Abnormal appearance

I had tummy tuck surgery 3 years ago and my gall bladder out 2 years ago. I should have followed up but had some family medical emergencies to deal with since then and didn't.

My stomach appears like I am 9 months pregnant. It is very firm. If you pat on it under my breasts, it sounds hollow as if it were full of air. My public area appears swollen.

My daughters and husband have been after me to follow up and I am just now getting to it. Any ideas what my next step should be?

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

In the absence of weight gain since the surgery, the most common causes of fullness of the abdominal wall post tummy tuck would be disruption of the deep fascial sutures placed at the time of the tummy tuck, or stretching of the fascia.  Your surgeon should be able to advise you about what is going on.