12 months post-op, not happy with the results of my tummy tuck. What can be done to fix this? (Photo)

Thank you for your question about what can be done 12 months after a tummy tuck. If you've noticed changes in your abdomen, several possibilities might be causing this. If you've gained weight, this could impact your tummy tuck results. If it's loose skin, further surgery might be required. Or, it could just be swelling that still needs to subside. Ultimately, I recommend talking with your surgeon to get the best advice for your case. Again, thank you for your question, and I wish you the best of luck with your recovery.
Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

Dear trickynikky77,
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, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

An examination is needed to see what the bulge may be. If it is residual fat, liposuction could be done. If it is a hernia, it could be repaired. If it is weak abdominal muscles that were not tightened above the belly button, or the suture broke, that would require surgery again to be repaired. EMSculpt could be started to see if the muscles could be made tighter if no hernia is present. Please discuss this with your surgeon.

Your results may be improved from a revision. An examination is needed to determine if the bulge is a fatty pocket. If so, liposuction should improve it. If it is muscle wall laxity then plication of the muscle wall would be the correction. See a board certified plastic surgeon near you to learn more.

Dear Nickky,
It does not appear that your abdominoplasty plication (tightening) was very aggressive. The bulge may be either fat (which may be liposuctioned along with touching up your lower abdomen, hips and sides) or looseness of the Rectus fascia (abdominal muscles-which would require revising the abdominoplasty with suturing the muscles).
Best wishes,
Dr. Taranow

How people will have a bulging abdomen in a sitting position. It’s not possible to have a tight, flat, abdomen and a sitting position and still be able to stand up straight.
Tell me tuck results are always judged based on photographs taken in an upright standing position.
The ideal outcome should have an abdominal wall that makes a beeline from your sternum to your pubic bone. If the abdominal wall bulges while standing, it is either because of insufficient muscle, tightening or excess visceral fat, pushing against the abdominal wall.
Individuals with excess visceral fat, can easily improve their outcome by losing weight.
The time to be selective about providers is before your procedure. I recommend patients have five in person consultations before choosing a provider. During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection and before and after pictures of the previous patients with similar body characteristics to your own.
Being shown a handful of preselected images, representing the best results of the providers career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of each provider.The hallmarks of a quality tummy tuck is a natural looking belly button on a consistent basis with a very low Satz car that follows anatomic contours evenly, and naturally, I’m both sides, leaving the torso, looking balanced, attractive, and proportionate from all angles, including from behind.
There are four variables that determine what someone’s abdomen looks like. This is generally true whether someone has had a tummy tuck or not. If someone doesn’t like the way, the wrap them in locks, it is almost always, because of one or more of those four variables..
The variables that determine what the abdomen looks like, are abdominal skin, laxity, excessive subcutaneous fat , muscle separation from previous pregnancies, or excess visceral or intra-abdominal fat.
It’s hard to tell from the pictures of the skin could’ve been pulled tighter or if your muscle repair could’ve been there done more aggressively.Ultimately, your surgeon is responsible for the outcome of the procedure and you are responsible for choosing that surgeon.
In order to have high patient satisfaction, it is imperative to have a clear understanding of what the procedure can, or cannot accomplish.
The most common reason for having a bulging abdomen after a tummy tuck, is the presence of excess visceral fat, which can be remedied through weight loss.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD