Tummy tuck scars

Los Angeles moms tend to be extremely conscious of these incisions. When I perform my Mommy Makeovers, I intentionally keep the scar as low as possible so that my patients can wear their lingerie, bikinis and "hip-hugger" blue jeans. The real "tip-off" that someone had a tummy tuck is usually the belly button. I believe that many plastic surgeons don't know what looks good when it comes time to inset the belly button during a tummy tuck. For this reason, I developed a new technique for sewing in the belly button which reduces the amount of visible scar tissue.

Placement of the tummy tuck scar is dependent on your individual anatomic characteristics including abdominal girth, truncal height, umbilicus position, and the presence of stretch marks.

Discuss the position of your incision with your surgeon early in the consultation phase of an abdominoplasty procedure. One great idea is to bring along your bikini to the examination to define your ideas for incision placement.

4 of 4 found this helpful

Helpful?

Contact the doctor

You will have a visible scar after tummy tuck, however some scars are more noticeable than others. This depends on a variety of factors such as skin tone, skin quality, genetics, and skin tension. Usually by one year however, most scars are fairly well healed and lightened in color. Patients with darker skin tone typically end up with darker scars. Some scars can even  take up to 2 years to lighten.

The location of the scar is low enough that even a darker colored scar will be concealed with regular underwear or swimwear.

3 of 3 found this helpful

Helpful?

Contact the doctor

Plastic surgery is all about 'trade-offs'.  Unfortunately, to perform a tummy tuck to achieve a flat, contoured abdomen, one has to use a long scar on the lower tummy.  Depending on the amount of skin excess or laxity, one can keep that scar quite low.  Scars can be very fine and flat at times, but on occasion they can be wider or thicker as there is much tension on these scars and depending on ones genetics.  Many patients, however, are able to cover this scar with a modest bikini, but usually not a G-string type of bikini.

2 of 3 found this helpful

Helpful?

Contact the doctor