Torso still feels stuck 4 weeks after Tummy Tuck -- like there's glue under my skin preventing full movement, advice? (photos)

Question

I'm 57 & had a TT with diastasis recti and umbilical hernia repair 4 weeks ago. Most of my torso still feels stuck, like there's glue under my skin. I can stand up straight with effort, but there is a tremendous pulling sensation vertically & side to side. What can I do to free up my movement? I'm getting worried. All my doctor tells me to do is stand up straight and walk. That doesn't help much. I've done gentle stretches but don't feel like I'm making progress. Worried about scar tissue.

Jeff T. Healy, MD · Answer

It is very normal to feel tight after having a tummy tuck.  As the body heals the internal scar tissue contracts causing a tight sensation which is usually more apparent when twisting or stretching.  Over time this tight feeling will subside and you will feel normal.  At 4 weeks you are still very early in the recovery process.  Be patient and listen to your surgeon's advice.  You will eventually be able to do all your normal activities without feeling tight or stuck.  Congratulations on having a tight tummy.

Emily J. Kirby, MD · Answer

Congratulations!  Keep in mind that 4 weeks is VERY early in the recovery process. You have a lot of healing yet to come! At 4 weeks, scar tissue has started to form and is intense. This may be part of what you are feeling. This will calm down a bit around 6 weeks, then continue to taper off as the scar tissue softens. My patients are instructed on specific massage techniques for their scars and tissue at the surgical site. Be sure to follow your surgeon's instructions.The other component of what you are likely feeling is a bit of muscle spasm. Depending on your garment and your level of activity, your abdominal muscles (that are tightened in most abdominoplasty surgeries) react and spasm during the recovery. This can feel like a tight band in your abdomen. Be sure you are following directions for post-op activity and not overdoing it. If you need to, check in with your surgeon's office to be sure you are doing the right things.As a side note, there may actually be glue under there. Ask your surgeon about this!Best of luck to you.

Richard J. Brown, MD · Answer

Ok....awesome question and thank you for asking. So scars take 12 months to remodel. What that means as when collagen is laid down initially it is done in an extremely disorganized fashion. That is why they feel thick in the beginning. Over 12 months the collagen is becoming more organized into nice flat sheets. That is when scars soften and the swelling goes down. So now imagine, the surgeon lifted all of your abdominal skin off of the muscle pulled it tight and put it back down. So now the entire undersurface of your skin is a new fresh scar sticking to the underlying muscles. It will take that 12 months to soften and reorganize. What you can do to help that process is to foam roll, or use a rolling pin to kneed the abdomen. It will take weeks to months for you to see improvement not days. You have to stick with it, be patient and do it daily for a few months. You will see improvement. I also do agree you need to stretch and hold poses that will stretch your tummy like cobra pose for yoga. Try to hold for 2 mins at a time. If you do all that stuff, stretch, roll and be patient you will find things will improve drastically in a few months. You loo awesome!!! Thjey did a nice job! 57 (Fist Bump)

Torso still feels stuck 4 weeks after Tummy Tuck -- like there's glue under my skin preventing full movement, advice? (photos)

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Torso still feels stuck 4 weeks after Tummy Tuck -- like there's glue under my skin preventing full movement, advice? (photos)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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