I had a Mini Tummy Tuck (and some lipo) done in my abs. It appears that the area below the belly button is tight but the upper abs area is loose and fills up quickly after a meal giving me that bulge.
In other words, pre-op, my belly would get fat on the lower half, now its fat on the upper half. I've had the surgery 2 months ago and I am a petite person. Do I have to go back for lipo in the upper abs or will time help me settle some fat back into the lower abs, making me look proportioned again?
Answer: Upper abdominal bulging after mini tummy tuck Liposuction will not likely solve your problem. More likely is the fact that a mini tummy tuck only repairs the muscle below the belly button whereas the full tummy tuck repairs the muscle above and below the umbilicus. The bulging you experience after a meal is due to the unrepaired muscles allowing the upper abdomen to distend whereas the lower abdomen remains restrained by the muscle repair. It is possible that the lower abdominal repair may loosen and ease the difference. Alternatively, you may require tightening of the upper abodminal muscle separation. Liposuction will do little to relieve your symptoms.
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Answer: Upper abdominal bulging after mini tummy tuck Liposuction will not likely solve your problem. More likely is the fact that a mini tummy tuck only repairs the muscle below the belly button whereas the full tummy tuck repairs the muscle above and below the umbilicus. The bulging you experience after a meal is due to the unrepaired muscles allowing the upper abdomen to distend whereas the lower abdomen remains restrained by the muscle repair. It is possible that the lower abdominal repair may loosen and ease the difference. Alternatively, you may require tightening of the upper abodminal muscle separation. Liposuction will do little to relieve your symptoms.
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April 9, 2014
Answer: Full Abdominoplasty Vs. Mini Tummy Tuck When patients have redundant abdominal wall tissue following pregnancy, they will usually require a full abdominoplasty to correct the problem. Although most patients would prefer a lesser procedure very few are good candidates for mini abdominoplasty. Although you have recently had a mini abdominoplasty your current problems suggest that a full abdominoplasty may have been a better option for you. The fact that your lower abdomen is tight and there is an upper abdominal bulge suggest that you have excess upper abdominal skin and weak upper abdominal muscles. These problems would have been addressed with a full abdominoplasty. This procedure would remove any excess skin and tighten the muscles of the upper abdomen. Liposuction would most likely have no impact on your current problems. It’s important that you discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon. Correction of your problem will most likely require conversion of your mini abdominoplasty to a full abdominoplasty with umbilical transposition.
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April 9, 2014
Answer: Full Abdominoplasty Vs. Mini Tummy Tuck When patients have redundant abdominal wall tissue following pregnancy, they will usually require a full abdominoplasty to correct the problem. Although most patients would prefer a lesser procedure very few are good candidates for mini abdominoplasty. Although you have recently had a mini abdominoplasty your current problems suggest that a full abdominoplasty may have been a better option for you. The fact that your lower abdomen is tight and there is an upper abdominal bulge suggest that you have excess upper abdominal skin and weak upper abdominal muscles. These problems would have been addressed with a full abdominoplasty. This procedure would remove any excess skin and tighten the muscles of the upper abdomen. Liposuction would most likely have no impact on your current problems. It’s important that you discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon. Correction of your problem will most likely require conversion of your mini abdominoplasty to a full abdominoplasty with umbilical transposition.
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September 27, 2011
Answer: Mini tummy tuck problem
Thank you for the question.
What you are describing is one of the problems they can be seen after the mini tummy tuck procedure is performed.
In my opinion, the mini tummy talk is an operation that produces very limited results and is very rarely indicated. It involves a shorter incision but does not address the majority of the abdominal wall issues present for most patients who present consultation. For example, the area of skin excised is quite small. The abdominal wall musculature is addressed below the umbilicus leaving the upper number wall potentially lax. The appearance of the umbilicus is not necessarily addressed sufficiently.
For most patients who have had pregnancies and/or weight loss a full abdominoplasty is necessary to achieve the desired results. Of course, there are downsides (including a longer scar and probably a longer recovery time) but for most patients the benefits outweigh the downsides. It is not unusual to see patients who've had mini tummy tuck surgery present for revisionary surgery.
It is important to work with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon to obtain advice (based on good ethics and judgment) to improve your chances of a successful outcome and minimize the need for further surgery.
I hope this helps.
Helpful
September 27, 2011
Answer: Mini tummy tuck problem
Thank you for the question.
What you are describing is one of the problems they can be seen after the mini tummy tuck procedure is performed.
In my opinion, the mini tummy talk is an operation that produces very limited results and is very rarely indicated. It involves a shorter incision but does not address the majority of the abdominal wall issues present for most patients who present consultation. For example, the area of skin excised is quite small. The abdominal wall musculature is addressed below the umbilicus leaving the upper number wall potentially lax. The appearance of the umbilicus is not necessarily addressed sufficiently.
For most patients who have had pregnancies and/or weight loss a full abdominoplasty is necessary to achieve the desired results. Of course, there are downsides (including a longer scar and probably a longer recovery time) but for most patients the benefits outweigh the downsides. It is not unusual to see patients who've had mini tummy tuck surgery present for revisionary surgery.
It is important to work with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon to obtain advice (based on good ethics and judgment) to improve your chances of a successful outcome and minimize the need for further surgery.
I hope this helps.
Helpful
October 20, 2010
Answer: Bulge following a tummy tuck
deborahT,
Sorry to hear about your upper abdomen. A few things are important here. While you are not ecstatic about your upper abdomen, it is still early in the post-operative period. It is prudent to wait at least 6 months before being critical of the outcome. Nevertheless, it may be true that the muscle plication of your upper abdomen was lax. That is, your fascia (layer enclosing the muscle) was tightened more below the navel than above. However, most plastic surgeons either liposuction conservatively or not at all in the region beteen the ribs and the navel. This is the area that supplies blood to the rest of your abdomen as it heals. I would keep close follow up with your physician. Voice your concerns, and give it some time. Depending on the degree of bulging, further liposuction or possibly muscle plication may be required.
Helpful
October 20, 2010
Answer: Bulge following a tummy tuck
deborahT,
Sorry to hear about your upper abdomen. A few things are important here. While you are not ecstatic about your upper abdomen, it is still early in the post-operative period. It is prudent to wait at least 6 months before being critical of the outcome. Nevertheless, it may be true that the muscle plication of your upper abdomen was lax. That is, your fascia (layer enclosing the muscle) was tightened more below the navel than above. However, most plastic surgeons either liposuction conservatively or not at all in the region beteen the ribs and the navel. This is the area that supplies blood to the rest of your abdomen as it heals. I would keep close follow up with your physician. Voice your concerns, and give it some time. Depending on the degree of bulging, further liposuction or possibly muscle plication may be required.
Helpful
Answer: Mini tummy tuck result.... Hi DeborahThanks for your question and sorry you have this concern.Since it's been just 2 months, I would recommend massage and compression garment use for the next few months then reassess at least 6 months after your surgery. If by that time there are still concerns, any post-op edema should have resolved and allow a proper assessment of the issue: if it is residual fat then additional liposuction would address this, but if it is from fascial and skin laxity, a full abdominoplasty may be required.I hope this helps.....
Helpful
Answer: Mini tummy tuck result.... Hi DeborahThanks for your question and sorry you have this concern.Since it's been just 2 months, I would recommend massage and compression garment use for the next few months then reassess at least 6 months after your surgery. If by that time there are still concerns, any post-op edema should have resolved and allow a proper assessment of the issue: if it is residual fat then additional liposuction would address this, but if it is from fascial and skin laxity, a full abdominoplasty may be required.I hope this helps.....
Helpful