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Time for Mama!

UPDATED FROM Helpful5770
9 months post

2.5 months po revision/9 month po abx

Helpful5770
$16,200
Dr. Ashraf took of additional inches to lower my hairline and to remove the excess skin above the scarline 2.5 months ago. She also excised scar tissue and felt certain this would alleviate my discomfort and flatten my bulging abdomen. Unfortunately, it has only left the buldge even more prominent. I have asked that she send me for an abdominal ultrasound and am waiting to hear back. Ideally, this would help determine if there is hematoma/seroma/muscle malformation/etc that is causing the buldge. This advice came from a second opinion, however, they think I will have to have another revision to release a stitching error, or multiple errors.

Helpful5770's provider

Bernadette Wang-Ashraf, MD

Bernadette Wang-Ashraf, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Replies (5)

January 14, 2022
This is almost exactly like what I’m going thru rn. I’m 7 months post mini TT and almost immediately I developed a bulged even with drains.
January 19, 2022
Did you also have surgery here? It's a nightmare. I went from flat but flabby to looking 4 months pregnant in clothing.
January 15, 2022
OMG! This is my biggest fear with my upcoming tt on the 27th! So you think they removed the drain too early? I'm so, so sorry this happened to you. Do you trust your surgeon to do another surgery?
January 15, 2022
Also, do she o lipo with the tt?
January 19, 2022
She said she did perform lipo. I would likely go somewhere else considering it is worse since the first revision was performed. I'm awaiting my ultrasound now.
January 16, 2022
I did not have lipo with my tt as I was told I didn’t need it but I had Muscle repair. I did have my drains in but I had trouble with it. I also yanked on it on accident very early on and it really messed up the flow of the drain. I work in Rad so I’m going to have one of the techs scan me to see what’s really going on. Surgeon said I needed to get deep tissue massages and it would go down. But nothing yet. How are you doing? I hope it can be resolved.
January 19, 2022
I would love to hear of your results. I have been doing deep tissue/lymphatic message regularly with no improvement. I wore compression garments, watched my diet. Was painfully compliant!
February 9, 2022
I’m in the same boat. I don’t see an improvement yet. It goes down when I fast or wear a waist trainer but not eating and binding all day isn’t feasible lol
If the revision didn’t help you I’m wondering what other options are available
UPDATED FROM Helpful5770
2 months post

4-6 weeks po

Helpful5770
I began to feel really discouraged around week 3. My back hurt, I was tired of going to get drained, and the discomfort from the seroma was driving me mad! Week 4 allowed to the light to shine through. My seroma didn't refill, as Dr. Ashraf predicted and I was discharged to swim once the few remaining scabs healed over completely. Unfortunately, the next frustration of my recovery had been the tightness along the scar line and hang over (you can see in the pict below). Before my lower abdomen was rather smooth and now I look pregnant in clothes. However, Dr. Ashraf was quick to say she'll have to do a revision in office to release the scar and remove more skin. I appreciated her being quick to let me know rather than allowing me to grow in frustration over my result or have to ask for a revision. She handled it so well, as she did with the seroma.
Personally, I think the seroma was caused from the drain removal and the scar adhesion was caused by the extensive pressure the seroma put on the scar early on. I do not think this is typical or a surgical error. I'll update after my revision.

Replies (5)

August 20, 2021
I think your results are perfect.
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October 1, 2021
How are you now? Did the Dr do a revision?
November 12, 2021
How are you now? Would love to hear how you've been!
January 13, 2022
I am 2.5 months postop revision and the revision further revealed the buldge over the scar. Waiting to see of the doctor will send me for ultrasound.
January 16, 2022
I am 2.5 years post TT and muscle repair and have this EXACT ISSUE! It like reading my own description! I have been unsuccessful getting into my surgeon due to his massive popularity growth from from being discovered on Tik Tok. It’s such a frustrating thing. My quality of life is gone and I now have chronic pain and several conditions that developed because of the surgery. I never regained abdominal strength, I developed worsening posture, pelvic floor distinction, damaged lymphatic system and chronic abdominal and leg swelling, nerve damage, and difficulty breathing. This is not even a complete list! There’s so many things I can no longer do. I had researched over 10 years and several doctors before making the decision to have a mommy makeover. I thought I had it all figured out and knew everything I needed to know. Turns out i pretty much knew nothing and I ended up with all the things they DONT tell you about or think to research pre surgery. And apparently there’s hundreds of women who developed the same exact symptoms, yet doctors act stumped and can’t claim they’ve never heard that before. For anyone contemplating surgery, expand your research beyond the “typical risks” and really weigh whether or not you’re willing to ruin your life over a little extra skin!
UPDATED FROM Helpful5770
15 days post

Day 16

Helpful5770
Progress continues! Unfortunately, I got a fluid pocket/seroma after my drain was pulled. It has been drained at the office twice (every 3-4 days) and seems to be improving now. I'll return as needed for additional drainage. 50% of abdominoplasties show seroma at some point so this is not unusual.

Replies (0)