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Is This a Horrible Tummy Tuck Result?

asked 1 year ago by zero3chica
Latest answer by Steve Laverson, MD
Question viewed 813 times
Tags: after pregnancy, 1 month post-op, botched, c-section, umbilical hernia

i had a full tummy tuck 5 weeks ago. i have battled an ongoing infection, and my results are deformed. my doc agrees that i need a revision, but i dont see how he missed so much skin. i am so upset that i am in tears. i have had 5 children, 2 c-sections. more skin has been brought to the front creating extra flank that i didnt have. why didnt he go farther out on my sides? he says tucks are harder on thin women? i feel like he rushed and should have been more agressive.

13 answers to Is This a Horrible Tummy Tuck Result?

Poor tummy tuck results - doctor's fault?

It is apparent from how far down your gallbladder scar moved that quite a bit of tightening was done. It could well be, as Dr. Rand points out, that factors such as the existing scar, which reduces blood supply, might have caused the doctor to be conservative. In any event, thank your lucky stars that he was! If he had been more aggressive as you wished, the amount of infection and wound healing problems you had would have been much greater. Infections and poor wound... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Tummy Tuck San Diego

Hard to evaluate the result from these photos alone. A before picture showing the entire abdomen from different angles and an after photos from several angles are required.

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

feelbeautiful.com

Results are Patient Specific with Tummy Tucks

Sorry to hear that you are not fully satisfied with your outcome, but here are a few things to consider. Your specific outcome is determined by your starting weight and body shape. Your result is best seen at 6-9 months following the surgery. At 5 weeks there is still significant swelling present and your shape is largely due to swelling. Any revisions should wait at least 6 months to accurately define any residual loose skin or excess fat. You did not show "before"... more

Kirk A. Churukian, MD
Los Gatos Plastic Surgeon

Unhappiness following a higher risk tummy tuck

The unanimous assessment of your result and the preexisting risks as noted by the other plastic surgeons speaks volumes of the reasonableness of your results. Your large scar on the right side of your abdomen, probably from a gall bladder removal, placed you at very high risk of healing problems including substantial loss of skin - neither of which you had. If much more skin was removed, you might have sustained significant loss of skin so what was done was prudent. You are still very... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Unhappy with Tummy Tuck Result

The large scar on your upper abdomen could have caused necrosis, or loss of abdominal tissue with a more aggressive tummy tuck. You are fortunate that your surgeon was more conservative with tissue resection because of this. You would have had a better result with your tummy tuck if you had lost weight before your surgery. The skin would have 'hanged' more and more of it could have been removed. At this time diet and exercise will improve your results and a... more

Elizabeth S. Harris, MD
San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

www.eharrismd.com

Great expectations?

You appear to have an acceptable TT result given the limitations I can see that your surgeon had to deal with and the fact that it has only been 5 weeks since your surgery. Clearly there was a gap between your expectations and what the surgeon thought safely possible. You have a subcostal scar that could have resulted in a much larger complication had he/she been more agressive. At five weeks you are still quite swollen. It will be at least six months and... more

Lori H. Saltz, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.ljcsc.com

Not A Poor Result on your Tummy Tuck

I agree with my colleagues, This is an acceptable result and as has been pointed out YOU were at a higher risk because of your previous subcostal(gallbladder) scar. You will also improve further with time so be thankful you have had no complications, be patient for the future result, get yourself into shape and go get that new bathing suit.

Charles Virden, MD
Reno Plastic Surgeon

www.virdenmd.com

Disappointment after tummy tuck

It sounds like you have not had an easy time after your surgery and that makes it hard not to be so caught up in the day to day issues that you lose the big picture. Five weeks is still relatively early in the healing process and far too early to judge final results. Also an infection will slow down healing and increase swelling. It is difficult to be patient but it is unlikely that all the swelling will be gone until 6 months after your surgery so don't be in a rush for a revision.... more

Margaret Skiles, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

Is This a Horrible Tummy Tuck Result?

As previous posters have stated, "Where's the before photo?" If only judging on the afters and your history than in my opinion your result is acceptable. But if you are sooooooo disappointed than you need to either post the before view or seek in person second opinions.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Without before pictures it is hard to comment

You could have had a bad necrosis if your surgeon was too aggressive. Your subcostal incision make your tummy tuck very risky and you should not be angry with your surgeon.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck revision

Your result is not horrible, and considering five pregnancies and abdominal scars, we bet you have come a long way. Aggressive is a word in cosmetic surgery mature surgeons learn to avoid. Admire his concern for your safety, and his willingness to revise skin and scar as might be needed after a full six months of healing. Revision under less tension is much preferable to longer scars, wound breakdown, infection, or worse. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck Disappointment

No. It is not. I am truly sorry you are disappointed with your Tummy Tuck result. The only way to tell how far you have traveled is to keep track of where you started from. Without seeing your BEFORE photographs it is impossible to tell just how much of an improvement your AFTER figure really is. Your severe disappointment suggests to me that you and your surgeon did not communicate on what would be a realistic result based on your BEFORE figure. With your history of 5... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tucks can be limited by scars already on the abdomen

I can't really comment on your result because it is too early to see the final result. But please know that the large subcostal (gall bladder?) scar on your abdomen poses a potentially dangerous compromise of blood flow to the tummy tuck skin and may be partly why your doctor could not safely be too aggressive.