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Will I Be Able to Get a Full TT with a Short Scar? (photo)

asked 4 months ago by FitDiva in Charlotte, NC
Latest answer by J. Jason Wendel, MD
Question viewed 300 times
Tags: c-section, short scar

I met with quite a few PS's before selecting my PS. 2 of them I consulted with told me I can get a Full TT with a short scar just a little bit longer that my c -section scar on each side. You can see the scar in my picture. So full muscle repair & a full TT to address my belly button and below and most all stretch marks. Is this possible to do a shorter scar TT on me or will it have to be from hip bone to hip bone? I have included a picture. Why did only 2 offer me that is it even possible?

16 answers to Will I Be Able to Get a Full TT with a Short Scar? (photo)

Always choose contour over scar length

Hello, Great photos, thank you. You appear to be a great candidate for a full tummy tuck. The biggest component of how long the scar will be is the amount of tissue that needs to be removed. Choose the very lowest location that the final incision should be an then choose the area just above your belly button. As you will see in order to include all of this area in a "football shaped" pattern or elliptical incision the ends of that ellipse will need to be... more

Remus Repta, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Visible TT scars

The best way to hide TT scars is to make them as low and small as possible so they are covered by your underwear or bathing suit. However, if you have a large amount of hanging skin, the scars will have to be longer for more extensive skin removal. Incisions do not go behind your back unless you are having a circumferencial lift (body lift). The scars never go to the belly button for a routine TT. Losing weight is a good idea to optimize your result. Recent... more

Gary M. Horndeski, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Scar length and tummy tuck

The degree of lower abdominal laxity determines the length of the tummy tuck scar. Your laxity does seem to be mostly between the hip bones, so you should be able to keep the scar between these two points. Your question on full tummy tuck feasibility is a good one. You can get the full tummy tuck with the short scar. This means your muscles can be reapproximated and belly button disconnected and then sewn into the new skin location. Good luck.

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Full Tummy Tuck with a Short Scar?

You have an unusually long and unusually high C-section scar which is adherent to the muscle, resultling in a skin roll there. It would make sense to have that removed, and keep your tummy tuck scar as low as possible so it can potentially be covered by a two piece bathing suit. If you a have a full TT then there will be quite a bit of skin removed and your scar will need to be as long as is needed to not leave you with any dog ears. Likely that will extend from hip bone to hip bone. Better... more

Braden Stridde, MD
Federal Way Plastic Surgeon

Full tummy tuck

Thank you for your question and the photos. Based on what you show, you will likely need a scar from hip bone to hip bone in order to get rid of the extra skin. The scar can be kept low. If the length of the scar is kept short, then you run the risk of having loose skin ldeft over that is puckered at the ends.

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Length of scar for tummy tuck

Given your photos, you are going to be a good candidate for full tummy tuck. Based on the side view of your photo, you would most likely have a scar from hip bone to hip bone. The length of scar depends on the amount of excess skin you have. It is more important to have a better contour and the lowest possible location for scar than the extent (length) of your scar. If the scar is placed low (under the bikini line), you should not be able to see the scar. Try... more

Sugene Kim, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck scar

I think you will do great with your tummy tuck. In my opinion your incision will need to go somewhere between a short scar and hip to hip because of the amount of skin you have. Good luck.

Vishnu Rumalla, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Short Scar Tummy tuck

Judging by your photos I think you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck. It is important to remember that the the length of the scar is directly related to how much excess skin is present and how much you and your surgeon want to remove. To remove more skin a longer scar is necessary. Placement of the scar is more important, in my opinion than length. You want the scar to be as low as possible so it will be covered by most clothing and bathing suits. You do not want a... more

Ralph R. Garramone, MD
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

Short scar tummy tuck?

From the photos it already looks like the fold of skin extends almost from hip to hip. Also, either your c-section scar is a bit high, or your belly button is a bit low. This is important when considering where your tummy tuck scar will be relative to your waist. i suspect you would get the best result with a standard tummy tuck scar. The more skin you want removed and the tighter the "look", the long the scar needs to be - in general.

Ronald Schuster, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.drschuster.com

Tummy Tuck Scar?

Thank you for the question and pictures. You should have a very nice result from tummy tuck surgery through an incision extending your C-section scar. I would suggest, for the most accurate information, that you have your chosen plastic surgeon show you what his plan is with a drawing on your abdomen. Be careful that you don't push to have the scar kept short and end up with “dog ears” (extra skin) at each end of the incision line. Best wishes. more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Short scar tummy tuck

Your C-section scar is unusually high and longer than most. Judging by the skin fold and shape of your abdomen your scar would best be below the current scar, and hip to hip to prevent a fold or 'dog ear', and to keep the scar low as the section scar rises up on one side. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck

I would caution you not to over interrupt the conversations you have had with various physicians. A full tummy tuck with a scar that is" a little bit longer than your current c section scar" may mean different things to different people. It does appear that you would benefit from an abdominoplasty.

Jay M. Pensler, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Scar from a tummy tuck

Every body is unique and so is yours. You have a long narrow abdomen, a fairly low belly button and a high and long C-section scar. You could get a nice tummy tuck result but will need a hip to hip scar just below and removing the old C-section scar. Ask the one doctor exactly what they meant by "just a little bit longer" on the scar and you will find out that they are all talking about the same incision in the end. In your photo it would be about from one index finger... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Full tummy tuck scar

You have a low positioned umbilicus(belly button), so that removal of the skin below that should be straight forward and the scar would indeed be slightly longer than your section scar or the fold of skin that is overhanging. but the skin around your umbilicus and above it seem thinned. to remove that may be beneficial to healing, so that the eventual scar may need to be slightly smaller. i would as the surgeon concentrate on getting the abdomen to look as good as possible, even if the... more

Rick Rosen, MD
Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

Short Tummy Tuck Scar

In your case it appears that you could obtain a very nice result from a full tummy tuck with an incision incorporating your old C-section scar and making it just a bit longer on either side. I think the skin located below your belly button could be removed with this procedure.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

You will do better with full tummy tuck

My experience with the length of the scar been that patients body type and amount of extra skin dictates it. The reason for extending the incision is to prevent dog ears.The most important factor in tummy tuck is the amount of extra skin and quality of the skin. You have umbilical hernia and thin skin around the belly button. You will need to have full tummy tuck to remove all of the stretched out skin below the belly button.