Time for Mama!

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.

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.

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.