Can Swelling After Tumy Tuck Be the Cause of Weight Gain?

It’s not unusual for patients to have significant swelling
following abdominoplasty.This occurs
for a variety of reasons.Patients are
typically given significant amounts of IV fluid during their surgical
procedure.In addition, the body
responds to trauma or surgery by retaining fluid as a protective mechanism.Under
these circumstances, patients can see significant weight gain from fluid
retention following Mommy Makeover surgery.The weight gain typically peaks five to seven days following surgery
and, in most cases, resolves spontaneously.In your
case, a seven pound weight gain wouldn’t be unanticipated following this type
of procedure.If you’re anxious about
this phenomenon, discussion with your surgeon is appropriate.Your surgeon should be able to reassure you
and make your post-operative experience more comfortable.

The body does retain fluid after a major surgery such as abdominoplasty, but keep in mind that you have also been inactive until now and probably eating a comfort food diet. Stick with the exercise and you should get back to a healthy weight. 

Most likely you are experiencing a lot swelling and inflammation. Healing after a  #tummytuck will require time. Some patients are out of bed and walking the night of surgery and every hour while awake.  If you have concerns about your healing, or pain that you question to be unusual, it is important to call your plastic surgeon to discuss these further asked to be examined.

Some of the weight gain may be from fluid but 7 pounds seems like a lot. Swelling is not uncommon after a tummy tuck and typically lasts quite a while. 80% has resolved by 3 months and the rest takes up to a year to resolve. You have to be patient with the healing process.Enjoy your new look!Sheila Nazarian

The retained fluid adds to your weight, so it's best not to weigh yourself until all that swelling is gone. It can take a few months, although the majority of it will be gone in a few weeks. If you are excessively swollen at the end of the day, you may want to consider slowing down your physical activity. A compression garment can also help, but ask your surgeon for their advice.

In the wake of a significant operation the body produces some hormones that encourage the maintenance of salt and water. This can translate into a body weight greater postoperatively even though skin and fat has been removed. Eventually the body eliminates the excess fluid and the weight goes down.

You may be doing too much too fast. If you just started walking on the treadmill 2 days ago and are now speed walking, try slowing it down a bit. When you do too much to soon, you will get more swelling (fluid retention) which equals weight gain. It is good to walk, but I recommend my patients wait a full 6 weeks for return to formal exercise. Listen to your body, when you get a lot of swelling back off a bit. Good luck.

What you are describing is very common with a mommy makeover procedure or even a tummy tuck by itself.  If you are swelling considerably with light exercise, you are retaining water and that is what is causing your increase in weight.  I usually tell patients not to step on a scale for at least 6 weeks after surgery.  Good luck with your recovery!

    If you are very swollen by the end of the day, the gain in fluid can cause a several pound gain in weight.  I would not worry about this.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Early weight gain is related to fluids administered during surgery to maintain your electrolytes and cardiovascular stability.     Some patients can take several weeks to work off this excess fluid.    

In addition, as your activity level increases, you may notice that the tissues swell again and take some time to go down.   This is related to your lymphatics (vessels that remove swelling) having to re-network after surgery.   It is very common to see this in the lower abdomen after a tummy tuck.   

This should all return to normal as your activity level progresses.   I wish you a safe and healthy recovery.