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My Plastic Surgeon Wants to Do a Vertical Incision in Addition to a Horizontal Incision- Will It Heal Well? (photo)

asked 4 months ago by anon
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 182 times
Tags: expectation, healing, vertical scar, worried

My plastic surgeon wants to do a vertical incision in addition to the traditional horizontal incision in order to address a scar from a pyloric stenosis surgery. He said if he does not do a vertical incision also, then he would recommend a much higher horizontal cut because there can be skin death when dealing with a secondary scar. I am concerned about doing a vertical incision in this tummy tuck because I heard they don't heal as well.

3 answers to My Plastic Surgeon Wants to Do a Vertical Incision in Addition to a Horizontal Incision- Will It Heal Well? (photo)

+1

Tummy Tuck Incision?

Thank you for the question and picture. Both options that your plastic surgeon offers in regards to the tummy tuck scars are viable options. If I were you I would simply tell your plastic surgeon to use his best judgment and to place the incision lines whenever he deems best/safest and most likely to avoid complications such as tissue necrosis and/or problems that can occur ( especially given your past surgical history/scar). Getting you through the surgery and avoiding... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

+1

Tummy tuck with previous scar

I think your plastic surgeon is right. Your scar is a little long and definitely retracted. I would suggest just the horizontal scar and just have it higher than usual. It will probably still end up a couple of inches below your belly button. But then you wan't have a higher scar which is what you are used to now. i don't think adding a vertical part will help at all with the issue of circulation and will only add a more visible scar. It looks like you have a lot of muscle weakness... more
Ronald Schuster, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.drschuster.com

+1

Vertical Incision and Horizontal Incision

Veritical incisions are used in two types of cases where the blood supply is to the skin is in question or the horizontal closure is so tight a small vertical limb must be made to close the incision. The vertical incision heals well but the scar is visible on the abdomen. I would perform your abdominoplasty with a horizontal incision if the scars was an old scar and did not completely cross the mid-line. However, I would limit the amount of "undermining"... more
Rondi Kathleen Walker, MD

Washington Plastic Surgeon

www.walkerplasticsurgery.com

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