upper belly fat after abdominoplasty

did u ever find a solution to ur problem because im going thru same issue right now

i was wanderng if yall have found an answer to ur problems because im also having the same issue and feel ugly as hell because of it the big belly to the ibs all of it please let me know what kind of hope is for us

I must admit its a whole lot better but not completely gone!! This is what I have been doing: No wheat, gluten, dairy and eggs for the past 2 months . Lost 11 pounds by running / walking every other day for up to an hour and EATING JUST UNTIL I FEEL FULL and most importantly, chewing slowly. MY GI diagnosed me with IBS and said because I go without food for long hours, I eat fast and this doesnt help. I dont go without food for long hours now. I eat every few hours, which helps a lot ! I do find if I over-eat the bulge appears again . . still . . . not as bad. Maybe cuz I lost some weight? I am 104 pounds now (5'1). I am due to see another local PS in a few weeks to see what he has to say about it. But, all in all, I do see a huge difference . . . but the problem is not completely gone.

Hi everyone!  I had a tummy tuck/lipo about 1 1/2 years ago and noticed that I developed a bulge over my belly button and noticed some small love handles.  I went in for my checkup before my year was up and showed my doctor the "extras" and asked him why do I have it.  He told me that over time fat cells can sometime set up in certain areas in the body and actually had no problem and took care of it for me.  I didn't realize that this is a common issue until I've read all of your stories.  I hope this helps.

I had a full TT in Nov/11.  I got the upper abdominal bulge and was told (w/2nd opinion by both surgeons) that my stitches must have unraveled.  There was considerable "pressure" throughout the day.  Was fine in the morning but got worse as the day progressed and activity level increased. At first the upper abs were so tight and looked great.  A week after the first surgery I got nauseous and had severe vomiting which is what they are contributing to the stitches unraveling.  With no other options, I had my 2nd full TT in May/12 (w/same surgeon as first TT) and am almost 6 weeks out and am starting to feel the "pressure" again.  After reading these posts I am wondering if he pulled the bottom too tight??  This is so frustrating - I own a restaurant and was used to 60-80 hours/week.  I am now barely able to work and do office work either from bed or at the office max of 4 hrs a day.  I have to get back to work!!

I am sure it is not a fat deposit. I am in great shape and am at a good weight.  Although I have not been able to work out AT ALL since the original TT in Nov/11.  I am continuing to wear the compression garmet or can't make it very long.  It is affecting my business, my marriage and my sanity!!  Any answers anyone??

The only thing helping me is taking adderall and starving for a few days a week. It makes me not want to eat at all. I have lost weight, and as long as I dont get over 165 lbs, I am doing somewhat better. Its still scary to think if I gain 10 pounds I will be in the ER again.

Guest wrote:

Sissorwizard wrote:

Sueluvs2Sing315 wrote:

I had a full abdominoplasty 2 years ago and my upper belly looks distended and my lower belly is too flat. It is not symetrical and I have a total curve standing sideways. One doctor said the surgeon pulled the muscles too tight like a balloon and to exercise. To no avail my upper belly never looked so big and need advice on what to do.

I am shocked! I thought I was the only one who experienced this problem. My upper stomach is so extended. My waist is as big as my hips. Sometimes it bloats so much that it is hard to breathe. I hear a lot of people who have experienced this, but has ANYONE found the answer?

I have the same problem it has been over 4 years since my TT and my upper belly is distended and my lower belly is flat, since I have my TT I still haven't been able to wear pants that button on my waist that fit me before the TT!! At first my surgeon said it was swelling, but after 4 years it is even worse. I also have what they call dog ears which looks horrible. I should have never had the surgery I was better off with my pot belly than a distorted upper stomach and dog ears on my hips. Hopefully someone has an answer to help us!!!!

I had Tummy tuck 9 yrs ago I have gained weight all in my waist upper abs. I had so much excessive skin insurance paid for my surgery my lower stomach is flat but I have a spare tire for a waist hard to find jean you have to get the low rise. I thought they were supppose to pull your waist muscle in?

Sometimes the doctors dont pull the muscles in enough OR they dont pull the top part of the abodomen evenly or as much as the lower abs. Normally, if this is the case, you have to do a redo surgery OR I believe there are some ab muscles that can be done, which help to make it look more even. Also, gaining weight will only make it look worse. I lost about just over 25 lbs and it made a world of a difference.

I had mine tuck 2 years ago,i am having some of the same problems.  What i am starting to think is that the Drs are treating all body types the same.  Some of us were never to have a flat flat stomach.  Try to remember how you were build in your 20s.  

You are all having the same problems of upper stomach being distended, feeling overly full after meals, and bloating, as I have with just a liposuction of the lower stomach, thighs and flanks back in 2002. I was so desperate I spent another $8,000 again trying to do the upper stomach in 2006 with another doctor.  After NO result, the doctor tells me it's VISCERAL FAT, the DANGEROUS fat that is extremely hard if not utterly impossible to diet away. The kind of fat that can shorten your lifespan if you have it. The kind of fat that we traded our harmless and more attractive subcutaneous fat for that used to be EASY to diet away. THIS is why your stomachs are so bloated, they're filled with a NEW kind of fat you never had before.

I came here to see if a tummy tuck has the same aftermath as liposuction, and now I have no doubt that it DOES!!!I can sympathize with all those who posted how their body changed, and shape. Me too. Not for the better at all. Same thing, that big rock hard distended pregnant belly that simply will not be sucked in or go down. I also had a neighbor ask me if I was pregnant awhile ago after I had it done, how embarrassing. I may as well play it off that I am, forever!

I always wanted to be a pear shape, and was always more of an apple. I'd never have touched big hips, I always wanted bigger more shapely hips! My waist and stomach always collected fat, and in trying to fight that, and I went in thinking what if weight comes back, but hoping if the weight DID redistribute, I'd get hips and a bigger butt if I gained after lipo. Well, I never got hips, I just got a bigger apple, what I'd been trying to defeat all my life!  I am amazed that pears TURN INTO apples too when having either of these procedures done, even worse! Now I am a distorted apple, instead of a well rounded natural looking apple. Now I am an apple with a big top and a semi deflated bottom half. Makes me sad to my CORE, pun intended!  

I've long believed, before reading all the cases here and on other threads where other victims had the same lipo reaction I do, that my liposuction definitely changed my body for the worse.  Just like all of you with tummy tucks, I experienced a "rebound" effect, like my body sucked up every calorie from every bite until my weight stabilized 25-30 pounds OVER what I had easily maintained before surgery with no diet, no exercise at all, in my 40s. The big hard rock that I call my stomach, is distended from my ribcage down and feel hard all the way to my navel with weird wave like bulges on each side of my waist. All I can say is I am grateful I did lipo and not the tummy tuck, after reading all this. I feel for you guys, it seems that the aftermath is even worse with more complications.

 I wish I had just dieted and exercised a little. I could have gotten myself to 125 again like that, as I always had without too much hard work, yet I thought I was taking the easy road. Bad mistake.  Lipo will ruin your body, results are NOT permanent, and if you experience this rebound like most seem to as I've discovered by surfing and finding all these people experiencing the same, then you should be LUCKY TO KNOW NOW what we all will pay for in a way that hurts more than losing $1,000s of dollars to plastic surgeons. You will hate your new body more than those few "trouble spots" you may have.

Don't be self critical, embrace the curves nature gave you. Don't mess with mother nature, it's so true.  Long term result right here, not good, now you heard it from someone who did it years ago. It does NOT get better, this change is PERMANENT. Sorry to tell you. All doctors have the same story of course, they all just make it like you're some sort of secret undisciplined pig secretly eating boxes of Oreo's and not admitting your weakness, and that you're just blaming what's your fault, on their wonderful work.  Sure, I've even stated I feel it's a rebound gain when it first happened and I went back, and both closed their ears to my personal theory the rebound syndrome, which is clearly the case, and now it's coming out into the light.  I was not wrong, you guys are not wrong and you're not imagining it. It is REALITY!!Here's the problem.  

Doctors all play dumb. I read their answers to these questions on other sites. Always an excuse. Never them, it must be YOU that caused this!! They don't want you to know before hand and not do it. Of course, not. They stand to lose a multimillion dollar industry if people stop doing liposuction and tummy tucks.  They're NOT going to be honest about the reality of it even if every single patient comes back and says OMG what happened???  They do NOT want people like us to talk about it and warn all those innocent and untouched by the life changing and body changing canula!  They KNOW the truth and the consequences, believe me, but they have bills to pay and perpetrating lies and false hope to sell you for lot's in their pockets, just seems more important to most of them. There might be some doctor out there who might admit this, but they'll tell you if you exercise, it won't happen, like in the post findings about the increase in visceral fat.  When I returned to show the original doctor who "took a ton off" my new bulging upper midriff he admitted he saw that happen with "a lot of patients" and now he doesn't do just lower abdomen's, he does upper ones too. Well I wonder what happens then? Probably doubly more visceral fat!!

 In my experience, this build up is not going anywhere, no matter what I do. I am stuck with a ton of fat in my abdominal cavity and may have taken years off my own life because it is a ticking time bomb in my stomach.

PLEASE DON'T HAVE LIPOSUCTION!! DO NOT HAVE TUMMY TUCKS!!!  LOVE YOURSELF AND YOUR BODY AS IS!!Also, if anyone wants to defend lipo OR tummy tucks and say they're fine after only a few months out, why don't you come back in a year, 2 years, 3 years, see where you're at then before you judge others experience. I looked normal and hadn't gained all this still at 4 months too. I cannot believe that now, with folks like you guys sharing, and I am telling you now, with over 10 years of results to use as a guide, that this procedure is being touted still and folks are going for it anyway after reading all we are saying, WHY??? If I knew this then, I'd have NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED doing it.  It should be OUTLAWED!  It's beauty SUICIDE, and yet it is marketed as just the opposite.  All of us cannot be wrong!!  

Sorry this is so long! I needed to vent and I know you guys would be interested in my story...thanks for listening!!:)

No one seems to have an answer here.  Are there any updates?

I had a tummy tuck 10 months ago and a second 5 months ago.  Here is my story.

After the first surgery, my belly was flat and I was very pleased, but by 3 months post-op, my stomach above the belly button extended out and started to cause me discomfort.  It felt as though it was pulling against by belly button and quite painful.  The doctor thought that his stitches had come undone, so I had a a tummy tuck revision at 5 months.  Afterwards, he told me that he had found the stitches still in place and he wasn't sure why my muscles had popped out.  Sadly, within a month, the same problem returned and unless I wear a tight compression garment or a tight back brace, my belly hurts and feels like it is pulling against by belly button again.  I am now 5 months post-op on the second procedure.  The doctor mentioned that I gained weight and wants to blame it on fat, but when you touch the area, it is very extended but firm.  Also, the left side was extremely painful after surgery #2 and remains sensitive...I didn't have this after the first surgery.  It is not fat.  I don't want a third surgery, but I don't want to have this strange bulge either...most likely I need to consult with a different plastic surgeon.

Please please, any help would be really appreciated.

 

 

Did you ever have a CT scan done to see what it could be ? Do you think its a hernia?

If you don't mind...how did he "take care of it for you"? If you haven't noticed, we are all dying for an answer here!

Okay guys I have the answer. First, Ditto to all the previous responses.  Years after my tummy tuck I looked like I swallowed a melon. I could "thump" the area and it had a dull thud like a ripe melon. I had all the physical symptoms described by other posts.  I eventually learned that this condition is common from a physical therapist who specializes in women with disorders. Here is what she explained to me.  With the tummy tuck the surgeon removes subcutaneous fat then tightens the abdominal muscles. After that the fat is unable to return to the previous subcutaneous regions but converts into what is known as visceral fat.  This is the fat that is dangerous and is located deep in the body cavity. Visceral fat is what surrounds your liver, spleen, heart, and digestive organs.  The people in this forum complained of shortness of breath, irritable bowel symptoms, fullness, bloating, acid reflux, difficulty sitting upright and pain. This is due to there being a limited amount of space in the "compartment" that houses your vital organs. The compartment filled up with dangerous fat and now all your organs are running out of space. Your upper waist will protude as much as it can to try to get some relief from the overcrowding. This is why our waists are bigger than ever after the tummy tuck. I know you all are wondering if I found a resolution to this horrid nightmare. Yes! My physical therapist helped me learn about this fat and instructed me to research ways to rid visceral fat. First, lose weight. If you are skinny you will want to just change your eating habits and eat foods that do not contribute to visceral fat. If you are overweight you will need to lose weight. You will notice as you lose that the hardness of the upper waist decreases even though the scales do not change. Use a tape measure instead of the scales so you will not get discouraged. Second, do a cardio workout. It can be walking, running, whatever.... just do it. Third, increase your muscle strength in arms and legs. More muscle means that the horrid visceral fat will need to fuel the new muscles instead of hang around in your body cavity choking your organs. Oh, and I also learned this evil organ fat is not passive like the other fat but is active.  It secrets stress hormones, decreases metabolism, speeds heart rate, increases cholesterol and ages your body.  I have a long way to go still but I am 25% improved. Just knowing what the heck went on after my tummy tuck was a relief.  Hope I helped!