Cosmetic Surgery Tips

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 a number of 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, lower abdomen bulge after tummy tuck, pain in upper abdomen after tummy tuck, and 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, it may occasionally be required to do additional treatments like liposuction.

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 close below 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. This 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. To address any unresolved issues and assist you in getting the outcomes you want, they could recommend further treatments or procedures.

Why is my upper abdomen still big after tummy tummy tuck

A “muffin top” refers to the protuberance of the upper abdomen which results in a protrusion (bulging outward) of the upper abdomen and concave (curving inward) lower abdomen. This contrasts to 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. As you can see in the picture, her surgery resulted in a less than desirable “muffin top” appearance.

What Causes This Complication?

The question that patients consulting me for a revision tummy tuck routinely ask me is 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”. This vertical tightening of the muscles is performed both above and below the belly button.

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 the desirable concave upper abdomen and slightly convex lower abdomen.

Another possible cause of the muffin top after a tummy tuck can occur despite appropriately placed tension of the repaired muscles. Thinned out muscles and their lining causes 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.

Tummy Tuck Revision to Repair a “Muffin Top”

We can fix a “muffin top” in two ways. If improper muscle tightening by the previous surgeon is the cause, then a revision tummy tuck will require resetting the proper tension so that the upper muscles are tightened slightly more than the bottom muscles. If the muffin top resulted from muscle attenuation, then you will require a Tri-Modality repair, which will not only tighten/repair but also reinforce your entire abdominal musculature, thereby eliminating the potential for further muscle stretch.

Pictured above, a 48-year-old mom with identified muscle attenuation who underwent the comprehensive Tri-Modality repair during her tummy tuck to avoid a post-operative “muffin top” deformity.

Are You Considering A Revision Tummy Tuck?

Are you unhappy with your results or struggling with a “muffin top” or other complications following a tummy tuck surgery? Contact Dr. Mowlavi for a free consultation to see how you can improve your results and achieve a flat, beautiful stomach. For your convenience, we have offices in Newport and Laguna Beach, CA.

lower abdomen bulge after tummy tuck

Swelling after a tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, is quite typical for a surgery this extensive. How long swelling lasts after a tummy tuck depends on many different factors. Understanding why swelling occurs may help you to better prepare mentally and have more realistic expectations for your recovery and results.

Swelling after a Tummy Tuck Is 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. During a tummy tuck, these vessels are cut. Because of this, the body removes fluid in the area a lot slower, 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.

Swelling Can Fluctuate throughout the Day

After your initial swelling goes down, minor swelling continues and can be affected by your daily activity. This is because gravity is not your friend. For instance, long hours standing up can increase swelling in the abdomen, but this usually goes down after a good night of sleep. Once you start exercising, you may also notice increased swelling following workouts.

Tips to Help Reduce Swelling

Although swelling is a natural part of the healing process, there are some things you can do to help reduce the level of severity.

pain in upper abdomen after tummy tuck

Many people underestimate the full extent of a tummy tuck procedure and don’t realize that not only is excess skin removed, the remaining tissue is then stretched and repositioned entirely. It is an extensive procedure and although there is pain involved in the post-operative recovery, each patient’s recovery experience is slightly different. This makes it impossible to say exactly how you will feel after surgery. There are a few concepts that can be discussed, however, that will give you a better idea as to how you may feel after an abdominoplasty procedure.

Just like each recovery is unique, each tummy tuck procedure is slightly different from the next. This means that the type of pain and amount of discomfort felt by each person is, understandably, also different. Pain experienced post operatively largely correlates to the extent of the procedure performed. This includes factors like whether or not liposuction was preformed in conjunction with the tummy tuck and the type of tummy tuck performed. Patients who undergo a circumferential tummy tuck (a tuck that goes all the way around the body), for example, will likely have a longer and more uncomfortable recovery than someone who undergoes a mini tummy tuck procedure.

As far as the type of pain and location that is felt, there are a couple of experiences commonly reported by patients post operatively. If painful, patients will usually notice discomfort in the upper abdomen, as opposed to the lower abdomen where the incision was made. At first this may seem confusing, but it is easily explained by the fact that the lower abdomen is actually numbed as a result of the abdominal tissues being lifted and repositioned, thereby knocking out nerves in the lower abdominal area. The upper abdomen, however, contains many nerves that are still intact and that may cause pain to be felt in that area.

The type of pain felt post-operation varies. It is not uncommon, as an example, for it to take up to six weeks for muscle spasms in the abdomen to ease and nerves to recover. After a tummy tuck procedure, nerves recover from the outside in towards your belly button and some, typically under the belly button, never recover at all. In most cases though, patients report that the first ten days after the operation are the most uncomfortable and that the discomfort lessens exponentially after that point. The pins and needles sensation is very common during the recovery. Most people find this sensation tolerable.

Your own pain tolerance is one of the most important things to consider when assessing how much pain you may experience after an abdominoplasty procedure. Some patients do not feel the need to complete the standard pain medications prescribed post operatively. Others, however, require a refill on pain medication or the use of a constant rate of infusion of medicine. The infusion is a relatively new method of pain control for patients at home post-operation. This pain control is typically supplied through a small pump that the patient wears for a few days after the operation. When trying to decide how you might feel after a tummy tuck, think about how you have healed from any injuries in the past. That should give you a relatively good understanding of how you may heal from a tummy tuck.

The extent of abdominoplasty procedures leaves potential for, what some patients describe as a long and painful recovery. Here at Edelstein Cosmetic however, our patients usually experience minimal post-operative pain due to excellent pain management coupled with thorough home care instructions. All of our surgeries are overseen and monitored by a board certified anesthesiologist and follow up examinations will be with your specific surgeon. As always, be sure to call and schedule a consultation with a doctor to address your specific questions and concerns.

How long do stomach muscles hurt after tummy tuck

Do you feel self-conscious about your tummy? Sometimes, no matter how much effort we put into working our core, it’s not enough to achieve the results we want. This can cause frustration and prevent individuals from showing off their body confidently. Tummy tuck surgery can be a great solution for both men and women who want to gain more definition to their midsection. If you are considering a tummy tuck and have questions about recovery time and side effects, call Rao Plastic & Hand Surgery in Tucson, AZ. Leading plastic surgeon Dr. Arun Rao will be happy to discuss your unique goals and whether tummy tuck surgery is right for you.

How does a tummy tuck work?

A tummy tuck is an outpatient surgery that uses general anesthesia and takes about 1 – 5 hours, depending on the case. First, Dr. Rao will use specialized techniques to surgically remove excess skin and small pockets of fat. Then, the remaining tissue will be pulled taut to achieve a tighter appearance. The incisions will be closed and dressed. From there, patients will be monitored before they are released to go home.

Tightness after a tummy tuck

After a tummy tuck, it’s normal to experience abdominal tightness. When any type of incision is created, the nerves are severed. 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. Other factors that can contribute to abdominal tightness include muscle tightening and the skin being pulled tight and stitched together. Again, as the body recovers, these sensations should improve.

Treatments to ease tightness

There are several treatments that can help ease abdominal tightness after tummy tuck surgery. This generally involves at-home care, like dry brushing and massaging. 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. If these methods aren’t providing the relief you need, Dr. Rao may recommend prescription medication. During your follow-up exams, let Dr. Rao know how you are feeling so he can determine which therapies may provide you with the most benefits.

Tummy tuck recovery: factors to consider

Each patient is different, which means recovery will vary for everyone. There are several things to consider:

At Rao Plastic & Hand Surgery, we recommend that patients make it their top goal to rest and recover after surgery. Allowing your body optimal time to heal will actually help speed up your recovery. If you have any questions regarding your progress, do not hesitate to call our office in Tucson, AZ. Our team will be happy to assist you.

Discover all you need to know prior to undergoing a tummy tuck by scheduling a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Arun Rao. Dr. Rao and our team at Rao Plastic & Hand Surgery are dedicated to educating our clients so they can make well-informed decisions regarding their cosmetic goals. Call our office in Tucson, AZ today.

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