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.
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.
First, the thighs do not actually get bigger. While it is technically possible to experience some residual swelling, by the time a patient asks this question, this has usually resolved.
A lower body lift, also known as a 360 tummy tuck, is a procedure that targets excess, loose skin and stubborn fat cells in the lower extremities, such as the flanks, buttocks, thighs, hips, and lower abdomen.
During a tummy tuck, the repositioning of your abdominal tissues can affect the nerves in the abdominal area, and infrequently, in the upper thighs. You'll likely feel some reduced sensation or numbness.
A tummy tuck alone will remove excess skin and firm the front of the abdomen, but will do little to address fat deposits, especially those on the sides, hips or back.
Does a tummy tuck make your waist smaller? Yes, it does. By removing excess fat and skin, and tightening abdominal muscles, you will see a smoother surface and a smaller waistline.
Abdominoplasty is designed to remove fat and tighten loose skin in the abdominal area, which can have a positive impact on the appearance of the mons pubis. However, if the pubic area is more than minimally saggy, a tummy tuck won't help enough.
With a full tuck, you will lose more weight than you would with a mini tuck because you probably have more excess skin and fat to be removed. Finally, the opportunity to lose the most weight after abdominoplasty is reserved for clients who choose an extended tuck.
However, losing more than this may result in loose and excess skin again after the surgery. This can affect the longevity of your abdominoplasty. Some patients may require another tummy tuck procedure and skin-tightening treatment to restore their results.
You'll need to get up and walk every day to regain your normal movement. Between walks, move your feet and legs often. A tummy tuck leaves a long scar that will fade with time. You also may have a small scar around your belly button.
Tummy tucks can produce belly buttons that are too round, too narrow or too tight and have a visible circular scar around them. “This is often a dead giveaway for a tummy tuck.”
Conversely, muscle-repair tummy tucks involve the surgeon suturing the fascia, or connective tissue, of the rectus muscles together and pulling them in close to one another. This is a significant change in the muscle structure of the abdominal area.
A tummy tuck tightens the abdominal muscles. However, don't expect it to make your abdominal muscles strong or big. In order to have perfect 6 pack abs, you need to engage in the right exercise routine, preferably under the guidance of a trainer. You need prominent and strong abdominal muscles to develop 6-packs.
Sometimes people do not have a totally flat abdomen after tummy tuck even though the excess skin and fat is removed due to the fact that the intra-abdominal contents still remain intact and are still behind the tightened abdominal muscles.
Swelling after a Tummy Tuck Is Normal
In this area of the body, the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels work as a drainage system for fluids. During a tummy tuck, these vessels are cut. Because of this, the body removes fluid in the area a lot slower, resulting in fluid buildup known as edema or swelling.
Swelling normally lasts for a few days. In the first two days, you will experience the most swelling, and it should start to reduce by the third day. Following treatment from your healthcare provider reduces the amount of swelling you might experience.
Normal swelling after liposuction surgery is due to fluid retention in your body. As this fluid buildup drains, the body starts to take on its new contour. The process usually takes around 30 days. In some cases with severe swelling, lymphatic drainage massages may help with getting rid of the excess fluids.
The tissues, especially of the lower abdomen, flanks, and pubic area are very swollen after surgery. It may take up to six months after surgery for this “fullness” to resolve.
As with any other surgical procedure, swelling after tummy tuck is typical to occur in the lower abdominal area. Three weeks after surgery, most patients feel very swollen and even experience hardness around the belly button.
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.