Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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Can I Avoid Large Tummy Tuck Scar from Hip Bone to Hip Bone?

I have had two children and have tried every cream, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels to help reduce my stretch marks and discoloration on my stomach. I was trying to avoid a tummy tuck but it seems that thats all thats left i haven't tried. I guess my question is... Seeing that I am a small framed person with not a whole lot of excess skin and fat would i still have to get that awefully large scar from hip bone to hip bone? or could it be some what similar to a C-section scar, you know, below the bikini line? and can i have another child afterwards?

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16 Doctor Answers | Asked by barracudah in US

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Hybrid tummy tuck for short scar tummy tuck

It is possible to do a C-section type scar and completely tighten the fascia in patients who do not need a lot of skin removed. The belly button is not touched; all the work is done from a C-section type incision. If there is an existing C-section, this is usually revised and made even at the time of surgery. This procedure requires special instrumentation including endoscopic tools. This procedure is called the Hybrid tummy tuck (R). The best candidates are usually fit moms who have... more

Lux1540 and LuxIR Deep can improve your stretch marks without surgery

You are small and thin and do not need a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck will not remove the stretch marks around and above your belly button. The new combined Lux1540 non-ablative laser with the LuxIR Deep skin tightening can signififcantly improve stretch marks without surgery (see reference below for discussion and before and after pictures of laser stretch mark removal). Be careful and search around until you find a doctor who has experience with this new combined technique using both the... more

Avoiding large Tummy Tuck scars

Dear Barracudah, We all have various approaches to the topic of abdominal tightening. I fully agree with the previous comment. The goals of a tummy tuck should be : - correcting muscle separation, - removing as much lax, stretch marks covered skin, - narrowing the waist (IE more of an hour glass figure), - lifting any droopy genitalia to a youthful position and if possible - smoothing any anterior thigh cellulite. In so doing, in my opinion, the length of the incision and resulting scar... more

Tummy tuck versus liposuction

Based on your picture, you would need a large incision to remove the tissue from between your belly button and your pubis. There is no way around that. You may want to consider liposuction or Smartlipo MPX first which may help flatten your abdomen better than you think. However, if removing stretch marks is what you are looking for, then you may want to opt for the abdominoplasty. Good luck.

Tummy tuck and stretch marks.

Hi! I don't recommend a tummy tuck. You will have a scar, and not all of the stretch marks can be removed, because you don't have that much loose skin. So it is not a good trade off. And you should certainly not have a tummy tuck if you might have another baby. You have localized fat around your belly button. So your stomach can be made flatter with simple, scarless liposuction. You might consider this, even though it does not address the stretch marks. You would look better and it is... more

Tummy tucks are best performed after you're done having kids

While it is certainly possible to have a child after a tummy tuck, I would not recommend it- you would almost certainly require a second procedure after the pregnancy. Instead, wait until you're done starting a family, and then you can have one procedure that should last many years. In terms of the incision, it all depends on how much skin you have. If there is just a small amount located centrally, then a smaller inciison tummy tuck, or a mini-abdominoplasty, is certainly an option, but... more

Sit down and check the laxity!

Lots of people with even lots of laxity look good standing up straight. But what counts is how you look sitting down. How wide is the laxity that you want removed? The improvement can only be at most as wide as the width of your scar. There is no magic. Patients all want a "mini-tuck." But in a situation where laxity extends far widely, mini-tucks deliver a mini-result. Without examining you, I can't tell what would be right for you. Contact an ASAPS member and find out. more

If you pln to have another child ,hold off tummy tuck

You have a lot of stretch marks and it extends above the belly button. The extend of the incision will depen on the amount of excess skin and the quality of skin. Please do not limit your options by the length of the scar. Your board certified plastic surgeon can show you similar patient's before and after . Please get more than one consultation before you make up your mind. If you want to find out the exact length of the incision, please sit in front of a mirror and look at the folds of... more

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Non-surgical options for improving abdomen (belly) after childbirth

Desptie all the claims of creams, lotions/potions and IPL/lasers, I have yet to see an intervention that successfully eliminates stretch marks. Red marks may be lightened via the use of Retin-A or lasers, but mature stretch marks are very resistant to any treatment. It does appear that you have relatively little excess skin but it does appear that you have some muscle laxity. The use of various skin tightening techniques have included Velasmooth, Alma Accent, Titan, and Thermage. You may... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Avoiding a hip to hip long scar after a tummy tuck and ability to have another pregnancy after having a tummy tuck ?

In cases like you, who have stretch marks and some extra skin and fat following two pregnancies, a modified abdominoplasty would be helpful. Incision could be placed in the bikini lines from groin to groin and a little longer than C section incision. By performing a tedious superficial liposuction with or without ultra sonic technic a satisfactory result could be achieved. This operation would nor interfere with your future pregnancies, however it is advisable to consider to defer your... more

Mini Tummy Tucks

You may be a candidate for a mini tummy tuck, where the scar just goes where a c-section scar goes. This will remove some of your stretch marks, but not all of them. It's difficult to determine this only from a photo, but even if you get the full tummy tuck the scars heal remarkably well. However, with a mini tuck, you can also get tightening of the abdominal muscles to get the flatness back to your figure. Check out some before and after pictures to find women with your shape and see... more

Invisible Tummy Tuck

I'd hold off until you've had your last child. You're not fat so forget liposuction -- those lipotightening machines will work on your stretch marks about as well as the microdermabrasion you've had. It's tough to see how long your scar will need to be. Just sit down and look down .. that's how long the scar needs to be for your tummy tuck. It's nice to have a scarless abdomen, but not so nice if when you crouch or sit it's full of rolls. In that case, there's a bunch of lines on your... more

I don't think so

Yes you are a small framed person. From your photographs, you have a significant degree of stretch marks that extend from the lower abdomen to above the umbilicus. The length of the scar (hip to hip for example) is determined by how much skin is removed in a vertical direction. In your case, there is a very large distance between the top of the pubic area and the umbilicus. This in my mind would argue that the hip to hip incision will be needed in order to remove adequate skin... more

Identify the goals of surgery

While there are various names attached to different types of abdominoplasty, it basically comes down to what your goals of the procedure are. Are you most concerned with getting rid of your stretch marks? Do you want as tight of an abdomen as possible? Does your muscles create a laxity that causes a contour deformity? Does it matter where you want your scar? I believe in customizing all aspects of your surgery. Sometimes muscles are "loose" but they do not contribute much to the... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Don't have surgery if you are worried about the scar.

Tummy tucks are great - the scars are the least of it. I do not believe in short scar tummy tucks - they are ok - but will not give you the best result. The scar will be hidden in your underpants and you can have a flat great stomach after. A short scar tummy tuck will leave you with stretch marks over your belly button - a standard tummy tuck will get rid of all of the stretch marks below your belly button and move the others down. Don't take a short cut. You will regret it.... more

You Would be a Candidate for a Shorter Scar

My observation is that you have a fair amount of muscle laxity as evidenced by the "parenthesis sign" on either side of the belly button. These lines are from the lax fascia between your ab muscles. Your skin also has some stretch marks and laxity. The muscles could probably be tightened and the skin pulled downward with a mini-tuck, which would be a bit longer than a C-section scar. As with any procedure, the shorter scar will limit your doctors ability to rejuvenate the... more