Failed tummy tuck (muscle repair) or swelling? (Photo)

Thank you
very much for your question and photograph. At seven weeks’ post-op, you are still
experiencing significant swelling, and this can be expected to potentially continue
for six months or longer. However, without an in-person examination, it is hard
to provide any more meaningful advice regarding your recovery. I recommend that
you contact your operating surgeon with your concerns.

It is difficult to determine based on your photos. You should continue to follow up with your surgeon who can best assess whether this is a seroma, swelling or just weakened muscle plication.

Thank you very much for sharing your concerns with us.At this point (2 months post-po) the swelling can still be present.To reduce it, I recommend you perform daily lymphatic drainage massage therapy over the abdomen and wear a postoperative girdle from thigh to the breasts.If after six months post-op, I recommend you send us your photos again, to give you more information about how we can solve this problem.Kind regards,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Thank you for your question and series of photographs and I am sorry that your results have not been what you anticipated.  It is difficult without an in-person examination to determine what may be taking place.  Most commonly this is residual swelling from surgery which will spontaneously resolve but it would be important to voice your concerns to your surgeon to ensure that other issues are not taking place - discrete fluid collection, muscle laxity, or residual adipose tissue. 

First, it would be nice to see preop photos, second you are likely pretty swollen as well. Best to give it more time.

I am sorry to hear about your concerns. Online consultants will not be able to differentiate intra-abdominal adipose tissue,  muscle laxity,  residual subcutaneous adipose tissue, from persistent swelling…  Generally speaking, 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. 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 “tighten” the abdominal wall as well as to narrow the waistline. Separation of the abdominal wall plication is very unusual.



 



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.



 



Best wishes. 

It is impossibly to say at this point in your recovery. Only being 7 weeks post op, you will still have quite a bit of swelling. This swelling can last 6 months to a year. Make sure you are keeping all of you post op appointments with your surgeon and follow all of his/her instructions.