One Side of Tummy is More Swollen than the Other After Tummy Tuck? (photo)

It is common for one side to swell more than the other; typically, patients are not symmetrical to begin with and your doctor may have done more work on one side than on the other. Residual swelling can remain for several more months so I would give it time to resolve. You could certainly have a little liposuction at a later date. Best of luck.

Thank you for providing us with your picture after tummy tuck.  Kudos to you for choosing an excellent plastic surgeon.  You have a great looking belly button (the redness will resolve) and the tummy tuck scar is completely hidden under your bikini bottom. 

 

The asymmetry you are referring to more than likely was present prior to surgery.  Some of it will resolve with time, but post operative liposuction which I recommend to all my tummy tuck patients can be done three months after abdominoplasty. 

Thank you for the question.
As always, it is best to be seen in person ( by your plastic surgeon) for precise diagnosis and treatment.
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.