One side of my stomach is bigger after a mini tummy tuck (Photo)

Dear Calm479715,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what is 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, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thanks so much for your inquire,

Swelling can last for several months after surgery, particularly if there were complications. Although 6 months is a significant amount of time, individual healing processes vary. Swelling from internal bleeding might take longer to resolve. Formation of scar tissue or fibrosis in the area where the bleeding occurred can sometimes cause unevenness or a lumpy appearance. This can gradually improve with time, but it may require additional treatment in some cases.

In general, many patients see improvement in asymmetry and swelling over the first year post-surgery. However, persistent issues after this time may warrant further evaluation. your surgeon is the best person to guide you through the next steps and help address any concerns about your healing and results.

Asymmetry after any procedure can happen. It is possible that your sudden pain was some "popping" of some sutures. You should be seen and evaluated by your surgeon. No one on here will be able to appropriately answer your question. Call your surgeon.

If your abdomen was even after your surgery, and is only slightly uneven now because of the bleeding episode, after all of the swelling and resolution of the scar in the area of the bleeding has resolved, you should return to your original result. This may take several months so patience is required. Best wishes.

Hello Calm479715,

I appreciate you reaching out with your concerns about one side of your stomach being larger following a mini tummy tuck. From the details and picture you provided, along with your medical history, it seems that you experienced a postoperative hematoma, a common occurrence in such surgeries.

Postoperative care is crucial, especially the recommendation to avoid heavy lifting for the first 6 to 8 weeks after a tummy tuck. Your surgeon appropriately addressed the hematoma by draining it. However, a capsule of scar tissue formed around the area where the blood had collected. This formation of a capsule or scar tissue is a normal bodily response, but it can lead to unevenness in the affected area.

These capsules typically resolve over time, although it's challenging to predict exactly when they will fully disappear. If you find the capsule particularly bothersome or if it's not resolving as quickly as you'd like, there are options to consider. Steroid injections, such as Kenalog or 5FU, might help reduce the capsule size. If these injections don’t yield significant improvement, surgical intervention for capsule removal might be a consideration.

It's understandable to be concerned about asymmetry after a procedure like a mini tummy tuck, especially when complications like a hematoma arise. I hope this information helps you understand the situation better and guides you in deciding the next steps. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS
Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeon

Swelling after a surgical procedure like a mini tummy tuck is not uncommon, and it can persist for several months as part of the normal healing process.

However, since you experienced bleeding and had fluid drained from the area, it’s crucial to follow up with your surgeon for a thorough evaluation. Persistent swelling or asymmetry might be due to various factors, including residual fluid accumulation, scar tissue formation, or other issues.


Best of luck !

An exam is needed to know what may be causing the asymmetry. An ultrasound can determine if there is a hematoma (collection of blood), excess fat, scar tissue, etc. The correct intervention would be based on the findings from that exam.

Ask you surgeon to do an ultrasound to see if a residual cavity is still present. If so, surgery will be needed to remove it.