I had an extended TT, no lipo, no muscle tightening Had seroma, was aspirated 3x a week and 9 times in total before the seroma stayed away. Now I am free of seroma, but I am disappointed. Pre-Op my surgeon warned me that the scar would end up higher than normal. I did not care, as long as my tummy ended up flat. But I am not flat. My body stores no fat below the incision, but does above, and there is no gradual decrease. Will lowering bodyfat% help to look better ? Will this get better ?
Answer: Not Botched but Not Nice Hello,Here's the straight: You didn't have to have your scar so high, you needed liposuction, and seromas and the use of drains can be eliminated safely from tummy tucks. There is a slow revolution about prioritizing scar placement over removal of old belly button hole. It's aesthetically more pleasing and less conspicuous to have an appropriately placed low transverse scar and a small vertical scar, then a single transverse scar that cuts across the abdominal 'aesthetic unit'. Unfortunately, a majority of surgeons still prioritize removing the belly button hole over proper placement of the long scar.It is well known now that liposuction can safely be applied to the abdominal area without fear of wound healing issues. In addition, direct excision of a deep layer of fat can also be performed as well, both leading to a much thinner and pliable flap that is actually more robust with circulation. Additionally, liposuction could have been performed in the love handle area.Finally, a technique known as progressive tension sutures or quilting sutures are used to maximally and uniformly tighten the skin flap and secure it to underlying muscle so that no drains are required, and seromas virtually never form. I think you would benefit from aggressive liposuction around the waist/love handle area, as well as the abdomen. This will serve to not only thin the tissues but also release the tissue for mobilization downward to lower the entire scar; essentially an entire abdominoplasty revision. However, no drains would be used, and your risk of seroma would be virtually zero.Best of luck!
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Answer: Not Botched but Not Nice Hello,Here's the straight: You didn't have to have your scar so high, you needed liposuction, and seromas and the use of drains can be eliminated safely from tummy tucks. There is a slow revolution about prioritizing scar placement over removal of old belly button hole. It's aesthetically more pleasing and less conspicuous to have an appropriately placed low transverse scar and a small vertical scar, then a single transverse scar that cuts across the abdominal 'aesthetic unit'. Unfortunately, a majority of surgeons still prioritize removing the belly button hole over proper placement of the long scar.It is well known now that liposuction can safely be applied to the abdominal area without fear of wound healing issues. In addition, direct excision of a deep layer of fat can also be performed as well, both leading to a much thinner and pliable flap that is actually more robust with circulation. Additionally, liposuction could have been performed in the love handle area.Finally, a technique known as progressive tension sutures or quilting sutures are used to maximally and uniformly tighten the skin flap and secure it to underlying muscle so that no drains are required, and seromas virtually never form. I think you would benefit from aggressive liposuction around the waist/love handle area, as well as the abdomen. This will serve to not only thin the tissues but also release the tissue for mobilization downward to lower the entire scar; essentially an entire abdominoplasty revision. However, no drains would be used, and your risk of seroma would be virtually zero.Best of luck!
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April 26, 2016
Answer: Unsatisfactory results from a tummy tuck? It is easy to bad mouth another doctor's work. However is not fair to the patient or the other doctor to render an opinion on the standard of care so flippantly. Nor is it wise or reasonable to make promises about how low the incision will be, especially if those promises are exaggerated. You should be frank with your surgeon about your dissatisfaction and see what steps can be taken to make you happier.In your case, it appears you had a full abdominoplasty. In order to make the stomach flatter, you may want to reduce the fat in your abdomen,as well as allow all the swelling from surgery to go away. You may need additional weight loss or liposuction to get the result you are seeking. Excessive liposuction at the time of a tummy tuck can cause wound healing problems and increase the complication rate from surgery. Some patients develop edema above the incision as well. Time often reduces this swelling. It is possible that you might benefit from a revision in 6 months to a year after the surgery was performed. Hopefully you and your surgeon will see eye to eye on what revisions might benefit you further. Requiring or desiring a revision in itself does not mean the surgery was 'botched'.
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April 26, 2016
Answer: Unsatisfactory results from a tummy tuck? It is easy to bad mouth another doctor's work. However is not fair to the patient or the other doctor to render an opinion on the standard of care so flippantly. Nor is it wise or reasonable to make promises about how low the incision will be, especially if those promises are exaggerated. You should be frank with your surgeon about your dissatisfaction and see what steps can be taken to make you happier.In your case, it appears you had a full abdominoplasty. In order to make the stomach flatter, you may want to reduce the fat in your abdomen,as well as allow all the swelling from surgery to go away. You may need additional weight loss or liposuction to get the result you are seeking. Excessive liposuction at the time of a tummy tuck can cause wound healing problems and increase the complication rate from surgery. Some patients develop edema above the incision as well. Time often reduces this swelling. It is possible that you might benefit from a revision in 6 months to a year after the surgery was performed. Hopefully you and your surgeon will see eye to eye on what revisions might benefit you further. Requiring or desiring a revision in itself does not mean the surgery was 'botched'.
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April 25, 2016
Answer: Not "botched"... Congratulations on having undergone the tummy tuck procedure. What you describe is commonly encountered after this procedure. Patients will like their “flatness” immediately after surgery; then, these same patients are disappointed for a period of time once swelling of the tissues occurs. In the longer term (this may take several months and even up to one year), as the swelling dissipates and the skin of the abdominal wall "redrapes" over the smaller underlying musculoskeletal framework. Remember that it takes time for the abdominal wall skin veins and lymphatics to function normally again.
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April 25, 2016
Answer: Not "botched"... Congratulations on having undergone the tummy tuck procedure. What you describe is commonly encountered after this procedure. Patients will like their “flatness” immediately after surgery; then, these same patients are disappointed for a period of time once swelling of the tissues occurs. In the longer term (this may take several months and even up to one year), as the swelling dissipates and the skin of the abdominal wall "redrapes" over the smaller underlying musculoskeletal framework. Remember that it takes time for the abdominal wall skin veins and lymphatics to function normally again.
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April 25, 2016
Answer: Tummy Tuck - Post Op Swelling? Thank you for your question and congratulations on your recent surgery. . You are very early in the post-operative period and swelling is to be expected. It typically takes 3 - 6 months for the swelling to subside and to see your final result. Please discuss your concerns with your board certified plastic surgeon. Also, make sure you follow all of your plastic surgeons post-operative instructions regarding level of physical activity and use of a compression garment. Hope this helps and good luck with your recovery.
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April 25, 2016
Answer: Tummy Tuck - Post Op Swelling? Thank you for your question and congratulations on your recent surgery. . You are very early in the post-operative period and swelling is to be expected. It typically takes 3 - 6 months for the swelling to subside and to see your final result. Please discuss your concerns with your board certified plastic surgeon. Also, make sure you follow all of your plastic surgeons post-operative instructions regarding level of physical activity and use of a compression garment. Hope this helps and good luck with your recovery.
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Answer: Many options were available to you besides the tummy tuck... but that is water under the bridge now. You chose this procedure with your surgeon and knew the scar would be high and it is. But the shelf deformity between the different thicknesses of skin will have to be addressed down the road. Be patient now and focus on healing then when you're healed, talk to your surgeon about revisions.
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Answer: Many options were available to you besides the tummy tuck... but that is water under the bridge now. You chose this procedure with your surgeon and knew the scar would be high and it is. But the shelf deformity between the different thicknesses of skin will have to be addressed down the road. Be patient now and focus on healing then when you're healed, talk to your surgeon about revisions.
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