How can I get rid of this bulge after I had tummy tuck surgery with muscle repair 1 year ago? (Photos)

Question

I had a ultrasound and it's not fluid. I am so upset with my tummy tuck results, is there a doctor that has had a patient with this problem and FIXED it? I've already read so much of the possibilities about why this could have happened, now I'm just wondering if there is a surgeon who has fixed this problem on a patient if yes how? What was the problem? What should be done? I've lost weight and it's still there. Any doctors who specialize is tummy tuck revisions?

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear geli0308,
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

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

A bulging upper abdomen after a tummy tuck is almost always related to aggressive muscle tightening in patients with excess visceral fat.

The lower abdomen gets tightened aggressively from the muscle plication and the abdomen bulges because there’s no room for the pressure of the visceral fat.

Further weight loss is the best treatment.

Showing before pictures could help assess if you had visceral fat before the procedure. Most likely you did.  Patients who have a barrel chested shaped Torso are at increased risk for this. Patients  with a more rounded shaped chest have a sternum that sits further in front of their pubic bone causes this type of abdominal wall after muscle tightening.

Typically the problem is more related to excess visceral fat. As the lower abdomen is aggressively tightened the problem becomes worse.

Highly experienced plastic surgeons should be able to anticipate this and one patients in advance. That may be asking for too much but in a perfect world that would be the case.

The good news is further weight loss should definitely improve your situation.

Likewise, further weight gain will make it worse.

One way to confirm the presence of excess visceral fat is how easy it is to push your abdomen flat. Excess visceral fat increases the intra-abdominal pressure with muscle tightening making it difficult to create a flat abdomen. Those with no excess visceral fat have an easy time either sucking in their abdomen or pushing it flat with their hand.

Your surgeon did a correct standard tummy tuck.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

How can I get rid of this bulge after I had tummy tuck surgery with muscle repair 1 year ago? (Photos)

Answers (2)