Would I have a high scar after a tummy tuck?

Posted 17 Mar 2010

Hi, I'm looking into a tummy tuck. I don't have much loose skin, and my belly only really sticks out due to the seperated muscles. I don't think I'd be suitable for a mini, as I have muscle seperation, an umbilical hernia and also i have a little lose skin above my belly button. As i dont have much skin would my scar be high? I've seen some scars go right round the sides past the hip bone, would that be the case with me or not due to not much skin? Thanks

View 11 doctor answers to Tummy Tuck Scars

Comments (8)

momiemkovr 19 Aug 2011

Post Script
I would have worn a bikini bottom...funny, I didn't know I was having the tummy tuck. My PS is out of state other then a lot of pics he never say me in person until the day before. I thought maybe a little lipo would be nice. Mostly I was thinking breast reduction lift!!! I did bring in my work out tops to show what I wanted to NOT fall out and how I wanted it to fit. I never had a chance to really do any research on TT. I was shocked to learn my abdominal muscle was so weak and separated I needed a full TT!!!!! Hence I would have felt better if I had brought a bathing suit. At least then I could have been for warned of the possibilities. I love my PS and trust him very much. Still he's way short on the low down of things.

KSP2 22 Feb 2011

I agree with Kimmers, and I did as she suggested and wore my bikini to show where I wanted the scar. The surgeon said it might be hard since I also did not have a lot of loose skin. Since you need to get your existing belly button (which will then be a hole in your skin after pulled off) pulled down to the incision line, he said one option was that if it didn't stretch that far, that he could give me a low horizontal scar (hip to hip) but with a small vertical scar where the belly button hole would be stitched. I decided I'd rather have that than a huge hip to hip scar that would show in a bikini. So before the surgery he marked me and off I went. He told me right after surgery "good news, I was able to get the skin all the way down so no vertical scar". However, the scar is definitely higher than we had marked! By about 2 inches. So I'm not happy about that at all. It's fine in the middle, but it's the sides that came up way too high. If you have less skin, it is much harder to get the scar low. I also know someone else now who had less loose skin, and her scar almost shows above her jeans even. However, the good news is that once the scar heals it probably won't be very noticeable. So I think you just have to be prepared that you might not have a super low scar (no matter what the surgeon says) and be willing to live with that tradeoff.

Jessica9025 11 May 2011

I am so happy to read your comment. I had a tummy tuck 4 wks ago and the scar is outside of every pair of underwear I own. Looking back on all the consults, only 2 recommended a full tuck and the others a mini or no cutting at all. I have been researching the cause and was just about sure it was due to not a lot of excess skin. This just solidified what I was thinking and I guess what I wanted to hear for comforts sake. How do you deal with the higher incision? Does it bother you? Has it been a pain to find clothes or swimwear?

KSP2 11 May 2011

Hi Jessica,
At first I dealt by relying on the hope the doctor gave me that the incision would drop over the next few months. But I'm now at 4 months, and it hasn't. So another false hope. The good thing is that at least now it's just starting to fade, so not as ugly to look at. I have been able to find other underwear that comes up high enough, but I still feel sexy in (higher leg cut helps me). Same for a bikini bottom, there are so many options now for bottoms and many of the higher cuts are very cute. So as soon as my belly button scar is faded, I'm showing this new body off! The bikini bottom may not be as low as I would like to wear, but I figure I still look overall much better now. So would I rather wear a low bikini with a disgusting stomach, or a higher one with a beautiful stomach?? For me that choice is easy so overall I'm very happy. The other thing that keeps me so happy is that in regular clothes (which is way more often than I wear bikinis obviously) I look and feel SO MUCH better now. So my advice is not to get discouraged. After 6-8 weeks, as you get back into a more normal routine and start feeling more human again, try to enjoy the way you look. You may have to make some wardrobe changes, but overall you'll hopefully like the results. Oh, and I also continued to lose weight for a few months due to the tighter abs so smaller stomach expansion.... that always makes me smile too even when I think the scar is too high. I look GREAT now in my new, smaller exercise pants :) And my excess skin no longer hangs over my jeans! So I guess we just have to focus on the positive? Good luck to you.

momiemkovr 19 Aug 2011

You are all awesome! It makes me feel so much better to read about woman who have a higher scar then most. I am 5ft 2 inches and was not heavy at all. I'm short waisted, for sure! I ask my PS about it and he just says your exactly perfect and you have close to no scare.
he never was very good at giving full explanations. I had a breast aug with him a long time ago. I needed a lift but decided a fill up would be better. I planed on having another child and I did 12 years latter! So this mommy make over was worth the wait! I am a bummed at the moment about the ridge and the placement, but I must say I feel better after reading all of these post. Thank you.

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 17 Jan 2011

All doctors will place the scar as low as possible. You really should ask the doctor about having enough skin...that is best left up to the professionals. Also ask how far around he/she will need to make the scar.

What you can do is wear a pair of bikini panties to the appt and show them where you are hoping the scar to be. The doctor will be up front with you and let you know the possibilities.

Best advice I can give is to really communicate with your doctor and let them know your expectations. Make sure you are on the same page of understanding.

Lynnlynn 17 Jan 2011

I dont have much extra skin to pull down either. My doc said that my scar will be a bit higher than usual and also a bit wider as well. My stretch marks go up above my belly button and he said he will take all of them off. I guess for me a higher scar is worth the trade off to have a nice flat, stretchmark free tummy. But is an individual decision. I think you should go for it. You look like you have a great body already, so I think a tt would make you feel great!