Why is my upper stomach sticking out after a full Tummy Tuck? It's has been 18 months and I look 7 months pregnant.

Without a picture it's impossible to comment but this is an issue that should be Commented on completely by your surgeon. If you to satisfy it may be time to get a second opinion.

If you have roundness to your abdomen and after abdominal plasty then he could be due to one of several things. The first would be increased thickness of skin due to fat. Second could be failure or loosening of your muscle tightening. The third and final could be due to internal fat. The first two are treatable with revisionary procedures and the last one can be improved The healthy lifestyle and exercise

I'm sorry that you are unhappy with your results.  As the others have said, photos are needed to comment on your particular situation.  Until then, it would be a good idea to go see a board certified plastic surgeon for a 2nd opinion and go from there.  If you have pre-op photos you can bring to your consultation that may help.  Good luck. ac 

If the fullness was present prior to surgery, a reverse upper abdominoplasty could have addressed that issue. This procedure is not for everyone. It is ideal for women with somewhat full breasts so the incisions can be hidden in the natural crease of the breasts where the scars will not be visible when standing.  I typically perform this procedure in conjunction with a mini-lower abdominoplasty when I feel it is the best choice for my patient. But, it can be performed alone, if a patient has received a traditional abdominoplasty elsewhere and still has concerns about the upper abdomen. 

Assuming you had a FULL abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) there are a couple of things that could be happening.  1. Recurrence of upper abdominal wall laxity.  This where in a full TT the muscles are sutured together.  2.  You have extra fat that wasn't (or couldn't) be addressed with your surgery.  3.  You have a significant amount of intra-abdominal fat.  1 & 2 can be improved with surgery, if you have 3 you have to loose more weight by dieting and exercise.  Photos would be helpful to give a more specific answer.

There are three factors which may cause continued swelling of the upper abdomen after an abdominoplasty.  These include Recurrent laxity or incomplete correction of the anterior abdominal fasciaIncompletely treated excess fat of the upper abdomen or weight gain post opIntra-abdominal or visceral fat

Due to the fat distribution of some patients and the thickness of their subcutaneous fat layer, tummy tuck surgery will leave the upper abdomen more protrusive than the lower where the tissues were cut out. This 'barrel' shape to the abdomen is often initially mistaken for swelling when it is due to fat either below the skin or behind the abdominal muscle around the organs. Weight loss and liposuction are the only known effective treatments.

Thank you for your question. To answer more definitively, photos would be helpful.  Causes of residual abdominal fullness and contour issues after a tummy tuck include: residual intra-abdominal fat, residual upper adominal subcutaneous fat, incomplete plication, and failure of the plication suture.  Most of these issues are usually predictable or preventable and should be discussed before surgery.   Discuss this matter further with your surgeon.  Best wishes on your recovery.

There are a  number of components. Upper fat excess, weakness of the abdo wall in the upper portion and then the intrabdominal fullness that include fat ad intra abdominal contents. If your issues are due to intra-abdominal fullness then this cannot be addressed. Usually the upper portion of the abdo wall is strengthened during the initial op and it would be unusual to reopen things to improve this area. The most common issue is excess fat in the upper region which can be liposucted. Often one is unable to remove all the fat one wants during the initial surgery as it would decrease the blood supply to the rest of the abdo during the initial surgery and performing liposuction on this area at a second stage is not an unusual occurrence.

Your fullness can be;Upper abdomenal fatIntraabdomenal fat (fat that wraps around your stomach and intestines.Looseness of the muscles of the abdomen.#1 can be treated with some liposuction. #2 can be treated through weight loss. #3 requires tightening of the muscles.See a plastic surgeon to determine which is your problem.Good Luck!