Question:
Is it normal to swell so much after a tummy tuck?
I had a tummy tuck three weeks ago and I have a lot of swelling. The doc says it could take a couple of months for this to go away.I was kinda hoping for instant results but he says this is normal.Has anybody else had this problem?Do you really end up with a fairly flat tummy?If so,how long till u got the results u were looking for?He did remove the lower flap of skin under my bellybutton and it looks great,but the upper part of skin he pulled down is swollen. Thanks for your input!! — natalie J. (posted on June 29, 2005)
June 29, 2005
Hi there, I had my LBL 5 weeks ago and I swelled up quite a bit on my lower
stomach n pubic area. I was wearing size 6 before I had it but couldn't
even get my 10s on. It is still swollen but has gone down alot, I am able
to wear my jeans again. Wear a tight girdle, that is what the nurse told
me n I think that helped it alot. She even told me to fold up a washcloth
n put over my lower stomach to make girdle tighter. My stomach is flat
standing up but when I sit down it is loose, I don't understand that part.
I hope it gets better, if not, I love my new stomach and figure. Could of
not asked for better results. I have never ever had a flat stomach so I'm
thrilled to death. I lost ten lbs after surgery but I have not gone down a
pant size but there is no spare tire hanging over. It looks like I've lost
several pant sizes because of that so... you will be happy in a few weeks!
Maybe the swelling will go down in the next week or so for you.
— [Deactivated Member]
June 29, 2005
Here is a website you can use where you wil find almost any answer you need
and if not sign up and there are many there that can help including nurses
that have been hired to help this site the url is
http://www.breasthealthonline.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?tid=57107
Angel Hugs Tegan Angel
— TeganAngel
June 29, 2005
Yes, this is normal from what I was told, I had my TT back in March 03.
They removed 26lbs of excess skin, It took me 2 1/2 months for the swelling
to go down, but it was a major reduction from what it was. I still have a
flat tummy, the good Doc. told me to make sure I don't gain any weight back
because it will not go into my tummy, there are no fat cells there. He was
right, when I put on water weight it goes into my bra cup size. Give it
time you will be flat. Good Luck
— dee145
June 29, 2005
Are you wearing a binder &/or a corsett? i wore then 24/7 except to
shower for almost 4 months. you want the skin to adhere to the new
muscle..now that the fat cells are gone you done want the cottage cheese
look.i had to get mine in 3 sizes. tigh, tighter, and OMG ill never getinto
this one...i did .All the Best! Tracey
— traceybubbles
June 29, 2005
Before my LBL, I read and heard that it would take up to six months before
most all of the swelling went down. That turned out to be true for me,
too. The worst of it went down within the first two to three months (I
wore a compression garment for the first three months). Swelling's par for
the course after a TT.
— Suzy C.
June 29, 2005
Yes...as the posters who've been there will tell you....6 months is about
right for swelling to go down. I provide lymphatic massage for my
patients...really helps make a big difference, so consider finding a
therapist who specializes in this after surgery.
— DrL
June 29, 2005
I had my tummy tuck 7 weeks ago and still have swelling. I am finally back
into the jeans I was wearing before surgery but still have that bloated
feeling most of the time. My surgeon said it normally takes 4 - 6 months
for all of the swelling to go away.
— tazfan
June 30, 2005
Hi, To help with the swelling go to the health food store and get ARNICA
tablets that dissolve under your tongue they help reduce swelling and
helped me tremendously. Also buy BROMELAIN take 500mg 3 times a day it
helps with inflamation. These are some of the vitamins my plastic surgeon
recommended for me and WOW they really work.
— shana1569
June 30, 2005
I had a LBL 9 months ago and I still have swelling in my upper abs and some
pain now and then. The Doc told me that the swelling can last longer than
a year and so far this is true. I am also completely numb all the way
around my incision. BTW....my body changed after my surgery and the way I
hold my weight now. My thighs got 1 inch bigger and now all my pants are
loose in the waist and tight in the thighs even though I had 11 lbs of skin
removed. I guess having everything cut off makes your body work overtime
to put it back somewhere else. At the height of my swelling I went to an
acupuncturist and I wore a pressure garmet with legs 24/7 both helped a
lot. Good luck. Wendi
— lovemonterey
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