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Are These Dog Ears?? When Can This Be Fixed??

asked 11 months ago by ricanmami2009 in United States
Latest answer by Vivek Bansal, MD
Question viewed 1,080 times
Tags: 3 months post-op, dog ears, revision

I had the mommy makeover done on April 6th 2011. I notice the puckering in the skin right away I told the doctor about my concerns but I was told this puckering of the skin is normal and that it would go away in time. Its summertime and I cant wear allot of what I would like due to this Ugly result. I also have a hole in my incision. Can I get this fixed before the summer ends?? whats the usual time frame to get this fixed? Is it dog ears? What would you recommend??Whats with the hole??

14 answers to Are These Dog Ears?? When Can This Be Fixed??

Tummy tuck with lateral tissue fullness

I don't know that I would call these "dog ears", but rather the untreated fullness that you had in that area even before surgery, although it is probably more noticeable because the front has been tightened, and in that sense you might call them dog ears. In any case, I do not think they will improve very much, and the treatment would be the same whether you call them "dog ears" or not: extend the scar further backward, removing more tissue. I disagree with... more

James Nachbar, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

Muffin top problems

An abdominoplasty (TT) is a procedure that addresses the skin, fat and muscles of the abdomen. Extra skin is removed, fat is removed and the muscles are tightened. Every single TT is individualized and they vary considerably. The current trend in women's fashion is for very low riding jeans, which has created a problem for most women we like to refer to as the MUFFIN TOP. The muffin top is the extra skin and fat in the flank area that hangs over... more

David Finkle, MD
Omaha Plastic Surgeon

www.bodybyfinkle.com

Dog Ears

From the photos, it doesn't look like you have "true" dogears. The incision is low therefore making it difficult for you to wear the clothes you like. Best option would be to talk to your surgeon and discuss your concerns and see how he/she will help you achieve your goals.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Dog Ears

Thanks for posting your pictures - it makes the questions and answers much more informative. Based. on your pictures, it does not look like you have true dog ears. Dog ears are caused by trying to make a shorter incision when a longer one is necessary or by having a mismatch between the length of the upper incision length and the lower incision length when excising the extra skin. What you have is more a result of your anatomy and placement of you incision. The best... more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Improving "Dog Ears"

The puckering of skin and/or fat at the end of a long incision is called a "dog ear". It is not uncommon after an abdominoplasty. Some improvement may be expected over several months, but revisions may be necessary. From what can be seen, you would benefit from a little liposuction of the areas. Talk to your doctor, but you probably can do it anytime now.

Randy J. Buckspan, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon

Dogears scars liposuction

Tthe lateral fullness is not from dogears but from excess fatty tissue in the area of the lateral scars. It is not unusual to have this type of contour after a tummy tuck. Liposuction works well to improve the contours there. I usually recommend waiting until the scars have reached their plateau before going back for liposuction so that if there are any scar concerns (irregularity, color or contour mismatch, etc.) the scars can be revised at the same time. more

Daniel Greenwald, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

bayshoreplasticsurgery.com

Dog Ears After Tummy Tuck

Are These Dog Ears?? When Can This Be Fixed?? I had the mommy makeover done on April 6th 2011. I notice the puckering in the skin right away I told the doctor about my concerns but I was told this puckering of the skin is normal and that it would go away in time. Its summertime and I cant wear allot of what I would like due to this Ugly result. I also have a hole in my incision. Can I get this fixed before the summer ends?? whats the usual time frame to get this fixed? Is it dog ears? What... more

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Location of abdominoplasty scars

You do not have true dog ears. Your situation illustrates an important factor is determining the placement of the abdominoplasty incision line. Fashions change over the years. When I went into practice almost 22 years ago women were wearing high cut French bikinis and they all wanted their scars high so they wouldn't show. Over the years the cuts have changed and now those women complain because their scars show above their low rise jeans. In your... more

Lori H. Saltz, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.ljcsc.com

Mommy makeover - abdominoplasty

Technically speaking those are not dog ears. The outer right and left thirds of the scar are just a little too low. My preference is to place them in the natural creases which are oriented obliquely, the way legs attach to a doll. The easiest way to do that in your case would be to remove the traingle of skin between the current outer portions of your scar and the natrural skin crease. That would effectively remove what you percieve as a bulge. Of course the resulting scar is designed to be... more

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Are These Dog Ears?? When Can This Be Fixed??

Yes and no these are poorly designed lateral incisions. But because of the higher lateral placement needed maybe you were given options to these lateral incision locations. I do not know. But revision excision and lipo can improve. You also have a suture granuloma in the center of the incision that can be excised. Do it now. Why wait!

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Dog ears?

As Dr. Sureih has said, you don't really have dog ears but rather have an incision that strayed out of the natural skin fold where most incisions would have been. On the other hand, your natural fold is pretty steep and following it might have made it hard to hide your scar in garments. Work with your surgeon and give it time and hopefully as the scar fades it won't be a big issue.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.randcosmeticsurgery.com

The dog ear after tummy tuck

Dog ears after tummy tuck will look a bit more prominent and I do not think you have them. Your incision is low over the hip, lower than most, and the contour you see is likely your hip, the bump above may be the bone. Later some liposuction can improve the contour if there is fat above the incision line, and the puckering should go away. Wait a full six months before you judge. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Mommy makeover

Technically yes they are dog ears. The problem is the design of the incision, too low on the thighs, there is a lot of fat and the belly button is too high. Your nice body shape preoperatively is lost. Need major liposuction to abdomen and flanks. In my practice I would pln the revision as soon as the swelling is down. Can not change the belly button position without leaving a scar.

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Mommy Makeover

Sometimes the suture can cause a local reaction and a hole results. You should wait 10 months to a year before revising any of the scar. Acting too soon and the result may be compromised.