18 months after tummy tuck. Stomach protruding, tight pulling feeling is present. Would muscle repair retightening help?(photos)

Thank you for your question regarding a protruding tummy one and half years after a tummy tuck. From your pictures and your history, it sounds like the abdominal. Sutures positioned to repair the rectus abdominis muscle have either weakened or come loose. This may or may not have had to do with constipation. It may also have to do with the suture used; if your plastic surgeon had used absorbable sutures, the sutures would have dissolved. Instead, most plastic surgeons use permanent sutures to prevent problems like this. Since the abdomen is protruding a year and a a half after your tummy tuck, I suggest a revision abdominoplasty. This would primarily concentrate on muscle repair and decreasing the anterior distension of your abdomen. This should be done with permanent sutures in a two-layer suture from your sternum to your pubic region. I hope this helps answer your question about a protruding stomach after a tummy tuck.

Dear ananevasophia,
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

Typically, once the muscles are tightened, they do not loosen easily. It sounds like you may have some food allergy issues causing bloating and constipation. Please discuss this with your family physician.

It may be that your muscle repair has failed and needs to be revised. Another influence could be if you gained weight since your surgery. If your weight has been stable it may be the strain from the constipation was too much for the repair. I encourage you to visit with your surgeon for an evaluation.

It is possible that the diastasis repair has loosened. This can happen when you have constipation or a lot of swelling inside the abdomen. It is worth seeing your plastic surgeon to discuss. Doing a second repair of the muscle may be the answer but it is hard to tell based on pictures alone.

Based on your photos and your description it seems like the muscle repair may have loosened or completely broken down. I think you should go back to your original surgeon if you can and get evaluated to ensure that is truly the issue.

Hi ananevasophia. From what you are describing, it sounds like the muscle repair may have broken. This can happen especially if the sutures used in the repair were absorbable. You may need to undergo a muscle repair again, which would involve opening up the abdominoplasty incision (another surgery).

Hi and welcome to our forum!Although 12 months is a long time after surgery to expect recurrent muscle separation due to muscular suture line disruption after abdominoplasty, it indeed a possibility, especially with your history of development after bearing down when constipated. You may wish to schedule a follow up examination by your plastic surgeon to determine its cause and to treat if necessary.Best wishes....