7 months after TT, should I still be swollen? (Photo)

Question

Tt was oct 17 2021 Im swollen i shud b healed by now I dont know if i should get checked out by my family doctor or not

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @Charming321713 thank you for your question and showing you pictures. I understand your concern. It is important to take into account several aspects among which is the surgical technique applied, and to evaluate if there is something else at a systemic level to make you still swollen. The best course of action is to consult one or several board certified plastic surgeon for more information and options tailored specifically to your needs. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD FACS

Jose A. Munoz, MD · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum!From your photos, I note fullness of the abdomen and flanks. There is a lower abdominal shelf. From the photos, I cannot differentiate among swelling, fatty tissue excess, rectus muscle separation, or excessive adverse scarring. I do see fullness of the flanks, lateral to the tummy tuck, suggesting at least a degree of fatty tissue excess. Unfortunately, the photos were taken with you seated, which may exaggerate the degree of "deformity". It normally takes up to one year for complete healing and subsidence of swelling. An in-person evaluation is required. Revisit your plastic surgeon for examination and discussion.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Charming321713,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a 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

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

You should go back to your surgeon to be checked. What you have may be internal fat and not related to your surgery.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

It can take up to one year for you to see your final results from your tummy tuck.  That being said, the majority of your swelling should have resolved by now.  I encourage you to return to your surgeon to discuss your concerns and determine what may be causing them.

Karl William Schwarz, MD · Answer

Swelling is a very common postoperative problem--it's not really a problem because that is the way the body heals--watch the video for a better explanation--but it is normal. It lasts a long time and I am convinced it lasts for a full year although most of it is gone by 6 months so I would see your surgeon to make sure you don't have a serum for example that needs attention. I would suspect your swelling is not really true swelling but rather internal fat--that's a common problem that patients don't realize is that visceral fat can be mistaken as swelling and it is just visceral fat that can be removed with weight loss.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

It’s difficult to make a quality assessment based on the information provided.

At a minimum consider posting proper before and after pictures.

If you don’t have those then ask your surgeon to forward the ones they took.

It’s also not clear from your post if you had a mini tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck.

If the procedure was a mini tummy chuck then you got a mini result.

Consider re-posting with better pictures, follow up with your plastic surgeon or schedule in person second opinion consultations.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

7 months after TT, should I still be swollen? (Photo)

Answers (7)

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