Slight concern after LBL

 I had a LBL on 10/28 and I have a slight concern. My surgeon cut me all the way around and did muscle tightening, but didn't do an anchor cut. I had expressed to him before surgery that one of my main things was not having a muffin top after surgery. I told him if he needed to do the vertical cut to avoid that from happening, I was fine with that. After looking last night, I still see fat above my naval area. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I don't believe it's swelling. I am able to grab fat. I have a follow-up with him on Monday and will mention it, but I'd like to get some thoughts from people who share a similar experience. 

Well this is interesting because up until the day of surgery my surgeon only said he was doing the circumferential. day of surgery he says inverted T Circumferential and when I asked why the change he said that was the plan all along and that there would be no way to bring all of the center skin in if not. So I agreed. I'm only 4 days out so I can't comment on how it looks. I would assume that you still have a lot of swelling, is it possible that that's what you are seeing, if not will your surgeon do a revision.

I don't believe it's swelling. The fat I'm referring to is in my upper abdomen right below my breasts. I'm able to grab fat there. However, in my lower abdomen, it's a lot tighter and I can definitely see & feel swelling. I'm going to ask him about it tomorrow when I go for my follow-up. If I needed the anchor cut, I wish he would have done it. I don't like the thought of needing a revision when the issue could have been addressed during the initial surgery.

I'm 11 weeks out now from Extended TT hernia & gynecomastia, four weeks ago I was still kind of po'd things weren't a little tighter in some areas but it has gotten a lot better last couple weeks. Alot of people on here talk about swelling for 6 months to a year so it may take some time to really see the results you want to. Being that your only 2 weeks out give it some time I'm sure it will get better.

Bubba

Bubba, during this period did you have any areas where you could grab fat? Was yours all swelling? I may be jumping the gun on this, but at the moment, it has me concerned. Thanks for your input!

I had a hernia repair with an extended TT done Jan5 of this year. I was all marked up for the anchor cut, but when I came out of recovery I noticed I didn't have the vertical cut. My PS said he changed his mind when I was on the table. That I would be happier without the scar and less problems with the healing. (I too told him I didn't care about the scars, I didn't want a muffin top, just make me nice and tight)
Well, I was very disappointed with the outcome at the time. I had this crease from the middle of my breasts to my belly button. It looked like I had a extra set of small breasts. When I went back for my 6 months check up it still looked the same. He said he could do a revision but really didn't think it was necessary. I really didn't want to go through anymore surgery. So I let it be. Lo and behold about 9 months out suddenly it dissapeared. The swelling finally went down! I lost an adittional 2 1/2 inches and a pant size and don't have a muffin top. You can actually see my rib cage now. I can't help looking at myself in the mirror and liking what I see. I look dam good for a 58 year young woman. So hang in there. It may take awhile but you may like the results.

This very well may be the case with me as well. I might be over analyzing everything. I just want to make sure I get the results I want and paid for. I'll discuss with my surgeon tomorrow. Hopefully he can provide some reassurance.

 I had a LBL in May.  I did not have the vertical anchor cut, only the circumferential cut.  My PS said he doesnt commonly do the anchor cut unless someone really has a ton of excess above the belly button.  I thought I did but went with his recommendation and didnt get it.

That being said, even though I didnt have the vertical incision, there is no way that after surgery  I could grab any fat.  What you're describing doesnt sound right to me at all.  In fact, right after surgey I needed to give myself Lovenox injections in my abdomen and had a heck of a difficult time because I had no skin whatsoever to grab.  Now, 6 months later, I'm still flat as a board on my stomach.  Definitely ask about it.

Joanne, it definitely doesn't seem right to me either. I'm hoping I'm wrong, but I feel like there's a difference between the upper and lower abdomen. I notice fat in the upper, but just swelling in the lower. I want him to provide reassurance tomorrow. I don't necessarily want to be cut again, but I want the best results possible.

this was my concern as well...And my Dr thought it was going to be OK with just the circumferential cut.....I was right... I had to be recut vertically because just the circumferential cut was not enough.