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Why is my upper abdomen still big after tummy tummy tuck
During the early stages of recuperation from a stomach tuck, it’s normal to encounter some edema and changes in the way your belly looks. However, there may be several reasons why your upper abdomen continues to seem bigger than normal after having a stomach tuck:
In this guide, we review
- Why is my upper abdomen still big after tummy tummy tuck?
- What Causes This Complication?
- Is Swelling after a Tummy Tuck Normal?
- How long do stomach muscles hurt after tummy tuck
Postoperative Swelling: Following surgery, especially a tummy tuck, swelling is a normal part of the healing process. It could linger for a few weeks or even months. Compared to other locations, the upper abdomen may take longer to completely recover from edema. Follow your surgeon’s postoperative care recommendations to successfully reduce swelling and give your body adequate time to recuperate.
Complete Fat Removal: A stomach tuck can get rid of extra skin and fat around the abdomen, but it might not get rid of all the fat. If you have considerable upper abdominal fat deposits, the treatment might not have totally removed them. To remove obstinate fat deposits and get the desired results, additional treatments like liposuction may occasionally be required.
Even after a tummy tuck, a small layer of subcutaneous fat may still be present in the upper abdomen. This fat layer might provide the impression of a somewhat bigger upper abdomen since it is located just beneath the skin. To choose the best course of action for therapy, it’s critical to distinguish between excess fat and lingering skin laxity.
Weakness or Separation of the Abdominal Muscles: A tummy tuck also entails strengthening and mending the abdominal muscles. However, the operation could not completely cure any underlying muscular weakness or separation in the upper abdomen. These conditions may add to the appearance of a bulge there.
Poor Surgical Technique or Inadequate Tissue Removal: In a small percentage of cases, a tummy tuck’s disappointing results might be due to poor Surgical Technique or insufficient removal of superfluous tissue. To reduce the danger of these problems, it is essential to select a trained and experienced plastic surgeon to do the treatment.
Consult your plastic surgeon if you have any concerns about how your upper abdomen will look following a stomach tuck. They can analyze your particular circumstances, gauge your level of recovery, and offer you the necessary advice and suggestions. They could recommend further treatments or procedures to address any unresolved issues and help you achieve the outcomes you want.
A “muffin top” refers to the protuberance of the upper abdomen, which results in a protrusion (bulging outward) of the upper abdomen and a concave (curving inward) lower abdomen. This configuration contrasts with the more desirable “ideal” abdominal shape characterized by a concave upper abdomen and gentle convexity of the lower abdomen. Below is an example of a patient who underwent a tummy tuck with muscle repair by another surgeon. The picture illustrates how her surgery resulted in an unsatisfactory “muffin top” appearance.
What Causes This Complication?
Patients consulting me for a revision tummy tuck routinely ask, why did this happen?
To understand how this complication occurs, we have to review the anatomy and surgical maneuvers used during tummy tuck surgery. After lifting the skin of the muscles, surgeons repair them by plicating the muscles in the middle like a corset. Plicating just translates to “tightening”. Both above and below the belly button, the muscles perform this vertical tightening.
If one tightens the muscles above the belly button less than the muscles below, it can create a muffin top. Optimally, your surgeon should tighten the muscles above the belly button just slightly more than the muscles below the belly button in order to provide you with the desirable concave upper abdomen and slightly convex lower abdomen.
Another possible cause of the muffin top after a tummy tuck is the appropriately placed tension of the repaired muscles. Thinned-out muscles and their lining cause this muffin top deformity in some patients. This occurs following muscle tightening if the increased tension makes the muscle and lining stretch out again. The medical terminology for thinned-out muscles is muscle attenuation. Unfortunately, it is not possible to tell if your muscle repair will hold until after your surgery.
Is Swelling after a Tummy Tuck Normal?
Swelling in the abdominal area is perfectly normal and expected after a tummy tuck. In this area of the body, the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels work as a drainage system for fluids. A tummy tuck cuts these vessels. Because of this, the body removes fluid from the area more slowly, resulting in fluid buildup known as edema or swelling.
Swelling is typically at its worst for the first 2 months following a tummy tuck, though everyone is a little bit different. As the body repairs blood and lymphatic vessels, the swelling should continue to resolve. This healing process can take up to a year or longer to complete, so it is common to see minor swelling in that time.
The amount of swelling experienced after your tummy tuck surgery can also vary depending on the treatment plan you choose. A mini tummy tuck or a drainless tummy tuck typically results in less recovery time and swelling than a traditional tummy tuck. Alternatively, adding liposuction to a tummy tuck can produce swelling in other areas of the body as well.
How long do stomach muscles hurt after tummy tuck
After a tummy tuck, it’s normal to experience abdominal tightness. The nerves are cut off whenever an incision of any kind is made. This is unavoidable. In regard to a tummy tuck, abdominal tightness is the result of nerve damage. But, as you heal, this sensation will dissipate. Patients can expect to feel abdominal tightness for 6–12 weeks. In some cases, it can take up to a year to regain normal nerve function. While this can seem alarming, it’s a natural part of the healing process. Muscle tightening and the skin’s pulling and stitching together are other factors that can contribute to abdominal tightness. Again, as the body recovers, these sensations should improve.
Conclusion
There are several treatments that can help ease abdominal tightness after tummy tuck surgery. This generally involves at-home care, like dry brushing and Cmassaging. Both of these methods help increase blood circulation and prompts lymph drainage for natural detoxification. The physical contact will also help stimulate the nervous system and make you feel more relaxed.