Dear skincaredoctress, Kileen, TX,
From reading your question your current concern appears related to an area that healed from within, or referred to as 'Secondary Healing". That type of healing is usually how most plastic surgeons treat any wound/incision seperation that may occur after the abdominoplasty.
Typically the type of scar that forms from this type of healing may be tighter, and firmer than the scar tissue that healed from the initial surgical closure of the wound. It may also be thicker, or wider.
In my practice I also often allow this type of healing to take place if an area along the incision line seperates. This can occur from a localized infection, undue tension, or from underlying medical problems. In the event that the final scar, after fully healed, is unslightly or firm I will then sometimes offer to surgically remove that area of scar. This involves excising the scar,and performing a fresh primary closure of the uninvolved skin edges. This is otherwise known as a "scar revision".
I hope this helped with your question.
Best wishes,
S.P. Maggi, MD, FACS
