Can I Have my Tummy Tuck Scar Lowered to Bikini Area? (photo)

I had a tummy tuck 22 months ago to get rid of the saggy skin and stretch marks that I got after three pregnancies. I ended up with a high incision and noticeable scar around my belly button. I was thin and "fit" going into the procedure. I am now considering a revision and would like to know all of my options. My skin is still tight from the previous procedure although I do have some laxity around the belly button area. I welcome all opinions.

Tags:

2 years post-op lower scar revision

Comment on this

8 Doctor Answers | Asked by eph612

Doctor Answers (8)
Community Comments (0)

Lowering Of High Tummy Tuck Scar ??

With residual tight skin, I think there is no chance that you can lower the vertical position of your tummy tuck scar...at least not close to the bikini line area. If you can not get it there, then there is no reason to do it. This high scar is the trade-off for a full tummy tuck with maximal skin removal in a thin person. A mini-tummy tuck would not have made it as tight but the scar would have been lower in the bikini area with no scar around the belly button.

Tummy Tuck Scar Above The Bikini Line

Good Morning and thank you for your question and photo. Based on your photo, lowering your tummy tuck scar is likely to be very difficult with a high probability that the scar will again rise above the bikini line. The most important aspect of revising the scar position is having enough laxity in the skin above the scar. You mentioned that you have very little, if any. skin looseness in your abdominal area. Attempting to revise the scar now will likely lead to more... more

Can I Have my Tummy Tuck Scar Lowered to Bikini Area?

The easy response is NO! There was a breakdown in understanding between you and your surgeon pre operatively so now the incision rides too high. As for the bb scar- it is very very acceptable. Remember full informed consent and understanding of WHAT exactly is going to be done is paramount.

Tummy Tuck Scar Position

It can be very difficult to lower a tummy tuck scar if you do not have much vertical looseness to your skin after your first surgery. While you can excise more skin below the present scar, the position will not lower unless you have loose skin to pull lower. If you don't, the scar will ultimately be in nearly the same position.

Donald Griffin, MD

8 reviews

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Lowering a tummy tuck scar can be done

If your skin is still too tight, pulling the scar down now may result in a worse scar. However, if you continue to massage the area and wait a little while longer for the skin to soften you might get a nice result. You might want to consider getting the muscles tightened a little more if they can as this will add to the looseness of the skin. Good luck! Dr. Schreiber...Baltimore Plastic Surgeon see video

Lowering a tummy tuck scar depends on several things

The ideal tummy tuck scar should be low enough to be concealed under a bikini bottom or panties. Sometimes there isn't enough skin to pull it down that low, in which case my preference is to do an upside down "T" which enables the scar to be low but with a short vertical line. That part of the scar usually fades very well and keeps most of it where it should be. In your case, it will require a significant amount of undermining and expanding the skin between the belly button and the... more

Some lowering of the scar should be possible

Hello, Thank you for the question and photo. Lower the scar will be dependent on how much laxity you have. The more laxity you have the lower the scar can be placed. I would definitely recommend a complete tummy tuck revision with elevation of the abdominal soft tissue all the way up to your rib cage as well as tightening of the abdominal wall. All the best, Dr Remus Repta

Can I Have my Tummy Tuck Scar Lowered

Nothing beats an in-person exam to make this sort of recommendation, but based on the photo i don't think there is enough laxity to lower this scar much. The only tissue available without adding a new scar is the tissue from navel to the current scar, and it looks quite tight. The scar could be made a little lower in one of two methods. Redoing the tummy tuck as before would allow for more lowering, but the new incision around the navel would not come out with the excess... more