Protrusion of Stomach After Tummy Tuck

Question

I am having protrusion of my stomach that goes from the breast crease to the bottom of the belly button, (I protrude the most about 3-4 inches below the breast crease and it gets smaller as you go down my body) it's not a lot but if I were to flip it upside down it would look like I was 4 months pregnant. Could this be because the muscles weren't tightened? I can suck it in and it's very firm. I had my surgery the 21st of June and have had only minor incision complications.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

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

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

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.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

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?

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

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

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

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.

Protrusion of Stomach After Tummy Tuck

Answers (5)

Answer: A MINI-Tummy Tuck or Poor Tightening of the Upper Abdominal Muscles WILL result in Upper Abdominal Bulging

Answer: A MINI-Tummy Tuck or Poor Tightening of the Upper Abdominal Muscles WILL result in Upper Abdominal Bulging

Answer: Sounds like you had a mini tummy tuck

Answer: Sounds like you had a mini tummy tuck

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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Protrusion of Stomach After Tummy Tuck

Answers (5)

Answer: A MINI-Tummy Tuck or Poor Tightening of the Upper Abdominal Muscles WILL result in Upper Abdominal Bulging

Answer: A MINI-Tummy Tuck or Poor Tightening of the Upper Abdominal Muscles WILL result in Upper Abdominal Bulging

Answer: Sounds like you had a mini tummy tuck

Answer: Sounds like you had a mini tummy tuck

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.