post LBL question

I've noticed something funny and wonder if this happens to anyone else. I had an LBL with tummy tuck and reconstruction of belly button and abdominal wall. I don't think much work was done on the upper portion, above the belly button but the result is still great. I have a nice belly, not entirely flat flat but very normal looking, so I am very happy with it. So, I have noticed that towards the end of the day, or when I drink a lot or eat more than I should (ahem...), my upper belly, above the belly button kind of puffs out like a little baloon. It is not uncomfortable but strange looking for sure. So you get like a curvy line, breasts, baloonish upper belly then a tight area where the waist line and belly button seem anchored in place and a normal looking lower belly. It doesn't stay distended for a long time. I know, moral of the story, I should eat less or not drink so much at one time!

I don't have the belly issue, but my bellybutton becomes a 1/2 outie (the top half) right after I've eaten or if I'm otherwise bloated.  Startled the heck out of me - my bb had always been buried so deep that I don't think it had ever seen the light of day before!

I have a similar issue but I did not have an lbl.  I had a large hernia repair for my open rny - because it was so large, it wasn't able to be flattened as tightly so the muscle expands right after I eat.  I had a prophylactic mastectomy with reconstruction from my abdomen - which gave me a tummy tuck.  The part below my belly button is very flat compared to the top.  It makes wearing pants awkward - although I always wear my shirts out.  Given what I looked like prior to this journey - I am good with this.

This is not unusually for anyone. When one wears clothing, and esp tight like pants, the stomach and intestines will expand wherever they can which will show most in upper abdomen because lower is compressed. That is also why esp in healing phase, there is more swelling between the belly button and the TT scar for the fluid is "trapped" there and the lymph vessels have been altered and not reformed.

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Will that swelling eventually  resolve itself? Should I be doing anything to help it along or is it a matter of time?thanks.  I'm 4 weeks out from tummy tuck.

Jeanne

Interesting. I also had a lbl and have never had that happen to me.

Yes, the swelling usually resolves but does take time. Sometimes, some fullness above the TT scar remains due to scarring or the lymph channels not reforming. This can usually easily be taken care of with some liposuction under tumescent local anesthesia in office.

I always have swelling in that area at the end of the day. Sometimes earlier in the day too. Probably after eating a bit too much too, but I'm at work when it happens and can't really take a good look where co-workers might see. My doctor said this can take...oh, what was it? Six months to a year to fully resolve? I'm not sure anymore but it was a long time and everything looks so much better than it did that I have just resolved to deal with it. What I do NOT like so much is the residual fat in the upper abdomen. To get rid of that, I'd have needed a vertical incision. I may ask about liposuction in that area some time down the road, but I want to give this plenty of time to heal (I'm only 3 months out) and see what happens when he clears me for "core" exercise again (which will be at 6 months out) and I am able to work on those muscles again. (Good grief, how's that for a run-on sentence? LOL.)

I bought a really cute tunic-type top and leggings that I love, but the top gathered right under the breast and then hangs loose. It looks SOOO much better on me now than it would have before my abdominoplasty but that little upper abdomen swelling makes me feel like it looks horrible. I need to try it on for someone else to see so they can let me know if it's really okay to wear. It may be that my tube socks (deflated, hanging boobs) are still too big to carry off the look. THOSE I am addressing the week after Christmas. Yay! I'm scheduled and everything.

Anyway, I think time and patience are what we need. It took a long time after WLS to be eating "normally" again...it's going to take a long time fully recover from the most recent surgeries we've had. Hugs to you!

I have upper belly swell like that when I eat carbs...unfortunately.

For me it's not carbs in particular. I could eat a chicken leg and boom, the upper belly pops out as if to remind me. It's not bad actually. Just another visible reminder to watch it!