I have a bulge above my incision line after 9 weeks and don't see how my stomach will every look as flat as it was pre-op. When I'm sitting it looks and feels like I have grown a tummy that simply was not there but lying down its flat. My surgeon has said he has done a full abdominal muscle repair and an ultra sound has ruled out a fluid collection. He said I may need lipo and my muscles may have relaxed so i should start to do leg raises. I was very skinny pre-op so I don't understand why?
September 28, 2019
Answer: Swollen after tummy tuck
After 9 weeks its possible that you still have some swelling. While you dont mention it, if you have gained some weight, that would be an additional factor. What I am surprised by, though, is why you had a tummy tuck at all. It looks from the front view that you had good muscle tone and minimal laxity of your skin. What were you and the surgeon trying to achieve? At this point, I would wait at least 6 months before considering anything surgical. Start or continue to exercise, let any swelling disappear, and then reasess at 6 months. Best of luck.
Helpful 8 people found this helpful
September 28, 2019
Answer: Swollen after tummy tuck
After 9 weeks its possible that you still have some swelling. While you dont mention it, if you have gained some weight, that would be an additional factor. What I am surprised by, though, is why you had a tummy tuck at all. It looks from the front view that you had good muscle tone and minimal laxity of your skin. What were you and the surgeon trying to achieve? At this point, I would wait at least 6 months before considering anything surgical. Start or continue to exercise, let any swelling disappear, and then reasess at 6 months. Best of luck.
Helpful 8 people found this helpful
August 31, 2014
Answer: Swelling after Tummy Tuck?
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.
Helpful 2 people found this helpful
August 31, 2014
Answer: Swelling after Tummy Tuck?
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.
Helpful 2 people found this helpful