It is heavy. That is usually the first thing women notice when they talk about their stomach before and after myomectomy. It isn’t just a "bloated" feeling like you ate too much kale or stayed too long at a bottomless brunch. It’s a literal, physical weight. Imagine carrying a grapefruit, or sometimes a small watermelon, tucked right behind your pubic bone. It pushes. It crowds your bladder. It makes your favorite jeans feel like a betrayal.
Fibroids are weird like that. They aren’t just "growths"; they are dense, muscular tumors that hijack your anatomy. When you're living with them, your stomach doesn't just look larger—it feels structurally different.
But then comes the surgery.
The shift from living with a fibroid-laden uterus to a post-surgical body is one of the most intense physical transitions a person can go through. It’s not an overnight "snap back" to a flat belly. Honestly, the immediate aftermath can be a bit of a shock. You expect the "after" to look like a fitness commercial, but the reality involves a lot of swelling, some strange numbness, and a recovery timeline that demands a lot of patience.
What's Actually Happening to Your Stomach Before Myomectomy?
Before the surgeon ever picks up a scalpel, your stomach is basically a hostage. If you have intramural or subserosal fibroids, they are pushing the walls of your uterus outward. Doctors call this a "bulk symptom."
Think about the "pregnant look." Many women with large fibroids find themselves being offered seats on the bus or asked when they are due. It’s heartbreaking and frustrating. This happens because the uterus, which is normally the size of a small pear, can expand to the size of a five-month pregnancy. According to the Mayo Clinic, fibroids can grow large enough to reach the ribcage.
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It’s not just about the bump, though. Your skin feels tight. Your lower back probably aches because your center of gravity has shifted. You might even notice your stomach feels "hard" to the touch in specific spots. That’s the fibroid itself. It’s a solid mass of smooth muscle cells and extra-cellular matrix. It’s firm. It’s stubborn. And it’s why your stomach before and after myomectomy will feel like two completely different landscapes.
The Immediate "After": Why Do I Look More Bloated?
Here is the thing no one tells you: you will probably wake up from surgery looking more "pregnant" than you did before you went in.
If you had a laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy, the surgeons used CO2 gas to inflate your abdomen so they could see what they were doing. That gas doesn't all just vanish. It gets trapped. It migrates. It often ends up in your shoulder blades (which is weirdly painful), and it keeps your stomach looking like a balloon for several days.
Even if you had an open "abdominal" myomectomy (the mini-laparotomy), the trauma to the tissue causes massive inflammation. Your body is rushing fluids to the site to heal the internal incisions on the uterus. This is "surgical edema."
Your stomach "after" is a site of major construction.
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Don't panic if your belly feels jiggly, numb, or incredibly swollen in the first two weeks. Most women report that the "shelf"—that little overhang of skin and swelling above the incision—is the most annoying part. It’s normal. Your lymphatic system is working overtime to drain that fluid, but it takes its sweet time.
The Three Stages of Your New Stomach
- The First 72 Hours: Total puffiness. You’ll want high-waisted, loose underwear. Anything with a waistband is the enemy. You might feel "swelly belly," a term the patient community uses to describe the way your stomach expands as the day goes on.
- Weeks 2 to 6: The "internal" healing phase. This is when the hard lump of the fibroid is gone, but the uterus itself is still tender and slightly enlarged from the surgical trauma. You’ll start to see the "real" shape of your stomach emerging, but don't expect a six-pack.
- Month 3 and Beyond: This is the sweet spot. For most, this is when the clothes finally fit differently. The "heaviness" is gone. You can finally lay on your stomach without feeling like you’re balancing on a rock.
The "Shelf" and Sensory Changes
We need to talk about the numbness. It is super common to have a patch of skin between your belly button and your incision that feels like it belongs to a stranger. This happens because tiny nerve endings are cut during the procedure.
For some, the sensation comes back in a few months. For others, it’s a permanent "new normal." It’s a small price to pay for losing the pain of fibroids, but it’s still a strange sensation when you’re washing in the shower.
And the scar? Whether it’s vertical or the more common "bikini cut," it will go through colors. Red, then purple, then eventually a silvery white. Using silicone sheets once the incision is fully closed can help, but your stomach before and after myomectomy will always carry that mark of resilience.
Real Results: What People Actually Experience
I’ve talked to women who lost five pounds of actual tumor weight. One patient at Northwestern Medicine reported a fibroid the size of a bowling ball. When that comes out, your organs—your bladder, your intestines—finally have room to breathe again.
You’ll pee less often. That’s a huge "stomach" benefit people forget. When the pressure is off the bladder, that constant "urgent" feeling vanishes.
However, let’s be real about the "flatness." A myomectomy removes the fibroids, but it doesn't remove excess skin or fat. If your skin was stretched out by a very large fibroid for years, it might have some laxity afterward. It’s not a tummy tuck. It’s a functional surgery. But the relief? That’s 10/10.
Navigating the Recovery: Actionable Steps
Recovery isn't just about sitting on the couch. How you treat your body in the "after" phase dictates how your stomach feels long-term.
- Move, but don't "exercise": Walk around your house every hour. It prevents blood clots and, more importantly, helps move that trapped gas out of your system.
- Abdominal binders: Some surgeons love them; some hate them. Ask yours. A binder can provide "compression" that makes your stomach feel secure when you laugh, cough, or sneeze (which, fair warning, will hurt for a bit).
- Hydration is non-negotiable: Constipation after surgery is the absolute worst. If you are backed up, your stomach will feel twice as big and three times as painful. Use the stool softeners they give you. Drink the water.
- Manage expectations: Your "after" photo at week two will look nothing like your "after" photo at month six. Take photos for yourself so you can see the progress when you’re feeling discouraged by the lingering swelling.
Long-term Maintenance
The hard truth? Fibroids can come back. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), there is a risk of new fibroids developing until you hit menopause.
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To keep your "after" stomach healthy, focus on anti-inflammatory habits. This isn't about a "fibroid diet" (which doesn't really exist in a proven way), but rather about overall hormonal health. High-fiber foods help clear excess estrogen, which is often the fuel for fibroid growth.
Your Post-Op Checklist
- Week 1: Focus on gas relief (Peppermint tea is a lifesaver) and staying ahead of the pain.
- Week 4: Start gentle scar massage (if cleared by your doctor) to prevent adhesions from pulling on the skin.
- Week 8: Slowly reintroduce core strengthening. Your deep transverse abdominis muscles have been through a lot; don't jump straight into heavy crunches.
- Month 6: Assess your final results. This is generally the "real" version of your new stomach.
The journey of the stomach before and after myomectomy is a marathon of healing. It is about reclaiming your space. It’s about being able to bend over without a mass getting in the way. It’s about the silence of a bladder that isn't being crushed. Even with the scars and the temporary swelling, the "after" is almost always a version of yourself that feels much lighter.
Practical Next Steps:
- Document the baseline: Before your surgery, measure your waist circumference and take a side-profile photo. In the "fog" of recovery, you might forget how much space those fibroids actually took up.
- Set up your "Recovery Nest": Ensure you have high-waisted leggings and "granny panties" ready. You do not want anything touching your incision site for at least 14 days.
- Track the "Firsts": Note the first day you can sleep on your side, the first day you don't need a nap, and the first day you realize you haven't thought about your stomach once. Those are the real metrics of success.