Question:
I am 3 weeks post-op from a full tummy tuck with 2 hernia repairs..

The area just under my breasts is still rounded,, I look almost pregnant.. My plastic surgeon says i have some internal fat over my organs that he can't safely remove.. Has anyone heard this before? My skin is lose and flabby above my waist.. I believe he could of taken more skin or tightened my muscles more in that area like he did below my waist.. Can you give me your thoughts on this please.. thank you    — itsmekaren (posted on April 13, 2004)

April 13, 2004
If he tightened your muscles and pulled the excess skin down, I'm surprised you have excess skin above the belly button. The day after my abdominoplasty from right under my boobs all the way down to my crotch it was as flat as a board and has remained that way. Did he tell you about this fat BEFORE surgery?? It sounds like he just did a panniculectomy rather then an abdominoplasty.
   — Patty H.

April 13, 2004
Due to my waist never stretching out and being very anchored they were not able to pull everything down as normal. However, I was told this from the start and by 3 different plastic surgeons. My abdominoplasty needed to be done in 2 stages. Even insurance agreed and approved both procedures right away. She might have had something similar, but I agree it should have been pointed out ahead of time. I wonder if it's a pocket of fluid. One PS did tell me that some people do have a layer of fat below the fascia but only in rare instances will they go after that. Sounds like he should have done a little lipo to remove as much fat from the skin to help the situation. Some docs won't throw in any lipo though. Mine did because he already had the machine there for my lateral thigh lift. <p>All I can say is don't panic. If after 3 months it still doesn't look any better then push the issue further. I'm 7 weeks PO and my body is changing weekly. I've already dropped one size from the clothes I bought PO and anything that still had the tags on is getting exchanged. He warned me it would take a good 3 months to determine what size I would actually be. But the problem was that I literally had no pants etc. that I could wear and had to buy some.
   — zoedogcbr

April 13, 2004
I'm 15 months from my tummy tuck and I have a pooch in that area also. I have a friend that lost weight on her own and also had a tummy tuck (different surgeon) and she also has a pooch in that area. My guess is it is fat. My friend had some lypo done, but not in her stomach. Did you have or pay for lypo in that area? If so, then you have a valid complaint.
   — Lisa N M.

April 14, 2004
This is a tough area. Some people ahve large rib cages that look bigger once the waist is downsized. If a lot of lipo was done, we have to preserve blood flow to the abdominal skin, which has been lifted up, cut from below, and liposuctioned from the sides. The top area beneath the ribs is a "caution zone" we try not to disturb with too much skin lifting and liposuction. Lipo at a later date could help.
   — DrL