I'm 5 weeks post op. I had a full abdominoplasty inc. muscle repair. I wore the compression 24/7. My surgeon just told me I no longer need to wear it (great, because I hated it!) However, since removing it I find my abdomin swells after just a couple of hours light activity. The only way to avoid this is to stay lying down (not really a great solution)! The swelling gets worse the longer I'm upright and becomes painful too. Is this normal? How long can I expect this swelling to keep occurring?
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September 5, 2015
Answer: Is it normal after a tummy tuck to swell up more after removing compression garment?
Thank you for the question. The anesthesia should be a consideration for the anesthesologist, plastic surgeon and mainly the patient. I have always had the approach of general anesthesia and Exparel for postoperative pain relief. It's the safest and most comfortable approach.
This is a question you should ask the surgeon doing the tummy tuck. Most patients can manage some stairs but need to be careful about placing stress on the wounds. A good support garment will also help. Good luck. Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgoen
I have had many patients lose up to 30 pounds after tummy tuck without affecting the results. More than tI am not so sure. Losing 20 pounds should not affect the result significantly.