Does anyone know...okay so the stomach muscles are cut during the surgery, so can anyone tell by touch that you've had the surgery, specifically a massage therapist?

I don't think so. My tummy feels the same. Smae as it would be after a c section. The mommy's tummy feels the same.

Your stomach muscles aren't cut. There's holes poked to get the instruments in using an instrument called a trocar, which is a hollow tube with a pointy end. A massage therapist won't feel anything, but I'm 8 months out and my scars still show. My GYN thought it was from gallbladder removal before she read my chart.

Yes, what others just said, the muscles are not "cut" per se but the incision goes along the muscle tissue, so "separated" would be a more proper term. There is one larger incision that will leave a visible scar, the other smaller ones may heal over and not even be visible, at 9+ months I can't even find my small ones anymore. The larger incision is where most of the instruments are pushed though and the removed part of the stomach pulled back out. All incisions heal very quickly with minimal pain. There is too much stuff between your skin and the stomach to feel the staples. If you COULD feel the the staples you would have to be pretty damn skinny and not have much abdominal muscle at all.

There is also a newer technique where ONE incision is made and a rubber donut like thingy pushed in and everything enters and is removed though it, sometimes the incision is made just above the navel so it is concealed fairly well. It is called single incision laproscopy and may go by other names like "star".

I don't know about anyone else, but my big incision above my belly button has a hard lump. I am 22days post op. I hope this goes away. It is still a bit sore if I push on it.

All of mine are hard knots after 15 days, but I am hoping they smooth out. They are healing very well. I work with a OT and she really does a great job on surgery scars with massage. especially using a little vibrator. (Yes, it looks pretty much like a "toy", but i order these from medical supply.)

I don't know about anyone else, but my big incision above my belly button has a hard lump. I am 22days post op. I hope this goes away. It is still a bit sore if I push on it.

I had the hard lump by the big incision (and a weird dent next to it). This was from internal stitches & I think it disappeared around 3 months out.

Krista

Thanks everyone!

Well, my scars are still hard lumps of tissue at 16 mos. out. Everyone heals differently.

Supposedly taking care to moisturize and massage the scars and the surrounding tissue can help to reduce scarring.