What Causes Weight Gain After A Double Mastectomy?

Posted on Mon, 17 Mar 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 Answered on

Mon, 7 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I had tramflap surgery6.5 years ago with double mastectomy. Breasts are nice, tummy is flat BUT I am very uncomfortable from under breasts to abdomen-very tight, some days can't do much. I have gained some weight since the surgery-could this be the reason for the uncomfortable feeling?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Detailed below. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. Yes, weight gain can give such feeling. As your muscles were transferred under the abdominal skin to breasts, this can also cause such uncomfortable feeling. You should also consider reasons like bloating or fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. Bloating with constipation can suggest possible large intestine issue which needs to be ruled out at your age. I suggest you to have abdominal ultrasound to see if there is any fluid in the abdomen. If bloating is present, please consult your doctor and consider colonoscopy. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (2 minutes later)

Thank you for the answer-I did not have all these uncomfortable feelings until about a year and a half ago, and I slowed down on working out because of it-I think I gained weight because of that and it became a vicious cycle! Thank you again, I will have to start working out more to lose this weight.XXXX

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer: . Detailed Answer: You are welcome. Yous keep in mind symptoms mentioned previously and if you wont get better, get some diagnostics. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar