's great that you are blown away by your results.  From time to time we do have patients who feel that things don't feel quite right and are too tight or rubbery after tummy tuck surgery.
I recommend that you massage lotion into the site daily, or twice a day if you can.  This may help you get used to the way things feel, and help your body adjust to the surgery, even now, one year and three months after surgery.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Each individual patient will experience recovery in a unique manner from this procedure. Part of the perception is simply individual variations in how people perceive changes to their body. The experience also differs based on individual patient’s candidacy for the procedure and how the procedure was performed.Most individuals eventually get a custom to the changes as being the new normal and for most patients this happens within the first few years.
Excessive feeling of tightness is often associated with individuals who have excess visceral fat and need to lose weight.
The combination of obesity, surgical muscle tightening and excess visceral fat, create an excessive tight sensation with increased intra-abdominal pressure. 
This usually presents with slight bulging of the abdomen, despite having had a tummy tuck. Without including proper before and after pictures, we can’t begin to make an assessment on the outcome of your procedure or address your candidacy for the procedure in the first place. If you don’t have before, and after pictures, then ask your sergeant to forward the ones they took. A tummy tuck is a permanent and irreversible operation. That probably isn’t much your surgeon can do for you at this point. The key to having consistent high patient satisfaction is to get accurate assessments understanding your own candidacy for the procedure. Some people are far better candidate to have a tummy tuck than others. 
Obesity with excess visceral fat, is one of the most common combinations that leads people to have outcomes described the way you describe your sensations.
Individuals whose weight is well-controlled and don’t have visceral fat issues typically adjust to the procedure better.
If you are above your ideal weight, then weight loss may give you some relief.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

1 year 3 months after tummy tuck with lipo & still very tight, will this disappear?

Answers (9)

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