How to Correct Dog Ears After Tummy Tuck?

"Dog ears" are very common after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), so do not fret. I estimate maybe as many as 20% of all patients that undergo tummy tuck will end up with some degree of one on at least one side. Some dog ears are simply puckers in the skin that only require reopening a portion of the "scar" and excising the loose skin, and some have residual underlying fullness that needs liposuction touch up to improve the shape. Oftentimes, it is some of both. I wait... more

Fixing dog ears is best done by just removing them and extending the scar on either side which what would have avoided them in the first place. You can liposuction them to decrease the amount of the scar you have to have. It all depends on how big the dog ears are. If they are very small and easily concealed, then no treatment may be an option. If they are moderate in size, then cutting them out is the choice. If they are large, then a combination of lipo and removal would be the ideal.... more

Dog ears which are small can usually be corrected by a procedure which can be done under local either in the operating room or even in a treatment room. If there are bulges not just a little excess skin then liposuction of the area may be done as well. I would recommend you discuss this with your original surgeon-- most surgeons will fix dogears with out any additional charge if they did the original surgery . Otherwise, there may a fee for a new surgeon to fix the dogears.... more

This procedure can typically be done under a local anesthetic with minimal recovery time. Consult with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for an evaluation. Best wishes!

Dog ears can occur after tummy tuck surgery or with continued postoperative weight gain.  Most procedures can be performed under local anesthesia in a clinic setting by surgically removing the dog ears. 

The removal of dog ears can be completed with 1. liposuctioning alone 2. cutting out alone 3. a combination of the two. It really depends on what things look like

You should be able to get this easily corrected in the plastic surgeon's office under local anesthetic. It is not uncommon to need this done after a Tummy Tuck.

Dog ears can be caused by redundant skin that is a function of the angle of the excision and the elasticity of the skin, and redundant or heaped-up subcutaneous fat. Sometimes one can remove fat by direct excision or liposuction to get the skin to "lie down" but sometimes one has to excise the dog ears and thus remove the excess skin or reduce the bunching up of the skin by reducing the angle at the corner of the excision. Generally, if the incision is very low, then the angle... more

Dog ears after tummy tuck can be corrected but the scars will be longer and extended out toward the flank or hip. Occaisionally excess fat causes the dog ear to be more noticeable and in these cases liposuction can help flatten the dog ear.

Yes.  This is not unusual and you should simply return to the surgeon who performed your procedure to discuss the options for dealing with the dogears.