Why are the scars for tummy tucks so high on most pictures when the new panty styles are low and would in fact show it? (photo)

It's a great question. The scars can be kept below the clothing if you understand that there's a chance of having a small vertical midline scar that's low on the tummy. Regarding the scars, it's important to understand how the operation works. An incision is created low on the abdomen, a second incision is created around the belly button, the skin and fat from the tummy is lifted from the abdominal wall (the belly button stays attached to the abdominal wall), the muscle repair is performed above and below the belly button, the skin from the belly is pulled taught and trimmed at the level of the original incision. A new hole is created for the belly button and it is brought through the skin and sewn in place.Ideally, the hole where the belly button used to be is removed with the excess skin. This leaves the patient with a single incision on the lower part of the tummy. If there is not enough excess skin, some surgeons will move the lower incision higher to make sure that they can remove the hole where the belly button used to be. The other option is to keep the incision low, and if the belly button hole cannot be cut out with the excess skin, the hole is closed in a vertical fashion. This leaves the patient with a lower transverse incision with a small vertical scar (inverted T scar). In this situation the low transverse incision is covered by clothing and there may be a small vertical incision in the midline of the tummy. In my opinion this small vertical scar is less noticeable than raising the transverse scar above the level of clothing (waistband on jeans, etc.) in order to remove the belly button hole.

The treatment of keloids and scars from a plastic surgery procedure
such as a tummy tuck begins with early treatment. I would suggest
application of Plato's Scar Serum once the skin has epithelialized,
laser with microfractional RF and ablation, and pulsed dye laser.
Surgical revision is rarely needed in our office. 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Most plastic surgeons will place the scar at the level of your C-section scar if it is low and where you want it. This requires that the skin above the belly button can be stretched enough to replace the skin that was removed, which isn't always possible. In that instance, the scar can either be a little bit higher or the hole where the belly button was can be sewn up vertically, leaving an upside-down "T" which is usually preferable. Post op pictures should be done with the scar visible, so the "photo panties" may be positioned intentionally to expose the scar. This could make it appear higher than it is.