Q: I got full abdominoplasty with muscle repair and liposuction but at 8 weeks my tummy looks buldged out and it’s not at all flat and looks nothing like how it did in first few weeks. I am wondering if it is normal swelling or my muscle repair failed or is it weight gain.
A: Thank you for the question and photos. There are a number of reasons to see abdominal bulging after a tummy tuck including:
- Residual swelling
- Residual excess fat
- Residual abdominal wall weakness
- Pseudo-bursa or other scar tissue related process
- Other
Since you are still early following your tummy tuck it may certainly be swelling that is the source of the abdominal fullness. I would follow you plastic surgeons recommendations at this time. I would suspect that compression and time will be very helpful to allow the residual swelling to subside.
Good luck with the remainder of your recovery.
Dr. Remus Repta
