What should you know about cellulitis after a tummy tuck?

Recovery can include bruising, tightness, swelling, and tenderness. Cellulitis is more concerning when the skin becomes increasingly warm, red, swollen, or painful, especially when the change spreads beyond the incision or is accompanied by drainage. A fluid collection or irritation from a dressing can look different, so your surgeon should assess new changes rather than relying on appearance alone. Keep the wound covered only as instructed and do not press on a bulge or drain it yourself.

Call your plastic surgeon or postoperative team promptly if the incision or nearby skin is worsening. Describe the location, onset, spread, discharge, temperature, and pain pattern. Follow the prescribed washing, dressing, compression, and activity instructions; avoid swimming and unapproved creams until cleared. Take prescribed antibiotics exactly as directed and do not share or reuse medication. Tell the team about diabetes, smoking, immune problems, or previous wound-healing difficulties.

Seek urgent medical care for rapidly spreading redness, severe or escalating pain, pus, wound separation, a sudden increase in swelling, fever, chills, faintness, confusion, fast breathing, or feeling very ill. These symptoms can point to a deeper wound infection or sepsis. Sudden chest pain, breathlessness, or one-sided leg swelling after surgery also needs emergency assessment because it may reflect a separate postoperative emergency.

Ask whether the wound needs examination today, whether a collection or infection is suspected, how to care for the incision, and when the next review should happen. Ask which changes mean you should go directly to emergency care and whether any current medicine should be adjusted.