Hello Doctor – I was scanning the forum for this exact question. As you have read, I am 5 days post XLIF, and while I know there is some normal swelling, seroma, my entire belly also looks a bit bloated an I (like the author of this post) cannot pull my abdomen/belly button inwards to the same extent as pre-surgery.
Does XLIF cause permanent muscle imbalance/weakness like you noted with ALIF? Or is that only if an error has been made? And/Or is it too soon for me to be thinking about anything related to my belly, strength or aesthetics with given I only had surgery on 2/25.
The best way I can describe my abdomen now is “lumpy” :)