My doctor determined the muscle repair performed during the TT has come undone. I followed the post-op instructions (no heavy lifting, wore the binder 6 weeks). I'm 14 weeks post surgery. I have the following questions -Is the damage done or will it continue to "unravel" & go back to its pre-surgery condition? -The upper abdomen is bulging, will the lower abdomen eventually bulge also? -At this point is there anything else I can do to attempt to keep it together? Would wearing the binder help?
September 28, 2017
Answer: Recurrent Abdominal Contour Deformity Hello,If in fact this is true, there is nothing you can do surgically until you've healed completely. Things like fluid collections (seromas) and swelling need to be ruled out as a cause. Finally, intra-abdominal fat should be assessed. No repair will be maintained if there is too much intra-abdominal pressure from excess fat stores around your organs. If this is the case, then no revision surgery should be attempted until weight loss has occurred. Best of luck!
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September 28, 2017
Answer: Recurrent Abdominal Contour Deformity Hello,If in fact this is true, there is nothing you can do surgically until you've healed completely. Things like fluid collections (seromas) and swelling need to be ruled out as a cause. Finally, intra-abdominal fat should be assessed. No repair will be maintained if there is too much intra-abdominal pressure from excess fat stores around your organs. If this is the case, then no revision surgery should be attempted until weight loss has occurred. Best of luck!
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Answer: Bulge after tummy tuck: is my muscle repair undone? Your surgeon is the best judge of what may be going on here based on understanding what you looked like preop and how you healed in the early weeks. If the muscle plication has pulled through/unraveled (rare, but it can happen), it is possible the part above the belly button tore through but the part below is intact, or vice-versa (depending on surgeon's technique for repairing the muscle). If this is what happened, it will not tighten itself and you would require revision surgery to repeat the muscle plication. However, it is also possible the bulginess you are seeing is related to intrabdominal fat which is not removed in a tummy tuck, and is only correctable with diet and exercise. You should discuss an action plan with your surgeon and if you are not happy, consider a second opinion.
Helpful
Answer: Bulge after tummy tuck: is my muscle repair undone? Your surgeon is the best judge of what may be going on here based on understanding what you looked like preop and how you healed in the early weeks. If the muscle plication has pulled through/unraveled (rare, but it can happen), it is possible the part above the belly button tore through but the part below is intact, or vice-versa (depending on surgeon's technique for repairing the muscle). If this is what happened, it will not tighten itself and you would require revision surgery to repeat the muscle plication. However, it is also possible the bulginess you are seeing is related to intrabdominal fat which is not removed in a tummy tuck, and is only correctable with diet and exercise. You should discuss an action plan with your surgeon and if you are not happy, consider a second opinion.
Helpful
