4 weeks post-op tummy tuck swelling, should I be concerned? (Photos)

Based on your pictures it looks like you do have lots of swelling, I recommend you continue to follow up with your PS.

Thank you for your question and for sharing your post-op experience. Based on what you’ve described and your photos, it appears that the swelling you're experiencing is normal for being 4 weeks post-op. At this stage, you are still in the early phases of healing, and it’s quite common to have significant swelling, especially in the lower abdomen and pubic area.

Swelling after a tummy tuck, particularly when combined with liposuction, can persist for several weeks or even months. The “pooch” at the bottom you’re concerned about is likely caused by fluid retention and inflammation, which is part of the body’s natural healing process. Even though the swelling may seem excessive compared to other post-op photos, every patient heals differently, and the location of your incision being lower into the pubic area can also contribute to more noticeable swelling in that region.

Since your doctor has not expressed any concerns during follow-ups, this likely indicates that there is no need to worry at this point. However, it’s important to keep monitoring the swelling, and if it worsens or becomes painful, don’t hesitate to reach out to your surgeon again.

I hope this provides some reassurance and helps you through your recovery process.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Hi, Thank you for your post. Congratulations on your surgery. It is hard to tell you what is going on without seeing what you looked like prior to surgery. It does appear to be a little more swelling than normal. I would recommend follow up with your plastic surgeon to make sure that everything is healing properly and that you do not have any fluid collecting in that area.