It’s natural to anticipate showing off a flatter, more attractive midsection after a tummy tuck. But what happens when the bulge in your upper abdomen after tummy tuck is still there? We’ll talk about some of the most common causes of this issue and the solutions your doctor may recommend.
What causes the bulge in upper abdomen after tummy tuck? There are many things that could be causing your bulge in upper abdomen after tummy tuck—the main reason being that the fat was not removed from the area where it should have been removed. If you have this problem, your surgeon may be able to correct it by making an adjustment during surgery or afterward through liposuction. If liposuction alone is unable to solve the issue, excess skin left over from the surgery could be another possible cause.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss Pain in upper abdomen after tummy tuck and Upper abdominal bulge after lipo.
Bulge In Upper Abdomen After Tummy Tuck
Tummy tuck surgery is an excellent way to get a flatter looking stomach. It works by removing excess fat and skin and restoring weakened abdominal wall muscles.
Many people find that a tummy tuck alone is enough to achieve their body goals. However, there are some situations where liposuction may be appropriate after the procedure. Keep reading to learn more.
Liposuction To Contour The Upper Abdomen
Liposuction is often used on areas such as the hips, flanks, and pubic region during a tummy tuck to create a slim and toned appearance. However, liposuctioning the upper abdomen during surgery is less common. This is due to concerns over possible healing complications.
As a result, some patients still have upper abdominal fullness following surgery. This area of concern can be addressed with liposuction three to six months after the tummy tuck procedure. Dr. Hayley Brown will discuss this consideration with you as she creates your surgical plan.
Liposuction After Post-Surgical Weight Gain
Some tummy tuck patients experience weight gain after surgery and notice increased abdominal fat as a result. The fat tends to appear in the upper part of the abdomen, while the lower abdomen remains relatively flat. When a situation like this happens, liposuction can often be used to remove the fat and restore an optimal appearance.
You can avoid the need for secondary liposuction by maintaining your weight. Leading a healthy lifestyle with a focus on proper diet and exercise will help.
Are you interested in seeing the results that our tummy tuck patients have achieved? You can view before and after photos here.
Pseudobursa After Tummy Tuck
Plastic surgery has allowed many patients to achieve their aesthetic goals so that they feel more attractive and confident. Dr. Tracy McCall offers a wide range of cosmetic treatments at her plastic surgery practice, including body contouring treatments to enhance the figure, facial plastic surgery procedures to erase signs of aging, and breast surgery to improve the bust line.
While each individual plastic surgery procedure can greatly enhance a patient’s appearance, results are even more remarkable when treatments are combined. Dr. McCall is frequently asked about combining breast reduction and tummy tucks for her Milwaukee, WI, patients. Dr. McCall is happy to perform these procedures in conjunction so her patients can optimize the results of surgery. Together, breast reduction and tummy tuck can give the physique a slender and more toned appearance, while improving overall body contours.
Patient Candidacy
Prior to performing any plastic surgery procedure, Dr. McCall is extremely careful in determining whether a patient is an ideal candidate for treatment. Safety is our number one priority when considering suitable plastic surgery candidates. When plastic surgery procedures are being combined, the candidacy guidelines are even stricter.
Combo procedures, such as breast reduction and tummy tuck, require the patient to be on the operating table for a longer period of time. The amount of bleeding also increases when multiple procedures are performed at once. Both of these factors increase the risk of surgery and make it imperative that a patient is health enough to undergo a surgical procedure. Ideal candidates should be free of any conditions that could increase the risk of surgical complications, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Benefits of Combining Breast Reduction and Tummy Tuck
Combination plastic surgery procedures do carry a slightly higher risk of complications. However, with Dr. McCall’s skill and experience, along with the advanced surgical techniques she employs, a combined breast reduction and tummy tuck is still a safe procedure with a high rate of success. Many patients consider combining breast surgery and tummy tuck (commonly known as a “mommy makeover”) because of the many benefits it provides.
Some of the greatest advantages of combining breast reduction and tummy tuck include the following:
- More cost efficient: Combining a breast reduction with a tummy tuck can minimize the cost of surgical treatment. By undergoing two procedures at once, patients can save the cost of a second surgeon’s fee, second hospital fee, and other costs that would be associated with performing the surgeries as two separate procedures.
- One recovery: Plastic surgery recovery can be difficult. And while it is true that recovering from a combo procedure can take slightly longer than recovering from a single plastic surgery treatment, most patients still feel that this slightly longer recovery is better than going through plastic surgery recovery twice.
- Enhanced results: The results of breast reduction or tummy tuck should be overwhelmingly positive, but when patients undergo a single procedure, it often draws attention to other areas of concern. For instance, a patient who improves the size and shape of their breasts through breast reduction may focus even more on unwanted fat and skin around the midsection. By combining a breast reduction and tummy tuck, Dr. McCall can optimize the results of surgery and provide patients with firmer, tighter breasts and a flatter, more toned tummy at the same time.
Schedule an Appointment
Fluctuations in weight, pregnancy, nursing, and aging are all factors that can alter the shape and size of the breasts and abdomen. If you’re interested in improving body contours and restoring a more toned appearance to your figure, you may be an ideal candidate for a combined breast reduction and tummy tuck. To learn more about this combo procedure, schedule an appointment with Dr. Tracy McCall at your earliest convenience.
Recovery time for breast reduction and tummy tuck
While recovery from abdominoplasty is different for every individual, there is a general tummy tuck recovery timeline that is applicable in most cases. While it may be six to eight weeks before you can resume all normal activities following tummy tuck surgery, you should be able to:
- Resume working a non-strenuous job within five to seven days
- Resume most household and work duties within four weeks
- Adopt an exercise routine within four to six weeks
It is recommended that you wear a compression garment for at least six weeks post abdominoplasty. However, it should not interfere with general comfort or abilities.
The First Few Weeks
It is important that you get plenty of rest in the days following tummy tuck surgery. Having a family member or friend help with household duties during this time is ideal. It can also be helpful to set up a rest area prior to your procedure to make sure you have a comfortable place to just relax. Think about books, magazines, and other things you may want to do to pass the time and allow yourself the opportunity to relax and recover during this period. This can have a profound impact on your long-term results.
Some swelling and mild discomfort may be present for the first few weeks. Our doctors will provide you with medications to deal with discomfort. Swelling can be reduced by wearing your compression garment and taking several walks throughout the day. These walks can be started the day after your procedure and you are free to take as many as you like, so long as you don’t exhaust yourself.
Week Six and Beyond
By weeks six, you may be able to resume a majority of your normal activities, though it could be one or two more weeks before you are completely healed. During your recovery, you will return to our office for follow-up visits to make sure you are progressing appropriately. These visits also give us an opportunity to answer any questions you might have and address any concerns.
You can help reduce risks and improve your experience by keeping these appointments and following all of our pre- and postoperative directions. These will include not smoking, getting plenty of rest, and only resuming activities after we give you the okay. Simply following these instructions can have a big impact on your comfort and results. We will cover these things in greater detail during your tummy tuck consultation and review as needed while you are in our care.
Final Results
Full recovery can be expected with eight weeks, but results may take a bit longer to be realized. Swelling and bruising typically subside within this time frame, but full slimming of the midline can take a few additional months.
Be patient during this time and take care of your body to help ensure your results are both pleasing and long-lasting. This includes eating properly, exercising regularly, and taking steps to improve your health and enhance your results. We will discuss all of this in greater detail during your initial consultation to make sure you understand what will be required for the most rewarding experience.
Warning Signs After Tummy Tuck
Some tummy tuck patients experience weight gain after surgery and notice increased abdominal fat as a result. The fat tends to appear in the upper part of the abdomen while the lower abdomen remains relatively flat
Upper Abdominal Bulge After Lipo
Possible factors that can cause a bump after liposuction are induration (the most common cause that appears about one week after liposuction and slowly dissipates over 6 months), uneven fat removal (area would be soft after about 4 months), muscle issues (ventral hernia, diastasis—this would get much bigger whenever you flex to do an abdominal ‘crunch’ exercise), hematoma/seroma ( slowly dissipates). Hopefully, over time, your issue will resolve.
Swelling after liposuction is very common, especially at 2 months post op. This can be due to fluid ( seroma or hematoma), uneven fat removal, or just injured fat cells and scar tissue. Massage and compression garments are usually helpful, but you should follow up with your surgeon if this does not continue to improve. Good luck!
