Tummy Tuck Swelling

 

 

Tummy Tuck Swelling

 

Swelling After Tummy Tucks

Swelling after tummy tucks can be considerable. The swelling after my Tummy Tuck and Lateral Thigh Lift Surgery was enormous as can be seen in the photograph. My first hint should have been the day following surgery when I weighed myself and found that the surgery actually added a few pounds to my weight. I was expecting to see a 5 lb loss from all the skin that was removed. Instead I found I gained weight.

 

Tummy Tuck Swelling

Tummy Tuck Swelling 3 Days  After Surgery	Tummy Tuck Swelling 2 Weeks  After Surgery	Tummy Tuck Swelling 3 Months  After Surgery

 

I attribute the weight gain to all the swelling, all the fluids that they pumped into me during the operation and the weight of my compression garment. It took a long time for the swelling to go down as evidenced by the following photographs. I was told that tummy tuck swelling around the wound or incision area should peak at about 3 days and that most of the swelling (80%) should be gone in 2 - 6 weeks and the remainder should be gone in 3 - 6 months.

 

Swelling After Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck swelling (also know as anasarca and edema) is the enlargement of body structures in the abdominal area causes by excessive buildup of fluid in the tissues. A rapid increase of weight is associates with tummy tuck swelling.

  

Tummy Tuck Swelling in the Groin Area

At one of my pre Tummy Tuck meetings, the nurse make a brief comment that there may be some swelling in the lower areas (I forget how she actually put it) but I gave it no thought. I didn't know how "low" she meant. Now I do. Apparently the body fluids that were not drained off by the surgical drains made their way "downhill" towards the groin area causing noticeable swelling down there. An amusing thought came to me - "I paid $11,000 for a Tummy Tuck and got a "male enhancement" thrown in for free. Unfortunately it only lasted a month, then the swelling went down and everything was "back to normal".

Tips To Reduce Tummy Tuck Swelling

 

1. Reduce tummy tuck swelling by resting and sleeping in a reclining position with your head and legs elevated for at least 2 weeks after surgery.
   

2. Reduce tummy tuck swelling by sleeping on your back and not on your side.
   

3. Reduce tummy tuck swelling by avoiding salt in your diet.
   

4. Reduce tummy tuck swelling by wearing a compression garment.
   

5. Reduce tummy tuck swelling by drinking plenty of water and fluids.
   

6. Reduce tummy tuck swelling with proper nutrition and plenty of exercise.
   

7. Reduce tummy tuck swelling with tissue Massage (per doctor's instructions).

 

 

Tummy Tuck Swelling Shown at various stages of healing after "Tummy Tuck" plastic surgery with Body/ Lateral Thigh Lift
	Tummy Tuck Swelling 3 Days After	Tummy Tuck Swelling 3 Days After	Tummy Tuck Swelling 3 Days After
Tummy Tuck Swelling 2 Weeks After	Tummy Tuck Swelling 2 Weeks After	Tummy Tuck Swelling 2 Weeks After	Tummy Tuck Swelling 2 Weeks After

  

   

Tummy Tuck Swelling Questions

  

How long does swelling after tummy tuck last?

Tummy tuck swelling time varies with the type and extent of the surgery and the patients healing ability. Tummy tuck swelling in patients is gone in 3 - 5 weeks for some patients, other's take several weeks or months.

  

Is swelling after tummy tuck common?

Yes, tummy tuck swelling is very common and expected in all tummy tuck surgeries.

  

How can I tell if I still have tummy tuck swelling?

Aside from looking into the mirror another way to tell if you still have tummy tuck swelling is to look at the incision area of your surgical wound. If the incision is red or pinkish swelling is still present. A white incision area or scar would indicate most if not all of the swelling is gone.

  

How long does it take for Tummy Tuck Swelling to reduce?

I was told that swelling around the wound or incision area should peak at about 3 days and that most of the swelling (80%) should be gone in 2 - 6 weeks and the remainder should be gone in 3 - 6 months. See my swelling decrease after one day, two days, one week, two weeks and two months following surgery.

  

How is swelling from a Tummy Tuck different in men than women?

It is definitely different at least one way. Read Little Known Fact About One Type of Tummy Tuck Swelling.

  

Are Swollen Legs common after a Tummy Tuck? Is leg Swelling common after a Tummy Tuck?

Some leg swelling is common and temporary after surgery. To reduce the swelling lay down and elevate your legs above the level of your heart. Decrease the amount of walking and physical activity placed on the legs. Other suggestions include decreasing your salt intake and wearing support hose. If swelling persists see your doctors as swelling is sometimes a symptom of blood clots in leg veins (which is a risk associated with Tummy Tuck surgery).

 

Tummy Tuck Swelling - Feedback Messages

 

The following Reader Comments are relevant to the subject of this page.
To read all Tummy Tuck Feedback click here.

 

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Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010
Subject: Tummy Tuck Swelling

i had a tummy tuck 5weeks ago, all my swelling round hips/under my breasts has gone but i have swelling under my new belly button and where a lady would but cut for a c section and top of pubic hair line. why is this? is that where your muscles are? help??thanks for your time.
raechel


Response - Rachel,

I don't know that much about human anatomy or your tummy tuck surgery to tell you if that is where the surgeon stitched your abdominal muscles. Nobody can tell you when all of your swelling will go away. Not even your surgeon. When I had my operation I was told that swelling around the wound or incision area should peak at about 3 days and that most of the swelling (80%) should be gone in 2 - 6 weeks and the remainder should be gone in 3 - 6 months. 3 - 6 months is still a long time away.

Also, the area that you describe is where the surgeon inserted my surgical drains and (for me at least) is where I had a significant amount of fluid retention. It makes sense that it would be one of the last places for the swelling to go away. Good luck.
Tanner

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Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 4:16 AM
Subject: Swelling And Distention

Hi, I'm so depressed I had x seromas after my surgery, then when that resolved I have swelling, going on 4 months I no longer fit in previous clothes. mine is not bloating it is distention I feel pregnant, people think I had a breast job, I have gained 12 lbs, not due too overeating that's for sure my skin is tight and the only way I feel I look ok is if I don't eat and lay down. I'm uncomfortable in my own skin, above my private area is swelling that takes on a look of a cone, I no longer feel feminine, and am sick of not fitting in my jeans. I went from 140-160- I hate the whole thing I feel all this pain wasn't vain no pun intended.
Maureen

 

Response - Maureen

Sorry that you're feeling depressed. I know how you feel when after you go through all that hassle of losing weight and having surgery your clothes don't fit and you feel bloated. It happens now and then.

After four months, I would suspect that the distention that you refer to would not be the result of your surgery but from some other reason.

If your weight gain is not from overeating then it has to be from water retention and there are lots of things you can do to get rid of that. If you suspect your weight gain is not normal, go to the doctor and make sure there is nothing medically wrong with you.

Try more exercise. Get rid of water retention by avoiding salt, eating bananas, cabbage, yogurt, drinking cranberry juice and other natural diuretics. Don't smoke, drink alcohol, don't eat rich foods and stay away from junk food. There is a lot of information on the internet on how to stop and get rid of water retention.

I know that all of that sounds easy but it's hard to do, especially to get motivated to do it when you are so depressed. On the other hand, it should be easier and quicker to lose water than weight (fat).

Good luck.

Tanner

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Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 7:09 AM
Subject: Tummy Tuck Swelling

Hey bro well done on your recovery and thanks for your detailed explanation but how long did it take for your swelling to go down completely?

Devin

  

Response - Devin,

It's hard to tell exactly how long it takes for tummy tuck swelling to go down. After your tummy tuck, your not quite sure about how much of that protruding area is swelling, extra pounds that you should have lost before the operation or what is "normal" for you after the operation.

3-5 weeks is the commonly accepted time it takes for tummy tuck swelling to go down.

In my case I would have to guess my swelling went away in two to three months but I had a thigh lift as well as a tummy tuck done (way more swelling that just a tummy tuck).

Tanner

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Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 10:06 AM
Subject: Swelling After Tummy Tuck

Hello: It's been 2 months since my abdominalplasty with lipo. When I wake up in the morning my stomach is flat but throughout the day every time I eat my stomach blows up. Is this normal? I feel like I look pregnant all over again. I know I still have a little swelling but I didn't think this would happen with a bowl of oatmeal. I hope nothing's wrong. Please advise.
Rika

Response - Rika,

When you say your stomach "blows up", can you actually see a difference when looking in the mirror (before and after eating) or is it just a feeling of being bloated?

I can sort of relate to what you feel. I remember soon after my tummy tuck I noticed that I seemed to get fuller much faster when I ate. I took this as a good thing and assumed that since my skin and stomach muscles were "tighter", my stomach did not have as much room to expand when I ate. It also served as a reminder and incentive not to eat too much. Every time I got that feeling I would think "I don't want to overeat and cause my skin to stretch again or pull at the stomach stitches". Even today, over two years later I get that same feeling. If it's not just a feeling of being too full and you can actually see bloating and swelling every time you eat it might be time to go back to the doctor to check it out. Good luck.
Tanner

Thx. I go see my doc on Wednesday. I don't feel bloated. I can actually see it. Is this a complication?
Rika

I have never heard of anyone having that problem in relation to a tummy tuck, but I don't know if it is a complication or not.
Tanner

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Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2010 12:07 PM
Subject: Tummy Tuck Swelling

Good journey and experience!
mbt

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