Tummy Tuck Revision

Q: Dr. Eppley,  I am interested in a tummy tuck revision. I had complications from a tummy tuck procedure done almost two years ago. I have hardness of tissue below belly button but above incision which also sticks out. I have had multiple radio frequency treatments to try and soften it up but without any success. What options are available to me now for improvement.

A: While you did not state what your after surgery complications were, by your description and pictures that most likely problem would have been a recurrent seroma. When this does not get completely absorbed it can create an encapsulated seroma pocket which can feel firm as it creates skin adhesions down to the abdominal wall.  It will also create a pooch to the skin area that overlies it. Its most common location to occur is between the belly button and the incision line…exactly where you have the firm feeling bulge.

The treatment for that is to go in and remove all of the scar tissue and seroma capsule. Some extra abdominal skin can also be removed at the same time. Your tummy tuck revision would really be called a secondary mini-tummy tuck.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana