Looking for opinions as to what could be the underlying cause to find some direction on how to solve the pooch below the navel 16 mnths after mini TT w/ minor lipo/no muscle work.ASBS Surgeon said it was fat although it is firm not squishy and will not agree to do liposuction. 48 meso injections did virtually nothing in Feb (one yr after). Not acceptable to look worse. See before and after pics.
I think the primary problem has been lack of communication. You had a full abdominoplasty. I don't know about your surgeon, but I DO NOT do liposuction with my full abdominoplasty. I believe there is more risk there than I want to allow. This is fat. Now granted, you have very little fat. You look very thin and muscular. But I believe, without being able to exam you, that is very likely fat. Many of my abdominoplasty patients will undergo liposuction after the abdominoplasty, and I emphasize to them prior to surgery that I am not doing liposuction, and you may require it if you wish additional correction. I saw one of my patients just today with that issue.
But it is also important to have trust in your surgeon. If you are not trusting his/her surgery, then you should look for another board certified surgeon to help you. I have been doing liposuction and abdominoplasty for over 30 years. This is my recommendation!
Was it always present after the surgery or did it occur afterwards?
Dear Marshid,
Unless something is very unclear (like the laxity of your abdominal skin) in these photos, it appears that you were never a candidate for a tummy tuck in the first place. Your abdominal contour was phenomenal to begin with and a little bit of liposuction would probably have been the proper recommendation. So either you were sold a bill of goods, or you demanded a procedure that you did not need. Something is missing in the story. This is further evidenced by the vertical scar below your navel. Unheard of, and NEVER EVER performed in my practice of 30 yrs. I would disagree with my colleague that you now have fat creating the "pooch." You had very little fat to begin with. It is continued edema (swelling) compounded by your mesotherapy injections, which cause inflammation, and guess what?, more swelling. So, liposuction is not the answer. Leave things alone. The edema will improve with time and exercise. Good luck!
You will get a bunch of different answers from people that do not have the entire story or able to examine you including myself. You have a long vertical scar. You had little loose skin above, a high umbilicus. The amount of descent of your skin was very little. Why not a mini? or just lipo? Did you have muscle plication? Did you have any liposuction with your procedure? Who prescribed these meso injections, what for , when, and why did you continue to have them after not doing any good? The swelling may be because of that and the doctor may have been correct in not recommending liposuction at this time. Most likely your swelling will come down in a few months and that may be the time to do something about it if not better. Most likely it will improve. Was surgeon ABPS cert? I would have lipo only or lipo with mini abdominoplasty at most but can not fault someone else for doing a full abd. See your surgeon again, poss touch up lipo later or get a another opinion from a local ABPS
Am really confused by the scar here, That vertical cut? Was that trying to address some of the periumbilical skin.
As to that lower swelling or bulge.... Doesn't look like fatty excess. That could be diastasis from strain/constipation. If this persists a CT scan would delineate diastasis from a chronic seroma (fluid pocket) in the old lower abdomen space.