Is Pouched-look After Tummy Tuck Swelling?

it is very common to develop a pouch in the lower abdomen several weeks after a tummy tuck. The reason for this is that swelling or edema gathers with gravity in the lower part of the abdomen. wearing abdominal girdles help, but most of all it just takes time.

Hello trestar614. Thank you for your question regarding whether the pouched look 4 weeks after a tummy tuck is just swelling.

At four weeks post-op, it is quite common to experience swelling. Swelling can persist for several weeks to months after a tummy tuck, which can cause the area to appear pouched or bloated. This is a normal part of the healing process as your body adjusts and recovers from the surgery.

However, it's important to continue following your surgeon's post-operative care instructions, including wearing compression garments, staying hydrated, and avoiding strenuous activities that could exacerbate swelling. If you have any concerns or if the swelling seems excessive or is accompanied by other symptoms like severe pain, redness, or fever, it is crucial to reach out to your plastic surgeon for an evaluation.

Patience is key during the recovery period, and in most cases, the swelling will gradually subside, and your final results will become more apparent over time.

Good luck, and I hope this helps answer your question regarding swelling and the pouched look after a tummy tuck.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS

Thanks for your question -It is common to have abdominal swelling after abdominoplasty. Four weeks usually is enough time from some of the swelling to begin to improve.
When thinking about abdominal contour here are things to consider:Skin envelopeAbdominal fat (subcutaneous and intrabdominal)Muscles tightnessIntrinsic SwellingFluid collections
Skin Envelope -People complaining of "abdominal bulge" after tummy tuck typically do not have issues with too much skin - that points to issues underneath the skin.
Abdominal fat -This can be an issue in people who may be a little bit over their ideal body weight at the time of abdominoplasty. Ways to fix this include the tried and true diet and exercise or liposuction. Be sure to allow enough time between tummy tuck and liposuction to minimize complications.
Muscle tightness -Muscles plication (or tightening) is usually a part of abdominoplasty. Either failure of the sutures or some laxity can cause a bulge. If the change in your contour was sudden or if you felt a pop - think about the plication having ruptured.
Swelling -This can be the most common cause of contour issues post-abdominoplasty. Patients typically have swelling for two reasons. First surgery causes trauma and the body's response to trauma is to bring additional fluid into the area that has been traumatized. In addition, abdominoplasty involves dividing lymphatic channels (very very small conduits that normally pull fluid out of tissue) - until these channels grow back the area will not be able to remove excess fluid.It is usually the most dependent (lowest) part of the surgery that stays swollen the longest.The majority of swelling usually resolves after the first 4-6 weeks but there may be residual swelling for up to 6 months.
Fluid collections -Seromas (serous fluid collections) or hematomas (collections of old blood) can cause distortions of contour. Normally this will improve on its own but may require drainage.
I hope this helps. Talk to your plastic surgeon and see which might be contributing to your abdominal contour.