Post-Surgery "Ledge" Belly Bloat

[jmariel]

Hi all, first new thread post. I got diagnosed about 12 years ago (I really wish this site was around then!), had a resection 11 years ago, in remission until last year. Now on remicade, working great.

The reason for my post is that: 11 years after surgery, I still have this "ledge" above my resection scar on my abdomen. It's really not a huge concern. Cosmetically I guess, if anything. Unless there is cause of concern for scar tissue or something serious.

Has anyone else dealt with this? Know if it's normal to last this long? Any fixes? It's a real pain during swimsuit season. I'd like to have it go away if possible. It's not so much the fact that it's a typical crohn's bloat, but the fact that it's a ledge and I can't seem to have a flat stomach. Do intense situp workout?

FYI I am not overweight. I have BMI of about 20.5 5'1 and 112-115.

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Grumbletum]

I'm curious too cos my stomach looks exactly like yours. My scar is from an operation for an ovarian cyst over 25 years ago. Had a perfectly flat stomach since, even after pregnancy until Crohn's struck two years ago and the 'ledge' appeared along with it.

 

[JMC]

I have the same problem. Below my belly button, my stomach has gone in after surgery and around my belly button I am now a bit flabby. I've only just had my ileostomy reversed, so I have not tried exercising my stomach muscles to improve their appearance, hopefully it will work.

 

[hlmurray99]

I'm only 9 days post resection so I can't speak to that, but I do have the same ridge from previous c-sections (almost 8 years ago).

 

[nitty]

I also have a ridge, although mine's more like an overhang (!), from two caesarians over 9 years ago.
I'm now resigned to its permanence, despite losing weight. I'll never be happy with it, especially as I had a perfectly flat toned tummy before that (it was my best bit - now it's my worst).
I console myself that it's the price I pay for having two such beautiful children, and in that respect it's a very small price to pay.

For what it's worth, if my tummy looked as good as yours, I'd be over the moon!

 

[leighlu]

I am 25 and had an extended right hemi in 2005. I then had surgery a year later to fix fistulas. I don't have a camera to post pics of mine, otherwise I would. I have an 'anchor' shape scar, one horizontal for the first one I had and then a vertical from my belly button to join the horizontal scar. They left my stomach open to heal closed and so I have an indented circle of scarring where the 2 meet. I have a 'pouch' as well, just above the horizontal scar and it has never gone. I am fit, 5ft 1, 8st 2 and I train at the gym very regularly, my diet is also good. My consultant said it's as a result of the muscle tissue being cut through and so it will never tone up and it's also going to plump out as it has near scar tissue (? whatever that means). I will see if my boyfriend can get a pic of it and upload it onto here. It doesn't bother me at all. I used to be so self conscious of it but I'm now confident in my own skin and I wear bikinis and don't mind people (mainly kids) who stare. If they ask what happened I tell them I got bitten by a shark - their faces! Hope you're doing well now and you show off that yummy tummy of yours, the scar is a part of you