Swollen and hard lower stomach 4 months post op tummy tuck. Normal?

Question

From under my scar to the pubic bone is swollen and very firm to touch. Some days if I wear tight clothing I think I look pregnant. I'm a shift worker and I've noticed after working a 4 day block my tummy swells even bigger. My work pants aren't tight around my waist and at present I'm still on restricted duties due to my work type. A strip down the centre of my stomach is still numb too. Is this normal?

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.
As always, it is best to be seen in person ( by your plastic surgeon) for precise diagnosis and treatment.
Generally speaking, abdominal wall "swelling" ( which may still be considered “normal” even several months after surgery) after tummy tuck may be related to:
1. Swelling in the soft tissues.  This may take several months to resolve and may worsen with increased activity  or at the end of the day.   Patience  is required to allow for resolution of the swelling. The swelling occurs because of the interruption of venous and lymphatic channels that occurs during the tummy tuck operation.
2. Fluid accumulation in the space between the skin and the abdominal wall muscle.  this may consist of blood ( hematoma)  or serum (seroma).  This fluid accumulation can generally be diagnosed by physical examination ( occasionally ultrasound  may be helpful).  Treatment consists of aspiration;  several episodes of aspiration may be necessary. 
3. Separation of the abdominal wall muscle repair may lead to a swelling/bulge appearance. This may be diagnosed on physical examination  with your surgeon examining you in different bodily positions. One of the steps of a tummy tuck procedure involves reapproximation (plication)  of the rectus muscles.  These muscles have spread apart during pregnancy and/or weight gain. Bringing them together again in the midline helps to “tighten” the abdominal wall as well as to narrow the waistline.
4. Residual adipose tissue may be confused for swelling. Again this is most easily diagnosed by physical examination. Additional liposuction surgery maybe necessary to improve the results of surgery.
Generally, it takes many months for swelling to resolve after tummy tuck surgery and it may take up to one year  (or greater)  for complete skin redraping  to occur.  Numbness along the abdominal wall may persist for months and even up to years. You may even find patches of skin that are permanently numb after tummy tuck surgery.
I hope this helps.

Swollen and hard lower stomach 4 months post op tummy tuck. Normal?

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Swollen and hard lower stomach 4 months post op tummy tuck. Normal?

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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