Unknown bulge above belly button after liposuction. What is it? How to remove it? (Photo)

Sometimes the fluid from a seroma will absorb. But if it had been there longer than 6-8 weeks, it could lead to a permanent layer of scar tissue that can tether the skin and cause irregularities.

If you have a tummy tuck, this skin will be stretched down and moved lower, but it probably won’t be completely removed. Bottom line, there is no guarantee that a tummy tuck will solve the problem, but it will likely improve it and move it lower, where it could more easily be covered with bottoms.

Hello; I think, fibrosis has developed; due to seroma. With ultrasonography; it can be diagnosed easily. If a tummy tuck is to be performed; then it's curable.

Based on these photos there is a possibility that you have muscle diastasis ( a gap between rectus muscles, stretched muscle fascia) or true hernia. It may also be a small fat deposit? You should seek a second opinion by a board certified plastic surgeon to rule out these options. Good luck.

An examination is needed to be certain, but you may have a residual seroma pocket or prominent muscle. This can easily be fixed with a tummy tuck.

Further evaluation is needed to know for sure, but it could be scar tissue or a fatty pocket. In either case a tummy tuck should be able to address it. Visit with a board certified plastic surgeon near you for an examination to learn more.

It appears as though you may have a Chronic Seroma. Did your surgeon ever try to aspirate the fluid out of it? Some people who get a seroma that is not treated early get a scar tissue lining around the fluid, kind of like a balloon encasing the fluid. This can stay forever. If this is the case, I would recommend doing a full tummy tuck to remove this balloon of scar tissue and fluid. There is also the possibility that you bled in this are which can create a lump of scar tissue that would also be removed during a full tummy tuck. And, since you mentioned that it is more prominent when you flex, this may be a sign that you have a Diastasis (separation of your muscles) which can also be repaired with a full tummy tuck. But, the first thing to try is to have your surgeon try to aspirate it. Good Luck

Hi Philosophical6160,
I have reviewed your photos, and pinpointing the exact cause of the irregularity that you see above your umbilicus can be challenging without being able to examine you in person, however, I think there are a number of possibilities:1. There is residual adiposity (fat) in this area relative to the surrounding tissues. If this is the case, a little 'touch-up' liposuction to this area with focus on fat equalization may help.2. You have rectus diastasis in this area (separation of the abdominal muscles). This issue would be addressed during an abdominoplasty procedure when the separation between the abdominal muscles is closed with suture. 3. The previous liposuction was a bit too superficial in this area, leading to some scarring. This is a more challenging issue to fix with 'touch up' liposuction, but could possibly be addressed during an abdominoplasty, although it is doubtful that this area would be excised or removed during that procedure since it is above the umbilicus. The scar tissue in this region could be divided with cautery during the procedure to try and soften its appearance.4. You could have a hernia in this area. I feel that this is the least likely of the scenarios I describe above, but it remains on the differential diagnosis.
Suffice it to say, I would recommend having an in-person evaluation by a qualified surgeon so that more diagnostic maneuvers can be performed and a plan can be outlined together.
Thank you for your question!
-Roger Smith, MDBeleza SurgeryCedar Park, Texas

To make an accurate assessment regarding the outcome of a plastic surgery procedure we always need to see proper before and after pictures.
If you don’t have before pictures, then ask your surgeon to forward the pictures they took.
Without knowing what you look like before the procedure we can’t assess What was done, the Delta or why outcome looks the way it does.
There are a few things that can contribute to contour irregularities just above the navel after liposuction.
The most common is skin laxity from previews pregnancies.
Skin laxity is the number one variable limiting quality Liposuction results.
Removing the fat can change the skin drapes over the torso.
The bellybutton stops the skin from draping the same way, and can create a skinfold or some variant of it above.
There are other variables or things to consider as well.It looks like there is a straight vertical line of fullness.
It’s very common for plastic surgeons to do aggressive liposuction in a straight line along the midline above the bellybutton.
This is supposed to represent a defined linea alba or muscle definition.
Next time you see your plastic surgeon you can ask them if they did intentional Liposuction in a straight vertical line in the midline of your upper abdomen.
If you look at tummy tuck results, you’ll often see this line.
Sometimes it looks good most of the time it looks surgical.
You definitely do not have a seroma any if you did, it should have been drained.
Your doctor was coming up with creative excuses.
The correct answer should’ve been wait. Six months until the results are final and then we will discuss your results.
In reality, results are pretty close to final by six weeks and they are truly final at three months.
Most plastic surgeons, however, will hold off on doing revision work until patients are six months out.
It may have been better to go straight to a tummy tuck if you’re contemplating that procedure in the first place.
A tummy tuck by itself does not reduce the subcutaneous fat layer.
It does, however make the subcutaneous fat layer thinner.
During that procedure when the skin and fat layer is pulled tight the thickness of the fat layer shrinks.
It’s kind of like when you pull a rubber band.
The tighter you pull it the thinner the rubber band becomes.
Patients with mild skin laxity sometimes develop more contour, irregularities after liposuction, even when the procedure was done perfectly then those who have tight skin or have excellent skin elasticity.
Basically loose skin is the enemy of Liposuction, and so is age.
In your case, this looks like it’s a direct result of how the procedure was performed, at least to some degree.
I would not do any intervention within the first six months.
Wait-and-see and then get an accurate assessment.
I typically tell every single patient to mark a six week interval on their calendar from the date of surgery and ask each patient to not view surgical outcomes critically until after six weeks from the procedure.
If this is what you look like at four weeks, The area of concern is most likely here to stay.
It will probably change slightly with time.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD