Can Swelling 5 Weeks After Tummy Tuck Cause my Waist to Measure 2 Inches More Than Before Surgery?

Question

I asked my doctor whom I love and he said that it is likely swelling and I will continue to have swelling for at least the first 3 months. Is it normal to be measuring 2 inches more? My tummy does look nice and flat though which is really nice.

Christopher T. Maloney Jr., MD · Answer

5 weeks is still very early post-op and certainly too early to measure or weigh yourself. Swelling is normal at this stage and it can last about 3 months. You could also have a small seroma, or a buildup of fluid that your surgeon would drain for you if they felt this was the issue. Again, you are really early on so focus on recovering right now and not the increase in inches. It will get better soon.

Vivek Bansal, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Swelling is common, and can persist for 6 months. Increased activity can cause this swelling. Sometimes wearing the garment part of the day can diminish the fluid/swelling you are experiencing. I hope this helps.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

It's much too early to start doing measurements that you're abdominoplasty. Swelling can explain increases in body weight as well as abdominal girth.

Richard J. Brown, MD · Answer

Yes it can. There is a lot of swelling that occurs after a tummy tuck that can take many months to resolve. The lymphatic channels that drain fluid from the skin are interrupted when elevating the abdominal skin flap and they can take up to 3 months to re-connect and drain fluid from the abdominal skin. Swelling is normal so you just have to be very patient with the process and let it happen.

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

Swelling is very normal after an abdominoplasty.  If you had liposuction of the flanks and hips this would also contribute to early swelling.

Jeffrey M. Hartog, DMD, MD · Answer

It is much, much too soon to be weighing or measuring yourself. I don't even take "after" photos of my patients until they are at least six months post-op. It is very normal to have additional weight (caused from swelling) etc...at this stage. Relax and keep going to your regularly scheduled appointments with your physician.

Pablo Prichard, MD · Answer

Dear Fitness?

	Thank you for your post.  Yes, this can definitely happen.  The swelling should go down gradually but fluctuate as well.  Decrease salt, dairy, and anything that makes you bloat.  Continue to wear the abdominal binder or similar if you like.

	Best wishes,

	Pablo Prichard, MD

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

If you are pleased with the contour I would not worry much about measurements. Swelling can increase the girth for 3 months, occasionally longer. Accurate measurements are really difficult to make on yourself. A slight tilt of the tape can increase the measurement by inches. More useful would be to know that you can or cannot fit into jeans you wore before surgery. 

	At any rate, you like the overall appearance, this will be a nice result. All the best.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.

	As always, it is best to be seen in person ( by your plastic surgeon) for precise diagnosis and treatment.

	Generally speaking, abdominal wall "swelling" after tummy tuck may be related to:

	1. Swelling in the soft tissues.  This may take several months to resolve and may worsen with increased activity  or at the end of the day.   Patience  is required to allow for resolution of the swelling. The swelling occurs because of the interruption of venous and lymphatic channels that occurs during the tummy tuck operation.

	2. Fluid accumulation in the space between the skin and the abdominal wall muscle.  This may consist of blood ( hematoma)  or serum (seroma).  This fluid accumulation can generally be diagnosed by physical examination ( occasionally ultrasound  may be helpful).  Treatment consists of aspiration;  several episodes of aspiration may be necessary. 

	3. Separation of the abdominal wall muscle repair may lead to a swelling/bulge appearance. This may be diagnosed on physical examination  with your surgeon examining you in different bodily positions. One of the steps of a tummy tuck procedure involves reapproximation (plication)  of the rectus muscles.  These muscles have spread apart during pregnancy and/or weight gain. Bringing them together again in the midline helps to “tighten” the abdominal wall as well as to narrow the waistline.

	4. Residual adipose tissue may be confused for swelling. Again this is most easily diagnosed by physical examination. Additional liposuction surgery maybe necessary to improve the results of surgery.

	Generally, it takes many months for swelling to resolve after tummy tuck surgery and it may take up to one year  (or greater)  a complete skin redraping  to occur.

	I hope this helps.

Can Swelling 5 Weeks After Tummy Tuck Cause my Waist to Measure 2 Inches More Than Before Surgery?

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