Jiggly stomach - is it possible for skin and muscle to not reattach?

Hello Charona_91,

Thank you for your question regarding the jiggling sensation in your stomach after your tummy tuck surgery. At 1 year and 6 months post-op, your body should have largely healed from the surgery. The skin and muscle typically reattach well during the healing process. However, a few factors might contribute to the sensation you're experiencing.

Scar tissue formation is part of the healing process, and sometimes scar tissue can form unevenly, which might create areas that feel different or less stable. Additionally, fat can redistribute or remain in certain areas, contributing to the jiggling sensation you feel, especially when lying down. If muscle repair was part of your tummy tuck, it’s possible that the muscle healing is not as tight as desired, which might contribute to some movement under the skin. Lastly, some degree of skin laxity might remain, contributing to the jiggly feeling.

To address these concerns, I recommend an ultrasound examination to get a clearer picture of what is happening under the skin, whether it's fat, fluid, or something else. Although a seroma was ruled out initially, it might be beneficial to get another ultrasound examination. Revisiting your plastic surgeon or seeking a second opinion is also advisable. They can physically assess the area and may suggest additional tests or imaging to diagnose the issue accurately.

Engaging in physical therapy, particularly exercises focused on core strengthening, might help improve muscle tone and reduce the jiggling sensation. Wearing a compression garment might also help by providing additional support and reducing the jiggly feeling. In some cases, a minor surgical revision might be required to address any underlying issues that did not heal as expected.

It’s important to follow up with your plastic surgeon to understand the exact cause of the jiggling sensation. Given your description, it seems unlikely that the skin and muscle have not reattached properly, but a detailed examination will provide clarity. Good luck, and I hope I’ve answered your question regarding the jiggling sensation in your stomach post-tummy tuck.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS
Plastic Surgeon

Hello! No, this is not possible, your skin and muscle are supposed to reattach. You should consider getting a sonography and ask the professional for this concern, this shouldn't be happening, you should consult with your doctor. Hope this message helps!

At this point in time, the healing of your abdominal flap to the underlying fascia, and if you had a muscle to muscle repair to close your diastasis, that should also be fully healed. You’ve had an examination for a seroma , and that has been ruled out. If there’s not a seroma underneath your abdominal flap, then there’s no reason that this area should not be healed. It’s difficult to know exactly without an in person examination. I would return to your plastic surgeon and invoice your concerns. Best wishes.

You might ask your surgeon to do an ultrasound of your abdomen just to check for residual fluid. It would be very uncommon to have fluid now, but anything is possible.

If a seroma has been ruled out then the "jiggle" may be the fat and organs beneath your muscle wall that you are noticing. Further in person evaluation would be needed to determine if there seems to be a cause for concern.

This is likely intra-abdominal contents that you feel moving around when you are laying flat. When standing because of gravity, the intra-abdominal contents push forward and feel tight against your fascia/skin. This is why when a doctor does an exam, they lay you flat to palpate abdominal contents. It is normal to feel soft and jiggly when laying down if you do not flex your abdominal muscles especially if you are bloated from food/water intake.

To make an accurate assessment regarding the outcome of a plastic surgery procedure we generally need to see a complete set of proper before and after pictures. Individuals will have significant abdominal skin laxity well usually have skin laxity in all directions both horizontal and vertical. A tummy tuck tightens to skin only in a vertical direction, this still leaves people with potential skin laxity in a horizontal direction.
We can’t really make any kind of assessment based on the information provided.
Continue following up with your provider or schedule in person second opinion consultation with other providers in your community.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD