Why Do I Weigh 8 Pounds Heavier One Week Post Op?

Immediately after a tummy tuck your body weight may be higher due to the IV fluids you received during the surgery as well as the infiltrate that was administered during the liposuction. Your body will eliminate the majority of  this fluid (and weight) as time goes on. Don't be too concerned with your weight as much as your contour; your weight will come down eventually.

Best wishes,

Dr.Bruno

Thank you for your questions regarding why you weigh more now than you did before your abdominoplasty and liposuction. This is normal. During your surgery, you are given fluids through an IV. After the surgery, you are also encouraged to drink fluids.  Due to the surgery, your body's reaction is to hold onto as much fluid as possible to assist in healing.  Once the "coast is clear," your body releases this fluid, and you excrete this extra fluid through your kidneys. This is called post-operative edema or swelling. Compression garments help to minimize the post-operative swelling. You are still encouraged to drink fluid because that is what your body needs. Since you are concerned, I would suggest you follow up with your plastic surgeon just to make sure that this is normal post-operative swelling. However, in most cases, it is almost always just swelling. If you had a history of having to take diuretics or fluid pills in the past, you might need to take a fluid pill to assist in mobilizing some of this fluid. Thank you for the questions regarding weighing more after a tummy tuck. If you have any more questions regarding post-operative weight gain after a tummy tuck, please call my office.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katzen

At this time, please don’t weigh yourself, because you’ll be disappointed that you may be heavier than you were pre-surgery. This is all related to swelling that’s common after surgery. Fluid retention contributes to a heavier weight, but as you heal, you’ll find that the swelling decreases, along with your weight.

Be nice to yourself, stop stressing and hide the scale! it is normal for there to be swelling and fluid retention after surgery. Continue to wear your compression garment, follow your doctors instructions about getting up and moving around. This is all a part of the healing process. Be patient, relax, and be confident that you will be looking fantastic in a few weeks time.

All of this weight is meaningless.  You will lose it again.   It is a combination of things, but is mostly due to swelling.  Be patient.

Swelling is common after surgery and you'll find that it adds the pounds as well. Allow yourself a couple of months for the majority of swelling to subside, as this is generally how long it takes. You'll find that your weight will gradually reduce as the swelling subsides.Tips to help swelling:drink fresh water and go to the washroom regularlycut down on saltleisurely walk around to keep your circulation goingwear your compression garment as advisedPlease talk to your surgeon if swelling is of particular concern, as they may be able to help you with advice specific to your situation. Best of luck!

                   It’s
not unusual for patients to have significant swelling following
abdominoplasty.  This occurs for a
variety of reasons.  Patients are
typically given significant amounts of I.V. fluids during their surgical
procedure.  In addition, the body
responds to trauma or surgery by retaining fluid as a protective mechanism. 

                 Under
these circumstances. Patients can see significant weight gain from fluid
retention following abdominoplasty. 
This weight gain typically peaks 5 to 7 days following surgery and in
most cases resolves spontaneously.

                   In
your case an eight pound weight gain would not be unanticipated following this
type of procedure.  If you’re
anxious about this phenomena, discussion with your surgeon is appropriate.  Your surgeon should be able to reassure
you and make your post operative experience more comfortable.

It is very normal to be up several pounds after having surgery.  The body's response to trauma is to hold onto water.  This should continue to go down as you move around more, (a few weeks).  Everyone is different, and will heal at different rates.  Good to stay in touch with your plastic surgeon, as sometimes patients will have a focal collection of fluid, (seroma), that might need to be addressed.

Thank you for your question. What you are experiencing is common post operatively and can be attributed to swelling, water retention, and tumescent fluids which may have been used during your surgery. Try to shift your focus to your health and recovery and be patient with the weight and swelling as it should resolve on its own over the next several weeks. Also, keep in mind that while you may see improvement in the coming weeks, it can take several months and in some cases, over a year to have your final result. Patience is key. Best of luck with your continued recovery,

This weight gain is normal for reasons that may include IV fluids administered during surgery, swelling, water retention and so forth. Focus on your recovery and this will resolve itself naturally. The swelling will subside over the next few weeks and the body will eliminate most of the fluid as it continues to heal.
If this continues to be a concern for you I recommend addressing it with your plastic surgeon. They will be able to put you at ease and also ensure that you have not developed a seroma, which can be a common complication after a tummy tuck.