A tummy tuck is after all a surgical procedure and you are bound to experience a level of swelling during the recovery period. Sometimes, if this swelling is not dealt with in the right manner, it can persist for a long time after the surgery. In order to help reduce swelling after a tummy tuck, there are certain things that you have to do.
For one, make it a point to drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. Each glass should be at least 8 ounces. It is wrong of you to think that drinking water will lead to a bloated stomach. On the contrary, it is painkillers that cause constipation and this is turn can lead to tightness of the muscles. Water will help ease your bowel movements and reduce swelling after tummy tuck.
Revamp your diet and make sure that you consume a lesser amount of salt. The sodium in salt leads to water retention and thereby a sense of being bloated. Steer clear from junk food and fast food especially all that is processed and packaged. Stick to a fresh food diet.
Stay away from coffee. Caffeine leads to water retention and this is not good for the swelling after a tummy tuck. Just like pregnant mothers make use of massage therapists to ease the aches and pains post delivery, so to you can make use of some massage therapy. You will however, have to consult with your doctor. If you do go in for such massage therapies, be sure not to lie down on your stomach and ask the therapist to stay away from the abdominal area and the stitches. The massage will aid in getting your blood flowing and this is good as it will prevent water retention or blood clots and thereby reduce swelling after tummy tuck.
i Have Fat Necrosis! Need help. Still swelling!!! I am 7 weeks post TT with lipo of flanks, back, inner/medial thighs to knees. At first had great recovery, lost 15 lbs. As all of you, I am still swollen in lower abdomen. I look 3-6 moths prego. I am still wearing the garment; love the new Rainey. Went online and bought 2 more stage 2. They feel like spanks and are very comfortable to wear.
New problem: Have developed FAT NECROSIS in middle of incision, above the pubic area. Help?… My PS says all fine will take longer to heal. Scared!!!! What started as 4 cm tear is now the size of half dollar and 1 inch deep. I NOW have a HOLE!!!! Seriously!!! Looks like I am getting another hole too.
Packing it gauze and Dakons solution 2-3 times a day. Help!!!! No infections. WBC normal. Don’t know what to do. Saw my primary and he said to wait 2-3 weeks to see and progression in healing. What should I do?
I would love to hear from somebody that has had this problem. I am not a smoker or a diabetic. I am a healthy 43 year old. What can I eat or do to help the heal?? Should I stop wearing the garment?…
I had necrosis at incision also. 43 non smoker.
Took 4 months to heal. Looks awful, waiting for scar revision. Still have awful swelling. Surgeon keeps promising I’ll be happy with final result. I hope so.
I am in the same boat. Looks terrible, I feel like piercing pinches all over the incision and also where the lipo was done.
My doctor says he doesn’t know why I’m swelling so much after 10 weeks. Seriously considering an MRI/ Already on my 8th day and no difference. I hate feeling like a bag of pins and needles and not being able to have anything touch my waste hips thighs and legs. Im 45 and would never recommend this to anyone.
Hi its Donna again. Almost 10 weeks and now doctor put me on 21 days of prednisone for swelling. Before this I had a waist line around 29 and now Im 32″ all the time. It hurts. Pinching sensation everytime something touches my skin. No pressure can be placed on area and I cant walk straight although Im straighter than the first couple weeks. Everything feels like its pulling and the sides even look like they are being pulled down across my sides to my incision. I have never been down and out like this in my life. I will let you guys know when the swelling can be expected to go down as he said that this is very rare all this swelling. To all you guys who have just had this surgery and looking for answers I so feel for you guys.. Keep praying that pain does go away eventually and I knows its unbearable and chronic but give yourself a love hug and know that your not alone on this journey.
I also have swelling- when I wake up in the morning it tends to be flatter- but as I move around during the day- it starts swelling again. Most folks said they continued to wear the garment- my doc said I dont need it anymore after 6 weeks- so I wear a waist cincher and panty girdle under my close.
the swelling is getting a little better- but still there- I was asked to wait 4 weeks to see how it evolves before any further decisions will be made. Very sad…. and scared too. I certainly cant go thru this again.
I just ordered Arnica Montana 30X tablets and very much looking for some relief from the swelling and the burning tightness around my incision. Thanks to whoever listed that. I couldnt find it in tea form in Ottawa. I have also purchased Aloe Vera Gel with not fillers and no alcohol and boy at the end of the day it feels great. The purching look on the side of my tummy tuck is starting to flatten. Im also on my 3rd week of prednisone tablets for swelling and I do believe it helps a bit but wish I could feel better faster. There are family doctors out there that’d be glad to see if they can help. Thank God!!
I am 8 1/2 weeks out from my abdominoplasty & breast lift. The lift went fine, the abdominoplasty well not so much, I think I have the necrosis above my pubic area, I am going to ask my dr. on Tuesday. I have drainage still from my belly button, and still seeing my dr. once a week. I am still very swollen, and in pain. I have a 21 pound baby that I can hardly pick up and have been taking lots of ibuprofen. I paid ALOT of money for this and my surgeon is not a quack but I am worried. I had a large hematoma after the operation too. Any support would be great.
Just wanted to update everyone. It’s been a month and I can finally say that it does get better. I am finally healing just as my PS said. Nutrition is important.
Also, I tried massage to get blood flow going. I have a massage therapist who works with injuries and scars. Start slow and work on the lymphatic system.
So my “hole” is finally filling in and hopefully in 2-3 weeks will be closed.
However I am still swelling off and on. I Wear my garment when it gets out of hand then I slim down after a day or so. Been trying to watch salt. I keep thinking its food related.
But overall, glad I did this surgery. I get soooooo many compliments about how I look in my normal cloths. I keep telling myself it will get better!!!!!
Had my TT 7 weeks back in Costa Rica. Am swollen like you all and my muscles are really hard as a rock,especially around the middle closer to the incision line. Have odd bulges too. I never got any advice from my PS besides get massage from his staff nurse.I was never told to apply ice pack or take Arnica Tea etc. Now my problem is I cannot find a doctor who can see me and drain the fluid if needed. Does anybody know what I can do ?
Hi Becca,
Im in the same boat as you after 4 months I have this pocket around my waste of fat and fluid though. My doctor said he has to go in and perform lipo on it. Im scared out of my mind. Its been a long healing process for me and dont want to go through anymore pain. My muscles are still hard like yours and bumpy too almost like the muscles are scarred or something. I think another plastic surgeon is who you should speak to. If my doctor doesnt make me feel comfortable about fixing this mess, I too will have to make another visit to someone new except this time Im gonna be very hesitant before signing anything. The tea did nothing for me, not even steroids.
Wow…reading your comments, I must have had either a great surgeon, or it just went smoothly. I had a few twinges when I tried to get out of my chair. I thought they were at the drain sites, but when the took off my compression garment I realized they were just blisters from the corset rubbing me! Only actual pain I had was my back because I had to walk hunched for a week. After that one week check up, he pretty much said to ease back into daily life! I love him and I love the job he did. However, the only question I have, that I forgot to ask, is that under my incision, my pubic area seems abnormally, large? I’m thinking it’s just swelling and will go away b/c it doesn’t feel hard. Has anyone experienced this? And did it go away? Many thanks!
I too have some swelling around pubic area and notice some swelling around scar of an evening. i am week 4. i do love my result though and in many ways it is life changing. I am scared by what others have written and now hope my swelling doesn’t get worse.
I was told that the swelling in the pubic area is nomal – as you are compressing the abdomin the fluid has to disperse elsewhere. It too will go away. I am the same as Susan – great surgeon, great recovery. I did get “in trouble” for doing too much (over the holiday break – i am 3 weeks post-op) They removed my first drain after week one and only now removed the second (the more active you are the more fluid you build) so the key is to rest, drink plenty of fluid, and eat a well-balanced diet. I am seeing an increase in swelling since they removed the drain (yesterday) but I expected as much. I am extremely glad I had the surgery as I have been waiting 8 years to do it. Good luck to all and to all a flat tummy!!!!
Really scared, had tummy tuck and lipo on November 14, 71/2 weeks ago. Originally all went well but the last two weeks I noticed swelling in my abodmen above my belly button. It went from 35″ to 38″ in about 2 weeks. I saw the dr today and he did not look good. He felt where the muscles were sewn and they seemed ok, no fluid. He told me to wear the girldle again and cut it so it just covers the swollen area and see him in a month. Dont know what to do. He is a good doctor and was never sued. I am so terrified don’t know what to do. Maybe I’ll go to another surgeon to get a second opinion if the swelling remains. My doctor said he can’t go back in to see because the stitches are still healing. My area below my belly button is great. Help
I had abdominoplasty with no lipo and no muscle repair done on August 1, 2011. I have not had a great day since my surgery. My stay at the hospital was long because my blood pressure dropped too low. My other bad experience was my drain removal. The first drain was removed one week after my surgery. The second drain was removed 2 weeks after my surgery but he wanted to leave it because there was so much fluid still inside. He had to remove it though because it had clogged and was no longer functioning properly. When the nurse and doctor removed the drain “ALL” of the backup fluid came flowing out all over my clothes. What a mess! Now, here I am 5 months post op and my stomach still swells daily. I don’t really want to go see my PS again because I wasn’t not completely satisfied with the outcome but I need to find out if there is something going on inside that needs to be taken care of. I don’t want to go through any more pain but this swelling is so awful it has made daily life miserable. Just as someone else posted, if I workout or do any type of exercise it just swells more which seemingly defeats the purpose. I think I may have to bit the bullet and shell out more money to another PS for a second opinion of what is going on with this swelling. The outcome of the actual surgery (looks) is pretty good with the exception of an off centered belly button. I just can’t get beyond the swelling. Any comments, suggestions are greatly appreciated.
I had my TT on 7/27/11 and the post before me nailed it. I have not been happy since. It’s the damn swelling! I hate it. So now I have a flat Tummy with 20lbs of lord knows what! Nothing is firting properly. My belly button looks great, it’s the swelling. It’s depressing. Thus, after all this time I am still reading.
I had my TT 7/15/2011. I still have swelling it is very depressing my doc says its normal and it will go away. I’m not very convinced but time will tell. Im still under his care. I see that I am not the only one going through these awful TT issues. I thought I was the only one. I hate to eat or exercise due to swelling cause it it is very uncomfortable. I have not had another opinion as of yet but it looks like I am headed that way. I’m SCARED. Help
I am 5 weeks post op and swollen. It is comforting to know that it is common I guess. Was just looking to see about how long I can expect it to last. Your posts are helpful.
I had my TT on 12/28/11. The one thing that concerns me is the swelling.. The first week was painful, that I must admitt, but as the second week came about, I started doing my normal activities, to a limit, had both drains removed on 2nd week, but now I feel as if my lower area is swelling, and Im feeling pain around my new belly button, should I be concerned??? Other than that, Im ok…. what can I do about the swelling, is this normal???There are times that i take off my compression garmet to let my belly breath, it just feels very uncomfortable, but maybe for an hour or two at most…Any Ideas will be taken to heart.. Good luck to all..
Hello every1 i have my tt on dec 9, 2011. About 6 weeks later and still having swelling. I cant fit into anything
. How long should i expect this?
Same boat! Ugh! Had my
Tummy tuck with no muscle repair on 1/10/2012 and I am so swollen I feel like I am going to explode! Even worse my public area is swollen!!! I am doing everything they told me
To do and i am really freaking out. Does anyone know what fruits reduce swelling??
Hello Ladies, My name is Mayelin and I had my TT & Brest lift done on 1/11/12. I didn’t do Brest augmentation because I already had implants done 2 years ago but I had a baby 7 months ago and they stretched very badly. The 1st week was the hardest so far. The Brest lift is beautiful I love my Brest and I wish I could say the same about my tummy….. It’s very swollen. I used to have an hour glass shape but that has vanished. Idk what to do… I drink at least 6 sports bottles of water everyday. Uggggghhhhh….. To add insult to injury, I cannot hold my baby witch just makes everything so much harder. My doctor says its just a matter of time and right about now, time is all I have. Let’s see what happens!!!!
Wish u all the best. Hope we all end up with sexy abs and chunky tits!!!!
I had tt on 12/8/11 and breast reduction. Breast went fine and swelling in abdomen was going down, but last few days very swollen looks like I swallowed a barrel. I know people say you can swell up to 1year later but ready to see some results from all the money spent and pain went through. Is there anyone out there who is 6 months to 1 year post op to give some insite.
HI
This message is for Donna or anyone who experienced this.
Its been 9 weeks (2 months) I had circumferential tummy tuck with liposuction of the upper abdomen, flanks, hip area.
There was a lot of swelling , i reduce swelling i would say by 40-50% in 1 month. Then it went up a bit more 2 weeks ago instead of further going down
Salt is normal to bit high in my diet, I started jogging again. I am frustrated. Flanks and back is still swollen, tummy area is weird, upper tummy is swollen then middle is less swollen and then lower tummy where incision is swollen
I got all these tight shirts but putting them on i still see roundness spare tire around abdomen. In terms of inches, my pre-surgery and post surgery measurement in waist, navel area and hips are the same, I was expecting 2-4 inch drop. The only difference is no protruding loose skin.
The doctor said after surgery most of my chest and abdomen were alligned (same measurement) and then it swelled.
Is this the final result? I hope not.
Did I tear muscle repair as the upper stomach has bulge, or is swelling uneven?
What should i expect and how long
I am a weight loss patient, please share your experiences and encourage me
Should i take steroids at this point or swelling?
Thanks
Sorry that most of you are having some discomfort and poor after care. I had my procedures on the 24th Jan in South Africa by an excellent PS (I think the best known in the country) It cost a small fortune but the recovery is great, all inclusive aftercare for the next 4 months. I am still very tender in the breasts and abdominal area but no drains needed, can go to toilet and do light house chores too. It’s so good to have a knowledgeable and understanding PS who cares about your recovery. I wish you all goodluck and healthy recovery. If anyone is interested in the doctors details, I can provide the details, he also has a well known practice in London.
Its almost 5 months since abdomniplasty and liposuction. measured myself today and i went down one inch around stomache top of belly botton, 1 inch at the incision site and 1 inch on my waste. I am still 2″ thicker around my belly than when I started this whole mess. My stomache swells after 5pm to the point it feels as hard as a rock. I have tried
steriods, meds for ulcers (NOT) i have done the Arnica tea,have only noticed a difference in the past three days with this product called DIDA. Try it, i think that is the reason I am finally deflating. Be strong and love yourselves guys I know this feeling sucks. DIDa at loblaws in Ottawa and walmart