Tummy Tuck Q&A
94%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
2,301 Reviews
Tummy Tuckbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Tummy Tuck Cost: $7,925

Learn about Tummy Tuck

7,736 people and 863 doctors are talking about Tummy Tuck

Get Free Email Updates

What Do I Do if the Surgeon Tells Me He Can't Remove Any More of Dog Ears?

asked 2 years ago by 3465anon in Boston
Latest answer by Peter A. Aldea, MD
Question viewed 199 times
Tags: dog ears

I had dog ears removed 6 months after my tummy tuck, but the bulges were significant enough that they hung out of my jeans. When I returned to the office my plastic surgeon told me he couldn't remove the remaining bulges because one was to close to my hip bone and the other was probably prone to holding fat. He recommended that losing weight might make a difference. I've dropped down from 131 to 124 and the bulges are still a problem. Any recommendations?

3 answers to What Do I Do if the Surgeon Tells Me He Can't Remove Any More of Dog Ears?

+1

Chasing Tummy Tuck "Dog ears"...

I agree with my colleagues Drs. Placik and Rand.  A tummy tuck will remove all skin excess between the hips but cannot correct excessive skin beyond the hips as is seen in significant skin laxity such as is commonly seen in massive weight loss patients. Small amounts of discrepancy between the upper and lower wound edges flatten and the vast majority ARE correctable with a dog ear excision. When they are not, it is time to re-consider the diagnosis. Such excess skin is exaggerated... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Simon says: "Hands on your hips": Is that where your dog ears from the tummy tuck are located?

IT sounds as if you really needed a circumferential belt lipectomy rather than a tummy tuck. Your tummy is typically confined to the front of your trunk and between your hip bones. Ten to one your dog ears are on the hips or flanks and that is not your tummy bu more of your  " love handle" region. If you are willing to compensate your surgeon for doing a more extensive dermolipectomy, I'm certain they would be agreeable. IF not find a surgeon who will.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Treating dog ears

A muffin top caused by tight jeans is not a dog ear so make sure that you are not confusing these two.  A dog ear is an excess of skin and sometimes fat at the end of an incision that looks like a protrusion and detracts from a smooth flat incision line.  I can't imaging an instance where a true dog ear couldn't be cured.  Maybe your doctor already did a free revision on you and doesn't want to do another or maybe they think your expectations are unreasonable.... more
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question