Smaller Stomach After Tummy Tuck?

A properly performed tummy tuck almost always includes repair (tightening) of the fascia (gristle layer) that surrounds the rectus abdominis (6-pack) muscles, since this fascial layer is stretched with pregnancy or larger weight gains. When childbearing is complete, or weight is lost, the loose skin and stretched muscular fascial layers (diastasis recti) allow the intra-abdominal contents to protrude. (An actual hole in the fascial layer is called a hernia.) This "pooching out" is what so many patients seek to improve via tummy tuck.

Of course, each patient is unique, as is their degree of abdominal wall and skin stretch, presence of stretch marks, and amount of intra-abdominal fat (along with their organs) that protrudes, and physical examination determines which patients are the best candidates for tummy tuck.

It sounds as if your abdominal wall was (appropriately) tightened, fitting your organs, and mesenteric and omental fat, into a smaller cylindrical abdominal cavity. So while your stomach is physically the same size, it resides along with the rest of your "innards" in a tightened space, and feels full faster.

Sort of like wearing a tight corset or waist cincher and wondering why you feel full faster!

This is not a bad thing as everything works the same, but you tend to eat less, and will lose weight (or gain less rapidly) with similar exercise habits.

I hope that explanation is clear. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Hi and thank you for your interesting question. I suppose with postoperative swelling and a tightening of your tummy wall muscles you may intially feel fuller with less intake. I don't think it will last though once your swelling settles!

This is a common complaint following tummy tuck. I think the stomach shrinks because the patients are not eating as much as usual following surgery. Also, the tightening of the fascia can leave less room in the abdominal cavity for the stomach to expand.

This is not an unusual sensation after an abdominoplasty.  This occurs due to a tightening of the anterior abdominal wall fascia.  It simply puts more pressure on the internal organs and stomach.  It will gradually resolve.  

Feeling fuller in your stomach is not related to the tummy tuck because that is inside your abdomen and the tummy tuck is performed on the skin, fat, and muscles.  You may feel tightening from the muscle repair and, as you eat, the pressure makes you feel fuller.  You should improve with time.

Malcolm D. Paul, M.D.

Thanks for your question, if you had muscle repair of  abdominal wall muscle with your tummy tuck then you might feel fuller after having meals, you will be better in some days when your body get used to this, Best Wishes!

Are you post weight loss surgery? If so this is not an uncommon problem. If you had lap-band see your bariatric surgeon. If none of the above and your fascia is extremely tight, you may feel full quite easily. This shoul all resolve with time. Make sure you eat small meals and keep up with your fluid intake. Keep in touch with your Plastic surgeon.