Tummy tuck swelling, fat, or puffy scar? Almost 10 months out. Is this normal? (Photo)

Dear Toni2424,

Thank you for your question regarding whether your tummy tuck is due to swelling, fat, or a puffy scar, especially since you are 10 months out from your surgery. Without seeing your preoperative pictures, it's challenging to provide a definitive answer. However, considering your 130-pound weight loss, it's likely you had a significant amount of excess abdominal skin. Given that, I believe your current tummy tuck results are impressive. You seem to have achieved great results!

Recovery after a tummy tuck can be lengthy, sometimes taking up to two years for the body to fully heal. If you're concerned about the appearance of your tummy tuck scar, consider applying silicone cream or using silicone gel sheeting. Another option is undergoing Fraxel laser treatment on the scar. This laser can break up collagen within the scar and aid in scar remodeling. If you're still unsatisfied with the scar's appearance, steroid injections are another potential remedy. Additionally, surgical scar revision, which involves excising and re-suturing the scar, is an option.

From what you've shared, you seem to have achieved commendable results. To further enhance these outcomes, consider pursuing additional weight loss. This can reduce the size of your peritoneal cavity, leading to a flatter abdomen.

I hope this addresses your concerns regarding the state of your tummy tuck results 10 months post-procedure. Best of luck moving forward.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Swelling can last longer than 10lbs. BUT you may also benefit from lymphatic massages or massages for fibrosis at this point if you did not get them post op.

Go back to your surgeon and see if liposuction will benefit you. Liposuction is not done in the lower abdomen during a tummy tuck for safety reasons to your skin. However, it can be safely done after you have healed from the tuck.

Congratulations on your impressive weight loss! With major weight loss often comes significant skin laxity which may lead to a little revision even after a tummy tuck. I encourage you to discuss your concerns with your surgeon. It is possible further skin excision, fat removal, or both will improve your results. I've included a video that I hope you find helpful.

Only 1 posted photo? Hard to be exactly sure if you have "dog ears"? If yes then lipo 360, with pickle fork release on TT scar, revision dog ears and maybe try to correct very uneven TT incisions!. Expect fee $6,000+. Are you sure your surgeon was a boarded "real" plastic surgeon in Miami? Best to virtual consult with....

The subcutaneous fat layer of the abdomen tend to have different layers of thickness and different parts of the abdomen. It tends to be thin in the groin area or just above the pubic area and be added thickest around the belly button. When a large segment of skin is removed and the scar is that low like in the groin area, it will be a mismatch regarding the thickness of subcutaneous fat on the lower skin edge compared to the upper skin edge. Without making adjustment the subcutaneous fat layer will be much thicker the upper half of the incision.
To get a better match regarding the thickness of subcutaneous fat the scar can be placed higher, but this is undesirable and patients generally prefer the scar to be set low. Surgeons can remove subcutaneous fat on the upper skin edge during surgery in order to avoid the mismatch. this is best done during the procedure, but if it wasn’t done at the time, then you can come back and adjust the thickness of subcutaneous fat with Liposuction so the transition from the thin fat layer in the groin transitions, more gradually onto the abdomen.
I suggest you follow up with your provider to discuss doing a revision.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Hello, I see that your form is good, but your scar on the sides is not. I would recommend a revision tummy tuck combined with liposuction to achieve your best version. Don't forget to seek a certified plastic surgeon.