Upper abdomen bulge after tummy tuck. Can this be repaired?

Question

I had a full tummy tuck with muscle repair in January 2020. Healing was going fine for about 2 months, but my belly button has a band across that has become painful and sensitive to any pressure. A recent abdominal CT shows that the muscles around and behind the belly button are open and herniated. Are the muscles behind the belly button normally sewn shut? The overall effect of this also creates a bulge at the top of my abdomen. Is this something that my surgeon failed to close? Can it be repaired?

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

It is not unusual to have hernia before undergoing TT surgery. Usually small hernia is repaired in the course of TT surgery but it can come back. External repair which is done during TT by sawing muscle fascia may not be sufficient and hernia may come back. In your case consultation with general surgeon should be considered since more reliable and longer lasting repair may be done from inside the abdomen, with mesh placement, as an endoscopic procedure. Good luck.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Genuine3545,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment it would be difficult to determine what is wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment. Only after thorough examination you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Only reopening the full Tt to directly repair the disruption of the recti repair can be offered. It is like redoing the operation.. Best to seek in person second opinions with the scans .

Adolfo Sesto, MD · Answer

Hello. Of course the abdominal muscles that runs behind the belly button are tighten in the procedure. Unfortunately without pictures is impossible to give you and advise. Everything can be corrected in plastic surgery. 27-year practice, you may see a video below of some of my cases.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

You need to post pictures if you want us to make an assessment of the outcome of your surgery preferably before and after pictures.

Bulging of the upper abdomen is common in patients who are barrel chested or or overweight with excess  visceral fat.

It can’t happen from the failure of muscle plication in the highest part of the diastases but this is not the most common reason.

Were commonly it’s because of the patient’s anatomy or being overweight.

When doing muscle tightening we have to skip around the belly button to some degree.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

Upper abdomen bulge after tummy tuck. Can this be repaired?

Answers (5)