Lymphatic Drainage Buildup After Surgery

The following post from our forum is from a person who had a tummy tuck 36 days ago and now has swelling above their incision line. The surgeon thinks it may be lymphatic drainage buildup.

Date: 01/10/2012	Submitted by: AChilds

I have swelling above the incision line of my tummy tuck that is concerning me. It was flat at first and has gotten more protruding as times passes. My full TT was 36 days ago. I am wearing compression, have started massaging...it is very flat below incision and bumps out over the incision directly above. It looks like I need a tummy tuck!! I am also noticing more stomach noises than before the surgery. Is this common?

My PS looked at the swelling last week and since she didn't say "oh that's normal, I see that all the time" it has me worried. She said it is likely lymphatic drainage buildup. Has anyone else had lymphatic drainage and if so, did it subside?

RESPONSE
Date: 01/10/2012	Submitted by: Tanner

AChilds,

No one has ever written in about lymphatic drainage buildup before and I have never heard of it so I looked it up.

I found lots of information about massages for it but no quick answers for
1) will the body absorb it and
2) can anything be done about it and
3) how long will it take to go away?

About the stomach noises, I think one or two other patients have written in about stomach noises after their tummy tucks. I don't think that is common but apparently it does happen. They never wrote back with explanations from their doctors.

If these things are worrying you it might be time to call your surgeon and ask her to get the answers from someone who knows for sure.

Good luck.

Tanner

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Lymphatic Drainage Buildup After Surgery

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