Not So Sure ... Tummy Tuck

Well, after sending yet another email to my PS with more photos and being very direct, she finally said I could come have it checked out. She said that yes, there may be some fluid in there and then laid me back to aspirate some fluid. I wanted to stand up when it was being done because the fluid seems to stick out more when I stand (easier to completely drain it?), but she laid me back & extracted some fluid. I didn't see how much because I was laying down & she was fairly curt. :(
She told me to wear my binder & told me to quit touching my abdomen because I was disrupting the healing process. Huh? I hadn't been touching it--I only take my binder off to shower & snap quick photos right beforehand. I don't appreciate the implication that it's somehow my fault. I've been emailing/calling her about it since 10 dpo because it's been there the whole time.

When I got home I looked in the mirror. It's still there, only very, very slightly less bulgy. Also, the needle mark is right in the center of it ... from what I've seen online, most PS have the patient stand & then aspirate from the lower part so gravity assists in the collection/drainage.

Ugh. So I've also been asking--since 10 dpo--about a bulging/swollen area above my incision. I emailed, asking if it looked ok or if it was a seroma. Her assistant called me back and was extremely rude. She talked over me, telling me that I need to quit PLAYING with it. She repeated the term "playing with it" a few times during her diatribe, told me I was fine and "we'll see you at your appointment on the 18th of December." That was almost 3 weeks away. When I tried to get a word in, she interrupted me & ended the phone call. My adult daughter was with me during the call (it was on speaker) and she was shocked at the incredible rudeness, lack of care & telling me to quit playing with myself (ok, she said quit playing with "it", whatever "it" is). lol

It gets worse. I haven't been touching my abdomen at all because I've been chastised, scolded & lectured to keep my hands off my abdomen. Today in the shower I accidently ran my hand over the scar. No, I wasn't poking and prodding at my stomach (and I never have). Anyway, the area that I asked about being bulgy above my incision ... the incision there has a large (2") very hard round knot that feels "deep" and nothing like any scar/surgery I've ever had. That area also still drains a tiny bit of fluid I think, as I've noticed a little crusty scab that keeps reappearing. So I email the doctor, simply asking if she thought that was probably just part of the healing process/scarring and if so, is there anything I should be doing to take care of my scar like massage, silicone, etc.
The assistant emailed me back and said she had asked to doctor about my "lumpy bumpy" spot (I didn't use that term--I'm an adult??!), and the doctor said it's just suture that will dissolve, leave it alone & I can talk her about scar cream at my appointment next week. I don't have an appointment next week. I have an appointment on the 18th. That's not next week. So, it sounded like the PS didn't even look at the photos, but whatever.

Why the heck do they keep telling me to quit touching my abdomen, leave it alone, stop playing with it, I'm preventing it from re-sealing. I'm NOT touching it. I want it to heal & the bulges to go away, so why would I touch it???

I feel frustrated. The follow up & attitude with this PS is awful. I've been expressing my concern regarding these bulges (upper & lower) since 10 dpo. My questions aren't being answered, my concerns not addressed. At all. If she would have answered my questions/taken a look at my bulges from the beginning, I feel like my healing & results would be better. Instead, I'm sure I have more fluid that needs aspirated from the upper bulge & she doesn't plan to aspirate it again--just the one time. And I'm genuinely concerned about the lower bulge ... it moves waterbed-like when I'm putting no my binder & the hard knot is right there, also. If I had chosen a better PS, this would have been checked out & taken care of. I have no aftercare whatsoever. What a ripoff, seriously. :(
That was a long vent. Sorry. I really wanted my TT to be a positive thing, feel good about it, etc. The condescending attitude, rudeness & lack of follow-up has made it a negative experience. :(

I'll attach a couple photos that I sent regarding the lower bulge & hard mass. Perhaps I'm just crazy & no one else can see it ...

A little over 17 years ago I lost 100 lbs through diet & exercise. Like many people, I was surprised & disappointed at what my body looked like after the weight loss--so much loose skin! I've worn my long tops/baggy clothing over my abdomen since then in order to disguise the skin apron.
I was physically active--an avid hiker/climber--yet nothing I did tightened my abdominal skin.
A couple years ago I started seriously considering a tummy tuck to remove the excess skin. I wanted to have it done, but it's so expensive! Fast forward--I finally decided to go ahead & do it, so started reading/researching about the procedure. I live in Maine, and there aren't many board certified plastic surgeons here. In fact, there is only one within an hour of my home (bad reviews), so I went to the Portland area to have some consultations. After a couple consultations, I chose my surgeon--experienced, confident, good reviews. The office is a 3 hour drive from my house, but that's life in Maine.
Between consultation & the scheduled surgery, I was excited, but also nervous. It's a major surgery. Many years ago I was a surgical tech, so I knew the basics of what was going to happen to my body in the OR. lol I consoled myself by asking the surgeon questions and also doing research on sites such as RS.
I would have to stay in the Porland area for a few days after the surgery so I would be close to my doctor, just in case. I stayed in the area until after the first follow-up appointment, which was 4 days after the procedure.
My adult daughter accompanied me & stayed in the hotel with me, helping me out during those first few days. I had a wedge pillow, a body pillow & probably 4 other pillows that I used to keep myself upright with my knees elevated, etc. I was fairly comfortable. My drains didn't even really bother me much and I was able to walk around a little bit with a walker.
A week later, my drains were removed in office. The first one was uncomfortable when the assistant pulled it out; the second one HURT--burned/ripped/seared--when it was yanked out. The pain took my breath away & brought tears to my eyes. I hadn't expected it to be so painful, but I was glad it was over with!
I was wearing my binder 24/7. Two days after drain removal, I noticed a swollen area in my lower left abdomen above my incision, and also a raised area in my upper right abdomen. I took photos, messaged them to my Dr & was told to come on in to have them checked out. When I got there, the Dr inserted a needle into the lower area, but no fluid came out. She didn't appear concerned about the upper loose area.
The upper loose/bubble looking area became slightly more pronounced & every days since then. I sent in photos, but the office didn't seem concerned. At my two week follow-up, I expressed my concern about the upper bulge again. The assistant went to get the Dr and she had me lay back & thoroughly palpated it. I told her it hurt a lot when she pressed on it, but she thought it was fine. Approximately 10 minutes after leaving the office, while shifting gears in my car, I had a very sharp, sudden pain in the area of the bulge (between xiphoid process and belly button). I pulled over, afraid something had happened like stitches popping or (??) and sat for a few minutes, waiting to see if a bruise would develop there or anything else. I didn't want to continue driving the 3 hours home to *then* discover my condition had changed & have to drive all the way back. I called the PS's office & told the assistant/receptionist what had happened. She said she would let the Dr know & then call me back. She did call me back a few minutes later & said I should be fine, that shifting gears wouldn't have caused an injury. I told her the area appeared to be swelling with a tiny area of discoloration. She said I was fine. I said I was going to send photos, anyway. I didn't feel fine, at all.
I sent photos. The upper bulge/bubble area that was slightly to the right of midline that I had before was more defined looking & I sent a video showing that the "bubble area" blanched when I would inhale. The assistant emailed me back and said it looked fine. That everything was fine. She used the word "fine" three times in the email. I was concerned, still. What was the bulge? Muscle? Seroma? Hematoma? So I emailed back and asked, pointedly, did they actually watch the video? And what was the bulge? At that point, the office called me back & said I had probably just twisted and irritated something, but it was fine & normal & nothing to be worried about. I drove home. Worried.
That was five days ago. I have been taking photos of it every day, trying to watch for changes. I do believe it is getting more pronounced, so I again sent photos and a video to the surgeon's office yesterday, expressing my concerns and asking what the bulge/bubble is. I received an email back saying it looks normal for 3 weeks post op, that the entire anterior surface of my abdomen needs to seal and heal. But no direct answer regarding the bulge/bubble. I'm still worried. I'd feel better if she would say something to the effect of, "the bulge looks like a small area of fluid (or whatever) that should reabsorb on its own." Or *something* like that, directly addressing the bulge. I'm pretty bummed out--not because I have a bubble/bulge, but because I don't feel like my concern isn't being addressed & I'm afraid the lack of attention to the bulge may cause it to become encapsulated (if it's a seroma).
I would just REALLY like to know what this thing is. It's not sealing down. It's not going away. It's painful.
It's almost Thanksgiving, so I guess I'll continue to photo it daily & then call & send photos again on Friday or the following Monday. If it's still there with no change or becoming more pronounced, I need her to either see me or I'll go elsewhere because I do feel worried about it.
Otherwise, I think the actual surgery/tummy tuck looks pretty good so far. I'm swelling still of course, but my scar is shaped well. I'd like to be excited about what it will look like when the swelling goes down, but I'm not able to feel the excitement at this point. I'm happy the extra skin is gone, but currently I'm .... stressed.
TIPS if you're starting the process:
If I were to start over and do this whole process again, I would make sure the surgeon I chose was very communicative and follows up with patients closely. I would also not care at all about the cost of the procedure. Most PS's are within a few thousand dollars of each other--it would be worth thousands to know you were being followed closely and your results & satisfaction were important to your doctor. Seriously. Before plunking down your money, consider what you'd feel like if--after the surgery--you felt blown off with your concerns. Worth extra to feel safe/confident in your decision. My PS wasn't the cheapest, but I'd definitely have gone with the most expensive if I knew I'd be followed up with more closely & openly.