6 months post op, swelling after removing compression garment. Will this resolve itself or will I need a revision? (photos)

Hi & thanks for your question!
Swelling can last up to a year. Contact your surgeon with any questions or concerns you may have. Best wishes!

Hello and thank you for posting your photos. As a surgeon who does a tremendous amount of abdominoplasty surgery and liposuction I would tell you that your result is standard. I do not see anything that is out of the ordinary. Many times there is excess roundness to the abdomen due to what is called visceral fat. I would recommend that you calculate your body mass index and it if it is anywhere above 22 you are carrying excess visceral fat which is causing bulging to your abdomen. There are also gastrointestinal issues that arise as we all age and it would be smart to visit your gastroenterologist. I would first encourage weight loss. You could add liposuction to the entire anterior abdomen, flanks and back to enhance your results further. That would be the best way to obtain further body contouring. Happy to help!
Alexander Zuriarrain, MD, FACS, FAACSDiplomate, American Board of SurgeryDiplomate, American Board of Plastic SurgeryDiplomate, American Board of Cosmetic SurgeryDiplomate, American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery

It is important to be patient and give your body time to heal fully. It can take up to a year for the final results of a procedure to become apparent, and it is not uncommon for some residual swelling to persist during this time.

If you are concerned about the amount of swelling you are experiencing, it is best to consult with your plastic surgeon.

Dear joyhicks,
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

You don't appear "swollen" and did get a good result. Weight loss will decrease internal fullness from fat. surgery cannot and does not address internal fullness.

At 6 months post op swelling should be resolved and the garment no longer necessary. An in person evaluation is always best, but it appears from your photos that the contours that concern you may be a result of visceral fat which is the internal fat around your organs. This is addressed through weight loss. Your surgeon should be able to direct your further after an exam.

Hi Joyhicks, excellent question. It's hard to give a definitive answer without examining you and knowing a little more about your procedure (whether a rectus plication or liposuction was performed). I would advise discussing this this your original surgeon. If revision is needed, I typically wait until a year after surgery. Hope that helps.

Hello and thank you for your question and your pictures. Although an in-person examination will provide more information, it appears from your pictures that you have had some improvement in your belly area. Adhering to a good diet and exercise regimen helps to maintain the results long term. You may have some internal fat that is causing some of your symptoms. As for the love handles, perhaps some liposuction may help remove the excess fat and give you more of the curves you may be seeking. Discuss your concerns and thoughts with your surgeon. Best wishes!

At this point you’re no longer swollen. wearing compression garments will squeeze interstitial fluid out of your tissues and reduce the thickness of your soft tissue layer. that can be done whether you had surgery or not.
It looks to me like you have a bit of excess visceral fat and most likely losing weight is the best and only way to get you an improved outcome.There are four variables that determine what the abdomen looks like. They are abdominal skin laxity, subcutaneous fat, muscle separation from previous pregnancies and excess visceral or intra-abdominal fat. If someone doesn’t like the way the abdomen looks it is generally always because of one or more of those variables. skin laxity and muscle separation were corrected by the procedure. subcutaneous fat is reduced by a tummy tuck by stretching the skin and fat layer to some degree even without Liposuction. it’s a bit like pulling a rubber band tight. When you do it also becomes thin
There may be some residual subcutaneous fat but that is not the major problem. Try losing 10 pounds and take comparison pictures I think you’ll find that you’ll see a much improved outcome.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Hi and welcome to our forum!From your photos, significant early improvement in abdominal and flank contour is noted following your procedure. Unfortunately, there is no operative procedure to treat postoperative swelling. It has to resolve on its own. Swelling consists of tissue fluid which provides nutrients to the healing tissue. Initially, control of swelling can be obtained with application of a compression garment. It is used to prevent bleeding and to control swelling. As the swelling subsides, its use becomes unnecessary. In our experience, 60-80% of swelling will resolve within 6 weeks, with the remainder slowly subsiding over a period of 12-18 months depending upon the aggressiveness of the procedure and your individual healing time (everyone is different!). As you are 6 months "out", you have a way to go. In our practice, we advocate compression for a period of 6 - 8 weeks, unless excessive, in which case we employ lymphatic massage.From a set of photos, I cannot determine if you are still swollen or if there is residual fat. Allow the swelling to resolve. If still full at one year, only then should you consider a revisional procedure. It is still far too early to determine the need for revision..Continue follow up with your plastic surgeon.Best wishes...