swelling tummy tuck

[lroy]

i am 8 weeks post op from tummy tuck and lipo and my stomach is still swelling. To me it looked flatter right after surgery. I am happy with the results but still feel it is swelling is this normal and how long could i expect this. I no longer wear the garment but did for 4 weeks straight. i did have to have fluid drained 2 weeks after.
could it be fluid that could be drained again or is it just a normal part of the healing. I hate it cause i want it to be flat. Feel like i have to still wear firming garments to look good in my clothes!

[danya]

It's just going to take a little more time. Now that you have the compression garment off, and you're moving around a bunch more than right after surgery, it's perfectly normal to swell a little bit. Not likely that it's anything that can be drained.
Ask your doctor if s/he wants you to put the garment back on. Probably not, but it might be a good idea to wear it when you exercise since an increase in heart rate and blood pressure can contribute to swelling.
Let me know what happens.
Danya

[lroy]

Danya, thanks for your quick response, i agree with what you are saying and in fact i put the garment back on last night and when i woke up this morning i felt better. I know i have to be patient.

Question: If after all has settled down and i feel i want more results would the doctor consider going back in a doing more lipo for more contouring affect. Although i am very happy i would like to see more contour. I am in good shape and work out and am not much over weight about 15 pounds. Although i do have these side "love handles that just do not seem to go away. they almost seem more prominent to me know particularly through the sides and back and hip area if that makes sense.

Is this common that people go back in for more lipo and to get more complete results. I would think so?

Thanks again, i love your site lroy

[danya]

yes, the love handles and waist can seem more prominent after tummy tuck because everything is pulled down tight, rather than being soft and wavy, and sinking in over the hips.

Dont worry this will soften up and you'll get some curves back.

As for a revision, it's still too early to say, and you'll have to ask your doctor in particular what he is willing to do. If he does agree to a revision, you should probably wait until it's been a minimum of 6 months from your surgery to allow for healing.

Take care,
Danya

[lroy]

thanks again.

I have another question exercising after tummy tuck.

What do you recommend and how what kind of stomach exercises will help to keep those muscles tight.

i have started with stretches, crunches etc.. but i do not want to upset the healing after 8 weeks either is this too soon. My doctor says let my body be the guide and if it hurts stop.

What type of fitness regime do you suggest for the first 6m ?

[danya]

Your doctors advice that "if it hurts, dont do it" is very reasonable. And it's understandable that you'd want to get into shape and protect your investment.

Crunches and stretches sound good. There's no prescribed exercise regimen after tummy tuck surgery. But it is a good idea to stay in shape. Basically, you can do whatever you'd like at this point, if your doctor says it's ok.

Danya

[lroy]

Hi Danya, remember me? Well i went back to the doc and he said that he too felt that the stomach was fuller than it was right after surgery. Right after surgery my stomach was a flat as a piece of paper and the pouch i had from having 2 c sections were gone. Now i have the fullness back (not in the same way granted) but still it is not flat like i expected. I was so excited and now i feel bummed.

I did wear the supports for the required time etc.. Anyway i guess how i can best put it is that it still looks good and definetly better than what i had but it is not flat. I have some bulk back under the belly button like a small roll between belly button and allow incision line all the way across to each hip. I don't really think it is swelling b/c it is not going away and i am almost 10 weeks now! Doctor said that it is still a bit too early to say for sure but that yes this can happen. Why is this. Is is possible that i have ate back enough to build new fat cells. ( i don't see it i have not gained weight and i have not endulged to that extreme. ) i thought once the fat is removed through tummy tuck and lipo it is gone forever. Could fat move from other areas like my flaks?

Anyway he told me to wait until the end of summer and then come back and see how it has progessed. If still bulky there he said he would be willing to go back in and do some touch up lipo to finish the body contouring. He said these things do happen.

How often? Has anyone else experienced this? How many more times could i have to experience this? Did he just not suck out enough fat from the first lipo job perhaps? and why did it look so good the first week and then it creeped back? I would like to think it will go away and it is just swelling but i am not convinced - it seems like it is there to stay, i have not seen a change in the look now for 2 weeks. I even wear the binder to bed again to try and see if it will help it go down?

Any comments? And do you think more lipo will happen and will it keep it the way i want it. I work out, watch what i eat and am not too overweight to speak of. (I could lose 10 to 15 pounds)

Please help calm me down. I am so upset! :mad:

[danya]

what does it look like first thing in the morning when you get up? if it's flatter, then it's probably swelling. if not, then fat.

[lroy]

it is a bit flatter but not much that is why i tend to agree. Why is this? WHere did the fat come from in your opinion/


Does it move from other areas of the stomach. Could it be that he did not take enough when he did the lipo?

I would like to go back before the end of the summer and get him to do the surgery now so i don't have to go through bathing suit weather with this roll? I just have this feeling i wait until the end of summer and will still look the same. He even said himself most of the swelling should be gone by now. what do you think

[danya]

sak him to do the lipo, and see what he says.
he might think it's fair, if you offer to pay for OR and anesthesia, and he'll waive his surgeon's fee.
some docs will do lipo in their own approved OR with IV sedation and local tumescent anesthesia which might save a little on the costs...
let me know what he says.
danya

[lroy]

Hi back Danya, yes he did say he would do the lipl no cost and all i would have to pay is for the hospital fee (500 dollars) so i guess that is his way of making it better too on his part.

Do you think i did something wrong in the healing process. I did everything he said i was to do?

I don't want to wait until the end of the summer though b/c i know it is not swelling it does not look any different in the morning after i take the binder off. So i think it is fat deposits too

I called today to ask if he will do it asap and i am waiting to hear back. I hope so b/c i want to feel good for the summer.

Even if i have to wear binder again for 2 to 3 weeks i don't care it will be done.

Does this happen often. The tuck looks so good - i feel he did a great job he is board certified and all.

[danya]

I'm sure you did nothing wrong, it's just mother nature to heal a little different.
After all, surgery is not natural and each individual is different so it's just chance that you need a little touch up. It's pretty common, I'd estimate around 20% (1 in 5) go back for a little more lipo.
Keep me posted.
d.