Why do I still have a pooch after tummy tuck?

Author: Sophia Boehm III  |  Last update: Thursday, October 30, 2025

As the body heals, scar tissue forms, which can lead to tightness or bulging in the abdominal area. This can create the appearance of a lower belly pooch after tummy tuck. Tummy tuck scar care is essential to minimize scar tissue formation and ensure optimal healing.

Why is my lower abdomen not flat after tummy tuck?

Swelling is usually the main reason why your tummy may not look flat during recovery. As this resolves, the tummy will begin to show its new shape with little visible swelling left within three to four months. However, it can take one full year for your final results to appear.

How long will a pooch last after a tummy tuck?

Healing From Abdominoplasty

Tenderness, swelling, and redness generally last for up to four weeks, but for some patients it can be a little longer. After four weeks, most patients report that they feel almost fully recovered, but minor swelling can linger for weeks and months to come.

Why do I have a pooch that won't go away?

If diet and exercise haven't done much to reduce your pooch, then your hormones, your age and other genetic factors may be the reason why.

How to get rid of lower belly bulge after tummy tuck?

However, here are some ways to reduce swelling after a tummy tuck procedure, these include:
  1. Getting enough rest.
  2. Incorporate light movement.
  3. Cut back on Sodium.
  4. Use of compression garments.
  5. Following a healthy diet and staying hydrated.
  6. Take prescribed medication.
  7. Lymphatic massage.

11 Things You Should NOT Do After a Tummy Tuck

Why is my stomach still flabby after tummy tuck?

Muscle Weakness

During a tummy tuck, the plastic surgeon tightens the skin and may also repair the abdominal muscles; however, if the underlying muscles are not sufficiently strengthened over time, they may not provide the support needed to maintain a flat appearance.

Will my tummy tuck bulge go away?

How long does post tummy tuck swelling last? Many patients experience post-surgical swelling that peaks within the first few days after surgery and gradually decreases over the next several weeks. Mild swelling can persist for up to 6 months as the body continues its healing process.

Why am I not losing my belly pouch?

Too many starchy carbohydrates and bad fats are a recipe for that midsection to expand. Instead, get plenty of veggies, choose lean proteins, and stay away from fats from red meats. Choose healthier fats in things like fish, nuts, and avocados. Even a moderate cutback on carbs (grains, pasta, sugars) can help, too.

Will my pouch ever go away?

For some women, this scar tissue can't be removed with exercise or diet changes alone (which may mean surgery is the only way to eliminate a postpartum pouch). For others, following an exercise program and focusing on core exercises can be enough to flatten the appearance of this pouch.

How do I get rid of my hanging belly pooch?

Counting calories, regular exercise, a healthy diet and reducing stress are all great ways to increase fat loss. It might be time to think about surgery if you have been trying to reduce your stomach overhang for a long time and you aren't seeing the desired results.

How to get insurance to cover a tummy tuck?

Key Requirements for Insurance Coverage

Documentation – gather extensive medical records, including photos, documenting your condition and any failed attempts at non-surgical treatments. Preauthorization – in most cases, you'll need to obtain preauthorization from your insurance company before the surgery is scheduled.

What is the hardest plastic surgery to recover from?

The recuperation process following rhinoplasty, frequently referred to as a nose job, presents a recovery challenge. Patients commonly experience discomfort in the facial and neck areas. Rhinoplasty is often considered the hardest plastic surgery procedures to recovery from.

How do you get rid of FUPA after a tummy tuck?

Combining Abdominoplasty and Pubic Lift to Correct FUPA

Together, these procedures can help to: Remove excess skin and body fat from both the abdominal area and upper pubic area.

How to get a flatter stomach after a tummy tuck?

In this case eat smaller meals and snacks of nutrient-rich, whole foods or try a protein shake. You need this energy to fuel your healing body. For the long term maintenance of your tighter, flatter stomach, adopt a lifestyle of healthy, balanced eating. Don't skip meals; eat smaller meals regularly throughout the day.

What does a failed tummy tuck feel like?

Shape of Abdomen

If you feel that the shape of your abdomen is lumpy or lopsided, this may be evidence of poor surgical technique.

Why does my stomach still look fat after tummy tuck?

Sometimes people do not have a totally flat abdomen after tummy tuck even though the excess skin and fat is removed due to the fact that the intra-abdominal contents still remain intact and are still behind the tightened abdominal muscles.

How can I flatten my stomach pouch?

  1. 7 belly-flattening food tips. ...
  2. Eat fiber-rich foods. ...
  3. Incorporate probiotics into your diet. ...
  4. Rule out wheat allergies or lactose intolerance. ...
  5. Watch what you drink. ...
  6. Eat healthy fats. ...
  7. Limit salt intake. ...
  8. Go easy on refined sugar.

Can you stretch your pouch out?

Unfortunately, some patients chronically overeat and, in doing so, can stretch their pouch more permanently. Unfortunately, once the pouch size has increased, there is no non-surgical way to return it to its former shape and size.

How to get rid of upper belly bulge after tummy tuck?

Liposuction to Contour the Upper Abdomen

As a result, some patients still have upper abdominal fullness following surgery. This area of concern can be addressed with liposuction three to six months after the tummy tuck procedure.

Why am I skinny but have a lower belly pooch?

One reason for belly fat is a sedentary lifestyle. Even skinny people can spend too much time in front of the television or computer screen, and this can encourage what little extra fat they have to settle into the stomach. A diet high in processed foods can also cause belly fat, even in skinny people.

Why can't i lose my mommy pouch?

In order to actually lose the pouch, you must burn the fat on top of your abs. This means you need to do Fat burning workouts that will target all muscle groups, and use your core as the main focus. Here are a few of our favorite workouts that burn fat, and tone the belly at the same time!

Why is it so hard to lose apron belly?

Most apron bellies are comprised mostly of loose skin, and no amount of diet or exercise can restore the elasticity of permanently stretched skin. Further complicating the issue is the fact that when fat is present, it's abdominal fat.

Can your stomach grow back after tummy tuck?

The answer then is yes, your belly may come back after a tummy tuck. However, it will require a very focused and deliberate consumption of excess calories over a long period of time. This rarely happens especially in patients who have adjusted and adopted a new lifestyle preoperatively.

What percentage of tummy tucks go bad?

Approximately 10% to 20% of patients suffer a local complication following abdominoplasty, while fewer than 1% suffer a systemic complication.

What are the red flags for tummy tuck?

Red Flags: Identifying Signs of Bad Tummy Tucks
  • Irregular abdominal wall tightening.
  • Diastasis recti (abdominal muscle separation)
  • Umbilical float (belly button is too low)
  • Irregular scarring (too high or too wide)
  • Abnormal swelling or bruising.
  • “Dog ears” (excess skin hanging at the ends of your incision)

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