Protrusion of Stomach After Tummy Tuck

Junebug1986

What you are describing could be because of two reasons.  First, if the upper part of the abdominal muscles was not tightened as much as the lower part (or not at all), then the upper abdomen will appear to be bulging compared to the lower abdomen.  Second, in patients who are very large and have a large tummy tuck, removing the large lower abdomen exposes an upper abdominal protrusion that you never noticed before.

Both of these conditions can be treated by tightening (or further tightening of the muscles) if you are willing to undergo another surgery.

Sincerely,

Martin Jugenburg, MD

What type of tummy tuck did you get: a mini or full? If you got a mini tummy tuck, the bulge was not addressed during your surgery. The protrusion could be caused by inadequate muscle repair to address diastasis recti during a full tummy tuck as well. You will most likely need revision surgery to correct this.

Yes, it could result from not repairing the muscles. Did you have a mini-tummy tuck? Was that part of the plan? Did you rupture the muscle repair?

The ABSOLUTE KEY of a flat tummy after an Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) depends on bringing the split 6 pack (RectusAdbdominis) muscles together AND taking out any slack and stretchiness caused by pregnancy and obesity.

A Mini-Tummy Tuck in which only the lower tummy below the belly button is treated can commonly produce bulging in women who had looseness and or splitting of the muscles ABOVE the belly button. Similarly, failure to tighten the upper abdominal muscles in a Full Tummy Tuck will also result in bulging similar to that you describe.

Unfortunately, there is no way of tightening these muscles without re-operating.

Dr. Peter Aldea

You possibly had a miniTT as tightening only the lower muscles will cause the uppers to buldge out.  Check with your doctor to be sure.  You would need a full TT to fix this.