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How Many Months Post Op Until I Can Get my Dog Ear Revised? (photo)

asked 7 months ago by Madison5269
Latest answer by H. Michael Roark, MD
Question viewed 716 times
Tags: 7 months post-op, dog ears, revision, timing

Hi! I had my tummy tuck on 4/8/11. I am almost 7 months post op. Although I am very happy with my results, I am left with a dog ear on my right side which shows when I wear my bathing suit. My doctor told me he would like to fix it in the spring, which would bring me to almost a year post op. My question is, how long do most of you wait until you perform a dog ear revision? Thank you for your answers!

19 answers to How Many Months Post Op Until I Can Get my Dog Ear Revised? (photo)

Dog ear revision after tummy tuck

It is reasonable to wait at least six months to repair a "dog ear" from a tummy tuck. In your case it appears as though it may just need liposuction to improve the contour. Your surgeon may not want to do it until it's been closer to one full year-which is also very reasonable. You should trust your surgeon and follow up with him or her at your scheduled intervals. Best wishes, Dr.Bruno

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.williambrunomd.com

Timing of dog ear correction

Hello, There is no specific time that one has to wait. The longer you wait the greater the chance that it will improve on its own. If it bothers you and you don't want to wait, then it should probably get done. All the best, Dr Repta

Remus Repta, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Dog ear revsisions

6 months should be adequate to determine if a dog ear revision needs to be performed. There is no reason in my opinion to wait longer if a patient is unhappy. The photograph provided, on the other hand, is more suggestive of residual adipose tissue that might be better improved with touch up liposuction. I hope you do well.

Benson E. L. Timmons, MD
Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

How Many Months Post Op Until I Can Get my Dog Ear Revised? (photo)

In my practice I revise very early, why let you be unhappy, like at 3 months. It is a very personal surgeon's decision. But a year is much too long.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Dog ear correction after tummy tuck

Hi I would recommend waiting for at least six months (or longer if the scars are still settling). The correct time for any scar revision surgery is the scar is fully settled with no further changes, whenever that time is. A bit of delay is unlikely to cause any harm - some patients even change their minds if the problem disappears/diminishes while waiting.

Anindya Lahiri, MBBS
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Dogear revision after tummy tuck

Usually six months is adequate time to allow before dogear revision. You should be good to go by now. Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.

Donald Nunn, MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

“Dog Ear” Revision After Tummy Tuck

If you wait long enough most dog ears disappear. It takes 6-12 months. Patience may allow you to avoid a surgical procedure.

Mary Lee Peters, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Dog ear excision after tummy tuck

A dog ear can be removed a few months after surgery when all of your swelling has gone down and it is clear that it is not going to go away on its own. Six months in generally plenty of time for that to happen. You should be able to have it done at any time.

James McMahan, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

How long before fixing a dog ear?

I think that any time after 6 months is probably ok to fix a dog ear. it depends on your own healing though and how much swelling might still be present. Check with your surgeon.

Ronald Schuster, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.drschuster.com

Dog ear treatment usually 6 months to a year postoperatively

I typically wait a minimum of 6 months and more often, closer to a year before addressing a dog ear. Multiple factors go into that decision so each one must be individualized. Some smaller dog ears seen early on, may just resolve on their own given enough time for swelling to subside though this is the minority of the time. Your doctor's approach is quite reasonable though you could try to coax him to possibly do this slightly earlier so you can have some flexibility for the spring... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Dog ears after TT

Your surgeon is giving your body the maimum amont of time to heal and the tissues to assume their final shape. Scars will take at least a year to mature. Persoanlly I don't like to do revisions before 6 months, but I prefer more time. The scar may be slightly longer if you do it sooner rather than later. I would recommend you discuss it with your surgeon and tell him how much it's bothering you. I am sure you can reach a reasonable solution that... more

Lori H. Saltz, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.ljcsc.com

Timing Of Dogear Excision After A Tummy Tuck

Dogears are not uncommon aesthetic scar issues that can develop at the tail of a tummy tuck incision. It can be revised whenever one is certain that the dogear is not going to resolve on its own and is stable in appearance. It can be revised anytime after 6 months from the original procedure when all healing is complete and one has had a full recovery months ago.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

How long before dog ear revision?

Dear Madison, I will sometimes revise a dog ear earlier than a year if they look like they are obviously not going to settle, but I don't think that waiting a year is unreasonable. Jonathan Staiano

Jonathan J Staiano, MBBS
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Timing of "Dog ear" revisions after tummy tuck has no set rules

There are no set rules and standards for undertaking dog ear revisions. It depends on surgeon and the patient. Most of the times you don't rush into revisions till all the swelling has subsided thus giving the problem a chance to resolve itself. Usually six months of wait is sufficient. However no body can be faulted for waiting longer or not so long.

Vasdev Rai, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

6 months Minimum

I usually will revise at 6 months when all has softened and the final result is apparent. Within reason, the longer the better and a year is certainly reasonable.

Brian Klink, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

www.solanoplasticsurgery.com

Dog ear revision

I prefer to wait until a year has elapsed before revising digests. This allows the scar to maximally heal down and reduces the length of the scar revision. However, discuss this with your plastic surgeon. Perhaps you can schedule the surgery now to plan for March or April. It's not all that far away.

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck Revision Timing?

Thank you for the question and picture. Congratulations on your successful tummy tuck surgery. The “dog ear" can be corrected at any time; I like to wait one year after tummy tuck surgery also giving the body the chance to remodel the areas much as possible. I think this allows the surgeon to keep the resulting scar line as short as possible. I hope this helps.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Dog ear surgery revisions

The desire for re-operative surgery always presents a timing issue. At a minimum, 4-6 months should be sufficient. If there is significant swelling or other evolution in the wound, further delay is best. Also, non operative management should be considered.

H. Michael Roark, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

How Many Mo. Post Op Until I Can Get my Dog Ear Revised?(photo)Answer:

Six months to a year is the usual….I think anytime in that window works for most patients and surgeons. I usually do this type of revision in the office and under local anesthesia and at no charge but remember to pick a time when you are not going snowboarding or jet skiing 5 days later!!!!