Is my mini tummy tuck swelling normal?

Question

I had a mini tummy tuck with no muscle repair or lipo. The only problem I had was a pouch of fat that hung over right in the middle below my belly button. When I looked at my stomach right after the surgery I was very pleased. It was perfect, completely flat. As a week went by I started to swell mostly at both areas of my hips. Now it looks like I have two indents at the outer part of the scar on both sides. Will this swelling go away? And should it eventually look like it first did?

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.
As always, it is best to be seen in person ( by your plastic surgeon) for precise diagnosis and treatment.
Generally speaking, abdominal wall "swelling" after tummy tuck may be related to:
1. Swelling in the soft tissues.  This may take several months to resolve and may worsen with increased activity  or at the end of the day.   Patience  is required to allow for resolution of the swelling. The swelling occurs because of the interruption of venous and lymphatic channels that occurs during the tummy tuck operation.
2. Fluid accumulation in the space between the skin and the abdominal wall muscle.  this may consist of blood ( hematoma)  or serum (seroma).  This fluid accumulation can generally be diagnosed by physical examination ( occasionally ultrasound  may be helpful).  Treatment consists of aspiration;  several episodes of aspiration may be necessary. 
3. Separation of the abdominal wall muscle repair may lead to a swelling/bulge appearance. This may be diagnosed on physical examination  with your surgeon examining you in different bodily positions. One of the steps of a tummy tuck procedure involves reapproximation (plication)  of the rectus muscles.  These muscles have spread apart during pregnancy and/or weight gain. Bringing them together again in the midline helps to “tighten” the abdominal wall as well as to narrow the waistline.
4. Residual adipose tissue may be confused for swelling. Again this is most easily diagnosed by physical examination. Additional liposuction surgery maybe necessary to improve the results of surgery.
Generally, it takes many months for swelling to resolve after tummy tuck surgery and it may take up to one year  (or greater)  a complete skin redraping  to occur.
I hope this helps.

M. Dean Vistnes, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

At only a few weeks you certainly have swelling that would mask the result of your surgery. I tell my patients to be careful about salt intake as this can make swelling worse. It can easily take 2-3 months to begin to see your final results after a surgery like you had.  Be sure to keep any scheduled follow up appointments you have with your surgeons for his evaluation and advice. Good luck, Dean Vistnes.

Vincent D. Lepore, MD (retired) · Answer

It can take several months, following a mini tummy tuck, to see the final shape.  If you are just a few weeks post op ask you doctor to examine you.  If the swelling is due to fluid accumulation, your doctor may be able to aspirate the fluid with a syringe.  It is not unusual for the fluid to show up several days or weeks following the surgery.  If you were initially flat, right after your surgery, I think this will be close to your final result once everything has healed.  Best wishes.

Is my mini tummy tuck swelling normal?

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Is my mini tummy tuck swelling normal?

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Everything you need to know about Mini Tummy Tuck

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