Prior Cholecystectomy Surgery and Tummy Tuck?

asked 2 years ago by meetingpoint in California
Latest answer by Marcus L. Peterson, MD
Question viewed 714 times
Tags: abdomen, surgery scar

I had a Cholecystectomy 15 years ago and was wondering, will it have an adverse affect if I decide to get Tummy tuck? How it will affect me? Will the scars from the gallbladder surgery be removed through this procedure? Thank you.

6 answers to Prior Cholecystectomy Surgery and Tummy Tuck?

Cholecystectomy and tummy tucks

If you had an open cholecystectomy, the scar in the right upper quadrant could negatively affect blood flow to the abdominal skin and cause healing problems from a tummy tuck. A lap chole wouldn't matter. Make sure you go to an experienced plastic surgeon who can assess whether you have an increased risk or not.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck okay after Cholecystectomy

You said you had "scars" after your cholecystectomy so I am assuming you had the laparoscopic method. If this is true you should have no problem with a tummy tuck but the scars will not be removed. If you had a cholecystectomy with a long scar on the right side of the abdomen then the tummy tuck will need to be done carefully and this scar will not be removed but will be pulled lower. Best Wishes Dr. Peterson

Marcus L. Peterson, MD
Saint George Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tucks and previous operations.

Both the type of scar that you have, and the type of tummy tuck you are having done, will be important to you. If you have had a laproscopic cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal), the small scars should pose no problem to the tummy tuck, regardless of the technique used for the tummy tuck. These scars may move a bit during the tummy tuck, but they will not be removed. If you have had an open cholecystectomy with a long scar parallel to the lower rib cage, this can be problematic in some... more

David B. Reath, MD
Knoxville Plastic Surgeon

plasticsurgeryknoxville.com

Abdominal scars and tummy tucks

Depending on the location and extend of the cholecystectomy scar, it might prove to be a limiting problem or something that can be incorporated into the abdominoplasty design. It might require you to rethink your priority and risk factors such that you might need to accept a higher location of your scar in order to achieve the contour you desire.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck after cholecystectomy

Unless you are a smoker, large cholecystectomy scars usually don't affect circulation to the flap. If there are other scars, particularly a similar scar on the left side of the abdomen there could be an issue with circulation.

Daniel R. Knight, MD
Shreveport Plastic Surgeon

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