I would like to know if there is a way to distinguish between a muscle repair failure and swelling. I am almost three months post-op from a tummy tuck, and I've noticed some bumps in my upper abdomen.
Dear, Your surgeon is able to determine if the rectus muscles are still together or not as they were present during the surgery and know where the stitches were placed. Having a slightly bumpy upper abdomen is not a cause for concern. You can examine your tummy now and compare it to how it felt before the surgery. Lie on your back with a small pillow under the curve of your back, place your dominant hand flat on your tummy with the fingers curled into the flesh along the midline just below the belly button. Move your hand slightly up and down to feel the midline. While doing this, you may feel the sutures, but you should not be able to feel your pulse (by feeling the largest vessel in the body, the aorta). Additionally, when you lift your shoulders off the bed, the feel of the midline should not change, and you should not feel loose six-pack muscles hitting each other in the midline. They should have been there before you lifted your shoulders. Another way to assess is to look in the mirror sideways as you bend over, as if you are about to dive into a pool. Check if the tummy is falling out and forming a hammock, indicating muscle laxity, or if the tummy remains largely flat. Based on your description, I believe you should see your doctor, but overall, I think you are okay. Good luck.
At three months, you can have your surgeon evaluate your stomach to determine if the swelling or any other issues require revision surgery. You can also perform a self-assessment to check for muscle repair: Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Raise your head and shoulders up, similar to a crunch exercise. Try to fit your fingers in between the left and right sides of your abdominal muscles, vertically in the middle of your stomach. If two or more fingers fit width-wise, it may indicate the need for a repeat muscle repair procedure.
Your surgeon can determine whether the concern is swelling, fluid collection, or muscle repair failure. Fluid collection or residual swelling are more likely, while muscle repair failure would be unusual.
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