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Is a Vertical Incision Necessary For My Tummy Tuck?

asked 7 months ago by tatayananda in Lincoln, NE
Latest answer by J. Jason Wendel, MD
Question viewed 313 times
Tags: c-section, diastasis recti, options, vertical scar

I saw a surgeon today and he said he needed to do 3 cuts: one on belly bottom, another in the horizontal c-section and a 3rd one vertically below my belly bottom. My mother says the vertical one below the belly bottom is NOT necessary. Is it true? can they use ONLY the c-section one? I am 100 lbs. and I have had 3 kids and I don't have excess fat I just have diastesis. Thank you!

18 answers to Is a Vertical Incision Necessary For My Tummy Tuck?

Need for vertical incision with tummy tuck?

There are two situations in which a vertical incision may be required in a tummy tuck. These two situations are very different from one another and used for two completely different reasons. While it is true that a vertical incision is uncommonly needed for a tummy tuck, sometime the situation does arise. 1. The first situation occurs in a patient who has lost a considerable amount of weight, often more than 100 lbs. In this situation there is a significant... more

Eric T. Emerson, MD
Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

www.seplasticsurgery.com

Tummy tuck with vertical incision

Most tummy tucks are done without a vertical incision. When a vertical incision is necessary, it is done to remove excess skin in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. Some people have skin laxity up-and-down and side-to-side. A vertical incision is mostly done when there has been massive weight loss after gastric bypass surgery. It's hard to say exactly what you need without the benefit of a photograph and being able to examine your skin and tissue... more

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Vertical scar in tummy tuck

Most full tummy tucks do not require a midline incision but each case iit's unique. You should ask your surgeon why. he feels it is necessary in your particular situation. He may have a good reason why it would be beneficial in your case when most of the time it is not used.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Vertical incisions and tummy tucks

The vast majority of tummy tucks performed in the United States are done without a vertical incision. Most patients can plan on having a scars near or within the belly button and a horizontally often extending from hip to hip. With that being said, there are some patients who cannot be adequately treated with this technique because of the amount of skin excess. Typically these are massive weight loss patients who have lost a substantial amount of weight either with diet and... more

Kelly Gallego, MD
Sioux City Plastic Surgeon

www.drgallego.com

Upload some photos as each body and abdomen has unique requirements

Hello, Its hard to know without photos. There are cerainly some individuals who would need a low horizontal incision, one inside the belly button and then a small one resulting from closing the prrevious belly button location. This is particularly the case for individuals that have a medium a mount of laxity--enough to warrant a tummy tuck but not enough to allow removal of the belly button location and placement of the incision very low. All the best, Dr Repta more

Remus Repta, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck - Abdominoplasty Incisions

The planned incisions for an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) procedures is dependent on the amount of excess skin and surgeon experience.

Craig Mezrow, MS, MD
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

Concerns about a vertical incision for a tummy tuck

Photos would assist in better answering your question though ultimately another consultation may be in order. The only reason that you would need a full vertical incision extending from the umbilicus down to the horizontal scar is if you have extreme horizontal laxity of the skin. This would be common if you have lost a massive amount of weight, possibly on the order of 80 to 100 pounds or more. Otherwise, it is usually not be a prudent selection. Sometimes, if there is not enough... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Need for a vertical scar not likely in abdominoplasty procedure

Suggesting you need a vertical scar (with your history of multiple pregnancies) concerns me. He should not need to do that. Ofcourse, your case may be the exception. Without pictures it's difficult to say. I strongly suggest you get a second opinion by at least 2 other Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. Best wishes, Dr. H

Gary M. Horndeski, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Need For Veritical Incision In A Tummy Tuck

The need for a vertical incision in a tummy tuck is almost exclusively limited to patients who have experienced extreme amounts of weight loss, either through bariatric surgery or on their own. The only exception would be in those patients who already have a vertical incision from a c-section or prior intra-abdominal surgery. Given your 100lb weight and obvious lack of a pre-existing vertical abdominal scar, it is unlikely that your tummy tuck would absolutely need a vertical incision... more

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

Vertical tummy tuck incision rarely needed!

I have been doing tummy tucks for 25 years (have done hundreds of them), and can count on one hand the patients in whom a vertical incision was needed. If your skin is so tight that a properly-designed low-incision ellipse cannot be removed and the upper abdominal skin sutured to the lower incision, then you probably didn't really "need" a tummy tuck in the first place. As per my colleagues, without photos or direct examination, it is impossible to state with certainty, but... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Vertical incision during tummy tuck

Without an examination, I do not think anyone can tell you for sure. The vertical incision if necessary is due to the amount of skin laxity at and above the umbilicus. If you do not have enough laxity in those areas, then the opening made by freeing up the umbilicus will not make it all the way down to the lower incision and you need to add the "third" incision. Photos would be helpful. If you are not sure, get another opinion.

Rick Rosen, MD
Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

Vertical incision in tummy tuck

There is a variation of the standard tummy tuck which introduces a small vertical scarin the midline between the pubic hairline and the belly button. This is occasionally required when you are physically unable to remove all of the skin between the belly button and the hairline. The vertical scar is actually the opening where the original belly button was. The other variation is to simply lower the belly button on the abdominal wall but you must be careful with this choice as a very low... more

Robert W. Kessler, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.drrobkessler.com

Vertical incision and tummy tucks

You should definitely get a second opinion if you are uncomfortable with your PS plan. Yes it is sometimes necessary to have that vertical incision but I have found them to be quite rare as most people have enough loose skin to reach without the need for the vertical incision.

Delio Ortegon, MD
San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

www.sacs-sa.com

Tummy tuck, scar

By all means get another opinion if you are not comfortable with the answers you are getting. Although it is rarely necessary to have a lower vertical scar it does happen sometimes. You can eliminate this need by putting the long trransverse scar higher but that just doesn't make sense if you are trying to minimiZe visible scars. Good luck.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon

www.drdemarsmd.com

Is a vertical scar necessary for my tummy tuck?

Unfortunately, without photos, it is difficult to give you any accurate idea of what you may need. The lower abdominal horizontal incision is the standard tummy tuck incision required for either a full or a lower (mini) tummy tuck. If the skin is only loose below the belly button, that is all that is required. If the skin is loose above the belly button, the only way of tightening it is to release the belly button so this skin can be pulled down and tightened. A new hole is... more

Robert M. Grenley, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Vertical Scar Necessary for Tummy Tuck?

Thank you for the question. Occasionally, a vertical scar is necessary when performing tummy tuck surgery. It becomes necessary if the patient has a relatively short torso or a relatively small amount of “excess skin”. The vertical scar results from closing of the umbilical opening. The vertical scar allows for closure of the abdominoplasty incision line with less tension and less potential for opening/wound healing problems. With all due respect to your... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Vertical scar with a tummy tuck

If you are not happy with the answers given to you by your surgeon, I suggest that you get another opinion. I generally only add a vertical scar in patients who have had a huge weight loss and have a tremendous amount of excess skin. It is impossible to tell what is best for you without an examination and no photos, however, I virtually never create the scar that you have described. There are a variety of different tummy tucks including full, extended, mini, extended mini, etc... more

James McMahan, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

Horizontal incision as well?

Since you don't post any pictures, it would be difficult for me to determine if you need the "third" incision or not. I would say that we, as surgeons, would rather not have to do a vertical incision unless we really needed to. The two general categories refer to massive weight loss patients and those patients with a relative high belly button. The massive weight loss patient has a significant skin excess and generally poor skin tone that a vertical... more