Tummy Tuck: Q&A
Ask a QuestionHow Do Doctors Minimize Dog Ears During a Tummy Tuck?
Should I be interviewing prospective surgeons about techniques they will use to avoid dog ear scarring?
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anon
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Dog Ears after Tummy Tuck How to Minimize Excess Skin at Corners of Abdominoplasty
The main cause of Dog Ears, excess skin pouching at the sides or ends of the Tummy Tuck Incision, are most commonly caused by trying to use too short of a Tummy Tuck Incision.
As the Abdominal Slin is pulled down and removed by a Tummy Tuck, the Flank Skin on the sides of the Abdomen is also pulled down and creates a bulge or Dog Ear.
The Dog Ear can be removed by extending the incision and removing the skin, however most patients want the shortest Tummy Tuck Scar possible...
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Minimizing Doe Ears in a Tummy Tuck
In a tummy tuck the upper incision is longer than the lower since you are taking out the skin above where the incision is located. This results in a discrepancy regarding the lengths of the incisions and the upper (longer) incision needs to be worked in to the lower. Proper planning should balance the incision lengths and avoid dog ears, but there are instances where it is beneficial to tolerate a dog ear, allow the skin to contract for a period of time and revise it later. This can lead to...
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Dog ears
I agree with above answers. It is interesting that there seems to be a big deal about a very minor problem. I actually believe a surgeon can keep a scar a little shorter, accept a small dog ear that may go away, and easily correct it in the office if it does not
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Dog ears or excess tissue at the ends of the incision should not be present
Hello,
Although very, very small dog ears are always a possibility anything more than that should never really occur after a tummy tuck. It is essentially a geometric process where the incision length, shape, and closure come togther to eliminate or significantly reduce the chance of this occuring. Simply ask your plastic surgeon about the chance of dealing with this and if he/she will correct without a charge if they do occur.
All the best,
Dr Repta
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5 Very Useful points to know about dog ears
5. It is a myth that dog ears come simply because of an incision being too short.
4. An incision and thus scar can be kept as short as possible by using liposuction at the puckering ends to minimize the bulkiness of the tissue there.
3. "Cheating" the upper flap siightly medially (toward the center) can help lower the chance or dogears. Ask your surgeon if he does it.
2. The laser on the laserlipo (smartLIpo) may help to tighten the skin....
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Avoiding dog ears during a tummy tuck
If the incision is placed in the proper location and extended far enough laterally (to the side) dog ears can be avoided in the vast majority of cases (>95%). Usually a dog-ear can be identified during the conclusion of the procedure and corrected at that time. This also has to do with the manner in which the skin flap is advanced and sewn into place.
If you still have a dog ear several months after the surgery once the swelling has subsided, you can always have your surgeon correct...
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"Dog ears" in tummy tuck incisions
Dog ears refer to when the very ends of the incision are bunched up and the skin sticks out a little. This can be avoided by careful planning (including the shape and length of the incision) and surgical technique. The length of the upper and lower borders of the skin that is removed in a tummy tuck are different, so when closing the incision the surgeon has to sew the borders in a way that lines up without bunching and creating areas that stick out. Dog ears often occur when there is an...
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How Do Doctors Minimize Dog Ears During a Tummy Tuck?
Careful planning of the incision location, direction, and length can minimize the risk of lateral dog ear formation during a tummy tuck. I find that if a scar is too "flat" or horizontal and doesn't angle up a bit following the proper direction of the relaxed skin tension lines, dog ears seem to be more of a problem. incision closure is performed in such a way as to advance the skin a bit towards the center of the abdomen, and this also minimizes dog ear formation...
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What is a dog ear and how do you avoid it.
Imagine you have a circle of paper and you cut a wedge out of it. If you bring the edges of the wedge together you get a cone (aka dog ear) The bigger the wedge, the taller the cone. Now visualize the wedge as the point where the upper and lower incisions of your abdominoplasty come together. The more skin you remove vertically the farther you will have to go horizontally to get an angle small enough to close the incision smoothly. Most women want short scars...
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How to avoid "dog ear" at time of tummy tuck
Only if you get a really good surgeon might you end up with a small dog ear needing office revision, a painless, easy procedure with neglible recovery, and in my practice, at no cost to you.
Small "Dog Ears" are no big deal after abdominoplasty. They occasionally occur at the ends of the abdominoplasty scar when your surgeon cares enough to provide for you the shortest, most inconspicuous scar possible. The best abdominoplasty scars are symmetric, flat,...
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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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