Stomach Bulge After Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

Hi there-
The situation you describe is quite common and is not necessarily indicative of a problem. If your abdomen is flat when you are standing, and you have a pleasing contour, but you see some fullness when you sit, this is more likely an indicator that your skin has simply lost some elasticity (which you already knew, and is no doubt one of the reasons you were having a tummy tuck).
When a young person, with excellent skin elasticity sits down, the skin contracts (because it is elastic), but if the skin has lost some of this quality through pregnancy or weight gain and weight loss cycles, it will not be capable of this contraction in the sitting position, and the skin will appear a bit redundant. It's really a skin QUALITY issue, not a skin quantity issue. I would visit with my plastic surgeon to make sure something else isn't going on, but it sounds like you have a very nice result. Congratulations on your new contour!

Congratulations on undergoing your tummy tuck procedure! It sounds like you've had a successful surgery, especially since your abdomen appears tight when standing. The presence of a roll when sitting could be due to several factors, including your individual anatomy and skin quality.

Based on your description, it seems like you may have more of a skin laxity issue rather than a skin quantity issue. It's not uncommon for the skin to take some time to fully adjust and settle into its new position following surgery. I recommend giving it a bit more time to see how your results continue to evolve.

Typically, it's advisable to wait at least 6 months post-surgery before evaluating the final outcome of your tummy tuck. During this time, your body will continue to heal, and any residual swelling or skin adjustments may resolve naturally.

If you still have concerns about the appearance of your abdomen after this period, I encourage you to schedule a follow-up appointment with your plastic surgeon. They can assess your progress, address any lingering issues or questions you may have, and discuss potential revision options if necessary.

Overall, patience is key during the recovery process, and it's important to maintain open communication with your surgeon throughout your journey. Wishing you continued success with your tummy tuck recovery!

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

It is difficult to assess why you would have a persistent roll when sitting after tummy tuck and extensive liposuction, It may be: 1) conservative skin removal, 2) need for more liposuction, 3) recurrent skin laxity, 4) excessive liposuction with skin laxity, 4) retraction of SFS repair with tethering of scar to rectus fascia and resulting shelf like deformity, 5) a low umbilical inset with gathering of tissues beneath this area 6) short waist with costal margin impinging on iliac crest, etc