Tummy Tuck Swelling 1 year Post?

Question

Is it abnormal to still have swelling in my abdomen after a year of surgery? My tummy swell and it looks like I'm a few months pregnant. At the same time, I feel very tire as it occurs, normally around 1:00 or 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon. Isn't weird for my stomach to swell at the same time everyday? I would greatly appreciated your timely response. Thank you in advance for your advice.

John J. Corey, MD · Answer

You haven't stated your age but I have had a few patients over 50 that have had bloating and swelling for years!!! But I know that can be an issue for women in general so I have never been able to tell if it was because of the TT or just that it is easier to notice know that the tummy is flat...But yes, I have seen it...

Ricardo Vega, MD · Answer

Swelling one year after abdominoplasty /(remaining bulky tummy)

	Usually, visible postoperative edema is resolved after one year. 

	Possible causes: Seroma, Hernia, other possibility: Lymph edema, 
	or even fat tissue . I suggest  an ABDOMINAL WALL ULTRASOUND and that you return to your plastic surgeon for followup but also consult with your primary doctor.

Stewart Wang, MD, FACS · Answer

It's always more helpful to have photos but just based on your description it's still unusual to have significant swelling 1 year after surgery. You need to go back to the surgeon and look for the reason why it's intermittently swollen. Do you have a fluid collect (seroma)? Do you still have some residual fat?  Do you have a weakened muscle or broken muscle repair? Do you have a hernia? Your surgeon should be able to sort it out for you.

	Best Wishes,

	Stewart Wang, MD FACS, Wang Plastic Surgery

Dev Wali, MD · Answer

It is not unusual to have swelling from a tummy tuck for at least 6 months.  The healing process can last up to a year and it is possible to still see some swelling after 6 months.  It sounds like the swelling you are describing is different since it comes and goes.  You should see your plastic surgeon.

	Good Luck

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

Most swelling is resolved by 3 to 6 months, occasionally longer. I hesitate to guess here without at least a photo, and some info such as age, height and weight. 

	The intermittent nature suggests something within the abdominal cavity itself. It is hard to imagine anything in the abdominal skin or muscle that can change regularly this late. 

	A word with your surgeon would be a good starting point, and you might expect to be referred to your primary physician if nothing obvious is found.

	Thanks for your question, best wishes.

David P. Stapenhorst, MD · Answer

It is very unlikely for there to be any appreciable swelling 1 year after tummy tuck surgery. 

	In most cases, the majority of post-operative swelling is resolved between 3 and 6 months after surgery. 

	Possible causes for swelling after tummy tuck could be a seroma (collection of fluid between the skin and abdominal wall) or a weakening or break in the sutures that were used to tighten the abdominal wall during the procedure. 

	An evaluation with your surgeon would be best and would likely provide you with a quick answer to your question.

M. Vincent Makhlouf, MD, FACS · Answer

Swelling after tumy-tuck can last up to four months but anything beyond that is simply not swelling. Accordingly it need to be investigated. Whitout more information, pictures and examination whatever anyone says is a guess.

Gregory Sexton, MD · Answer

It would be extremely unusual to have swelling that long after an abdominoplasty. If you had sutures tear/break early on this could cause bulging, but it should have been present earlier. I suggest you see your surgeon again. A CT scan might be helpful to delineate cause or rule out seroma or hernia.

	Good luck.

	Gregory A. Sexton, M.D.

	Columbia, S.C.

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

Unless you have a seroma which has not resolved or an uncorrected hernia, the symptoms you described would not be related to the tummy tuck.  I suggest that you return to your plastic surgeon for followup but also consult with your internist and gynecologist.  You may need a medical workup for a completely different problem.

Pedro M. Soler, Jr., MD · Answer

Thank you for the question. What you describe is not a normal occurrence after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). It may be indicative of some other pathological process that may or may not be related to your abdominoplasty. I suggest that you follow up with your original plastic surgeon, if possible, for an initial in-person evaluation as this is the best manner in which to make an accurate diagnosis.

	I hope this helps. Best of luck.

Tummy Tuck Swelling 1 year Post?

Answers (12)

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