3 weeks after a tummy tuck, swelling is common to occur in the lower abdominal area, and patients will even experience hardness around the belly button. 3 months after a tummy tuck, major swelling in the lower abdomen should begin to subside, but mild swelling and puffiness may still be present.
You can expect swelling after tummy tuck surgery to occur over the first few days with a peak at days 3-5. A significant amount of your swelling and/or bruising will come down by three weeks post op.
Swelling is a normal part of tummy tuck recovery, and while most of it resolves within the first 2 months, some residual swelling can last for 6 months to a year. Taking the right steps in your initial recovery will help resolve swelling more quickly so you can enjoy your final result sooner.
Now a tummy tuck only removes the skin and the fatty tissue in front of the muscle. The surgeon does not go deep to the muscle so the fatty tissue around the organs is never reduced surgically. Therefore, whilst the muscles are typically tightened to help tighten the waistline, the intra-abdominal fat will remain.
After surgery, you'll usually have some discomfort in your lower abdomen and mons pubis. You'll notice mild bruising and swelling soon after surgery that'll typically last 2 to 3 weeks.
Removing the excess skin and fat tissues from your belly may make your mons pubis (the fleshy part above the vaginal cleft) more visible.
Swelling in the pubic region after tummy tuck surgery is not uncommon. It can due to liposuction being performed in which cases it may take a few months to resolve. This area also has numerous lymphatic channels and swelling can persist for several months.
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.
It's not uncommon for people who have a tummy tuck to have a smaller appetite for the first three to six months following their surgery. The tightening of skin and muscles in your abdomen may cause your stomach to feel constricted, encouraging you to eat less.
If you have a “mini tummy tuck” with a smaller incision, you'll likely need between one and three weeks of elevated sleeping. On the other hand, full-tummy tuck patients require about four weeks, with six weeks of limiting any strenuous exercise or lifting.
Why Do Our Bodies Swell After A Tummy Tuck? Once surgery is complete, your body sends white blood cells and other healing compounds to the surgery site to jumpstart the recovery process. Increased fluids will cause the area to grow larger during the initial stages of healing.
Stay mobile: While it is essential that patients get plenty of rest during tummy tuck recovery, it is also important to incorporate very light walking into your daily routine. This helps to reduce swelling, improve circulation, and minimize the risk of postoperative complications, such as blood clots.
Tummy tuck surgery causes changes to the patient's lymphatic drainage system. Increased fluids in the area will cause it to grow larger during initial healing.
Wearing compression garments that are too tight or too loose impairs healing and causes more harm than good. These garments should ideally provide adequate support to your abdomen's healing areas following liposuction or Tummy Tuck without causing you discomfort.
A properly performed tummy tuck can reduce your waist size and help you feel confident about your curves again. Some patients may lose many inches off their waist, while others will see more subtle results. It all depends on how much tissue can be removed safely.
A tummy tuck can result in a weight loss of approximately four pounds. If you opt for a mini truck, you can expect to lose around three pounds of excess skin and fat. If you opt for an extended tuck, you can expect to lose around five pounds of excess skin and fat.
In the first week after tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Patronella recommends patients take short walks of 10 minutes, gradually increasing this to one mile, twice daily by days 10 to 14 days after the procedure.
During body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck, fat cells are eliminated from the body and cannot return. Because of this, patients may gain weight in other places like the buttocks, legs, arms, and breasts.
Answer: Why is Waist Bigger After Tummy Tuck
If it is soon after your surgery, this could be due to swelling. If it is more than 6 weeks after surgery, it is possible that you have gained weight.
No, a tummy tuck does not prevent the ability to obtain six-pack abs. The operation removes redundant, loose skin and fat in the lower abdomen and the fascial plication tightens the abdominal wall.
Swollen Mons Pubis during Recovery
Because your tummy tuck will result in some swelling around the site of the incision, it's completely normal for your upper pubic region to seem larger than normal immediately following your surgery. Try to be patient as your body heals and you anticipate your final results.
Swelling after a Tummy tuck
Since drainage of the lymphatics goes from the extremities to the heart, the incision path blocks drainage until lymphatic channels get reestablished. This can take weeks or months. The swelling is manifested as swelling in the upper thighs, and in some cases in the lower legs.
Will my pubic area be lifted during a tummy tuck? The short answer is yes! It's normal for people seeking a tummy tuck to have excess skin above and below the mons area. Some women may even have an old C-section scar in this region.