Swollen Love Handles Normal After Tummy Tuck?

Question

Due to weight loss I had an abdominoplasty three weeks ago. Now the skin is tight and flat, but my love handles are sticking out as thought they are very swollen - the problem is that I had no flank lipo - only skin was removed. So I am concerned. Is it normal to have this here, even without being stitched directly upon? As the photo will show, a few months ago my waistline was pretty flat, but now looks fat. What is going on?!

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

It is possible that you have some swelling in your love handles (flanks) after your surgery.  However, it looks as if you would benefit form liposuction of those areas.  As a standard procedure I liposuction the love handles of all the abdominoplasties that I perform.  I feel that it enhances the results and prevents the issue that you are experiencing.

Armando Soto, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi there-

	It does look like you may have benefitted from some liposuction... ON the other hand, it may also be that there remains some residual skin excess, or that because the skin that remains is of poor quality (because of your weight gain and loss history), you have this (possibly temporary) problem.

	Rather than second guess your surgeon, I would recommend that you visit with them, openly communicate your concerns to them, listen to their thoughts and the plan for improvement, and decide how you would like to proceed. 

	I bet your surgeon wants you to be happy and will help you come up with a plan for maximizing your outcome.

Elizabeth Slass Lee, MD · Answer

What you have are called "dog ears". When an ellipse shape of skin is removed, and the incision closed in a straight line, the two ends of the incision may pooch out as in your photo. This early after surgery, alot of this appearance may be do to swelling in this area. However, if this does not signficantly improve over the next several months, some revision procedure like liposuction may be necessary.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

Any time a tummy tuck is performed the incision must end. Beyond the ends there is relatively excess skin that sometimes becomes engorged and more pronouced due to swelling from the surgery and redirection of lymphatic circulation due to the surgery. This dramatically improves with time. Rarely, it requires revision to remove excess skin.

Nicholas Carr, MD · Answer

It's too early to judge whether this will remain a problem so at this point I'd advise you to be patient.  If in the long term (after waiting at least 3 months) your "love handles" remain prominent, you should discuss with your plastic surgeon whether this is due to excess skin, fat, or a combination of both.  
If you have excess fat and good skin tone, further liposuction may be all that is required but with your history of weight loss suggests you likely have loose skin contributing to the problem so you may need further skin excision extending posteriorly in the form of an extended abdominoplasty or possibly a circumferential lower body lift.
Good luck.

Swollen Love Handles Normal After Tummy Tuck?

Answers (9)

Answer: Blame it on the dog (ears): Extra love handle skin after tummy tuck

Answer: Blame it on the dog (ears): Extra love handle skin after tummy tuck

Answer: Be patient for now

Answer: Be patient for now

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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Swollen Love Handles Normal After Tummy Tuck?

Answers (9)

Answer: Blame it on the dog (ears): Extra love handle skin after tummy tuck

Answer: Blame it on the dog (ears): Extra love handle skin after tummy tuck

Answer: Be patient for now

Answer: Be patient for now

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.