Upper Abdominal Swelling 3 years after full tummy tuck

Hey did you ever get an answer from your Dr becuz I have the same EXACT symptoms and issues you described.

Still in pain. Wondering if I have gastritis, have a lot of the symptoms. Trying to lose weight, eat small meals, cut out salt. It’s not fun. How is everyone else here doing?

HI I am 10 years out from my tummy tuck and still have the bloating problem, however after trying some of the same things you have I found that taking probiotics capsules with
CONTAINS OVER 30 BILLION COLON FORMING UNITS per serving for better results or more. It helps significantly.

I have been researching my symptoms for over a year now. I found this forum and can not believe that all of you are suffering the same thing I am. I am thankful the last post educating me about pseudobursa and seroma. Those two symptoms are exactly what I have. The question is what can we all do now to live a more comfortable life? Is there anything we can have done to have these awlful symptoms corrected? How can we help others from making this same mistake.

what did you finallly do?

Had my tummy tuck in 2014, still swell in the upper abdomen every day by afternoon I look 9 months pregnant. Also had a hematoma appear less than on year afterward and in 2016 had swollen so bad I had to have surgery to remove hematoma and fluid. Then found out I had MRSA, and was on drain tubes and antibiotics for months, lost 30 lb in less than 2 months, was very ill. 2017 once again started swelling and had another hematoma and MRSA running 103 temp for almost 3 weeks, was once again drained of the fluid and had tube in about 10 days. Thought we were ok, then it came back with a vengeance, it had eaten thru my skin,finally got a surgeon that did exploratory surgery and found out the infection was coming from sutures from the tummy tuck from 2014. I had to have a chunk cut out of my lower abdomen October 23 2017 and wound left open the size of a grapefruit, wound vac, nursing changing bandage every other day. It now January 2018 and the nurse has been released and wound vac is gone, hubby changes bandages for me now and my incision is probably the size of a golf ball, but I will have a huge scar if it ever heals up.

I am going through the same struggle 7 years after any answers as to what we may need to do? We all spent a lot of money to get flat stomachs so what can it be? We all are having the same issue?

So glad I found this. I am new to this thread and am having similar issues. My problem started off differently. I had SmartLipo to tighten my belly skin, after 3 kids. I did not want a TT because of the scar. I didn’t think it was too bad, so I found a dermatologist who offered SmartLipo, which was marketed as a skin tightener. I actually liked my body in general... I had nice hips and was generally shapely and athletic (ran half-marathons). I told the “doctor” that I like my fat. He said he might take up to 1 liter.

The dermatologist took our 3.5 liters of my precious fat while I was under the anesthesia. I weighed about 140 lbs at the time, 5’ 4”, a size 4. I had no idea why he did that or how bad it was going to be. I was swollen and was scared. A couple months went by, and as the swelling went down, my skin sagged even more. I was literally concave with skin hanging off my stomach and hips. He took my hips too and even went for some of my back. I could bleed my ribs and hip bones through my skin. There was no padding left to protect my insides. That was physically painful. I was also disfigured. It was devastating. I saw multiple plastic surgeons who gave me the bad news. 3.5 liters of fat is what you take out of an obese person, not someone of normal size. It would be hard to fix.

Long story short, I had a TT and then a revision, plus fat transfers to get some semblance of normalcy back. I look better, although it’s still bad, especially with the distended upper abdomen. But the real problem is that the fat that is taken out, no matter how small, will reappear somewhere else, usually as visceral fat. Visceral fat around your organs is no bueno. I now have fatty liver, which messes with your liver functions, and high blood pressure. Fatty liver is the reason for my belly, heartburn, cramped organs. I am about 15 lbs more than I was before the initial procedure. Normally that isn’t a big deal for me (I used to be able to gain and lose weight easily, no problem), but it is now life threatening because it surrounds my liver, instead of my belly and hips. I have to lose this 15 lbs. and keep if off or I’m pretty sure that I will die an early death. Sad.

Has anything changed? Did you get any answers?

I’m 3 years out from having a tummy tuck. After taking a shower I noticed loose skin with water under it (like a blister). When I touched it it leaked water. I gently pressed on it and when I checked it again my skin was gone. I went to the Dr and it was infected or anything. It’s been about two weeks and it’s still not healing. I cover it with a band aid and use antibiotic ointment as instructed. Do I need antibiotics?? What is this !?

I like you am very comforted yet also sad to read all these posts!! I am 7 years out from a tummy tuck and I noticed 4 years ago what I thought was a growth above my belly button. It is much larger now and the doctors say it is nothing. It was painful then but not so much now. It is more annoying than anything. My lower abdomen will be completely flat and the top over my belly button is swollen and uncomfortable. I am going to see another specialist and see what this is--try one more time. And yes, it makes exercising uncomfortable etc.....

I know what you mean. These stories are awful! I wish we could get a private page going on Facebook or something. I really haven’t felt well since I did the tuck. And to the lady who posted about the SmartLipo.... omg!

I have the same problem, I'm really upset to have paid that much money to look pregnant.

I understand exactly what you're going through. I had an extended abdominoplasty 13 months ago. My surgeon told me that I was every surgeon's dream patient as the excess fat was concentrated on the front of my body. Unfortunately this procedure didn't go as expected and I now have an extremely distended upper tummy. I look like I am about 7 months pregnant. This is causing me great embarrassment. I went back to the surgeon and after a five minute consultation, he told me that there was nothing more he could do for me and referred me to a gastric surgeon. I am not a large woman and his suggestion of having a sleeve is preposterous to me. I regret the surgery as all I am left with now is a smelly belly and a shrunken bank balance!!!

sorry...meant to say swelly belly!