Why Am I Rounder at 9 Weeks Post Op Than I Was at 6 Weeks Post Op?

Question

I had a full tummy tuck and muscle repair 9 wks ago. I weighed 135 going in and I now weigh 120. I would wake up flatter in the mornings & swell towards the end of the day now my tummy seems to be protruding all the time. The protruding is not above the incision its on top and right above my bb. My doctor checked my muscle repair and she said it was healing fine. I look like I'm pregnant! Why am I protruding at 9 weeks!! It's not going down. I have been watching my diet and included exercise.

Vishnu Rumalla, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. The causes for swelling immediately after swelling are numerous, but nine weeks ago the list gets smaller. Some of my colleagues have listed some of these concerns including seroma or issues with the muscle repair. It seems as though you are having good follow-up with your plastic surgeon and this should continue. You should ask your surgeon about compression garments if they may help. I hope this improves for you.

Miguel Delgado, MD · Answer

At nine weeks you should be very happy. The issue that may be an issue is the muscle repair, seroma or a fluid pocket , prolonged swelling (less likely). You need to continue to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.

Raj S. Ambay, MD · Answer

At this point in your healing you should be quite happy. Some residual swelling and contour irregularities are normal and usually subside over the coming months. However what you are describing may be more than residual swelling. Others have outlined some possibilities. I agree with colleagues and feel that you should also discussed this with your plastic surgeon.

David Bogue, MD · Answer

Swelling in the abdominoplasty skin flap is common, but this decreases over time. At 9 weeks, you still have a ways to go before this is gone. If you haven't been in a compression garment, this process can take much longer. A focal area (usually near the incision line) of swelling can be a fluid collection. Close follow up with your surgeon is imperative. Sometimes, the muscle repair fails and fullness can be seen as a bulge in the upper abdomen. This can be more apparent if the repair below the belly button stays intact.

Remus Repta, MD · Answer

Hello,

	There are a few possible causes of a fuller or more protruding abdomen after a tummy tuck at 9 weeks:

	1) weight gain

	2) abdominal wall repair disruption (muscle repair has let go)

	3) seroma/pseudobursa

	4) swelling

	It sounds like #1 is not the case since you weigh less now then before.  The fluctuation of protrusion early on may indicate either #3 or #4.  Swelling is most common near the incision.  Therefore I am inclined to think that it may be a seroma or pseudobursa but this diagnosis, of course,  would require a thorough physical examination of your tummy tuck area.

	All the best,

	Dr Repta

Why Am I Rounder at 9 Weeks Post Op Than I Was at 6 Weeks Post Op?

Answers (8)