Tummy Tuck Scar Made Too High?

Tummy tuck incisions are not all the same. Largely, they depend on how much extra skin you have. The more extra, the lower the scar can be made. The less, the higher the scar winds up located. The W in the middle is from trying to make it as snug and low as possible and the lower abdominal tissues pulling up a little as you stood straight up after a few days of recovery.

The shape of the incision can vary from surgeon to surgeon and patient to patient. It would seem to me that an attempt was made to leave you only with a lower horizontal scar and the scar within the belly button. In those cases, the lower incision can appear high. If the lower incision had been placed lower down on your abdomen, you might have had to live with an additional vertical scar between your belly button and lower scar, that would be from the old belly button hole being... more

The shape of a tummy tuck scar can vary. There are v shapes, curves or even something like a W. This all depends on the body and design of the surgery. A high scar may be able to be lowered after  the recovery is complete.

 It is hard to tell without pre and post operative pictures of you.  Everyone's anatomy is slightly different, which affects where the incision is placed.  However, generally, the incision has a slight curve just under where your underwear band would be.  

This is a hard one to answer without examining you. As already mentioned, there are many ways to do a tummy tuck. Each surgeon has a personal preference. In addition, there are many aspects that need to be considered regarding each individual patient. In most tummy tucks, the scar is a gentle curve starting higher on the sides and lower in the middle. We try to do our best to hide the scars within underwear. If you did not have too much skin to resect, and you wanted to keep the scar as low... more

There are an infinite number of variations to tummy tuck scars with all sorts of names like V-M, U-M. high lateral tension, etc. It sounds as if you have a modified w type scar. This is peformed when the umbilical incision cannot be completely transposed to the pubic hairline. In this instance the pubic hairline is brought up to the hole. This creates the upside down V you describe as well as the short distance between the scar and the new belly button.

Every plastic suregeon has their own way of doing the incision for a tummy tuck. It sounds like the type of incision that you have was doen to remove the hole that is in the skin from the belly button. There are many ways to do this and some surgeons will tell the patient that the belly button hole amy not come out with the piece of skin that is removed and may result in a small up and down scar in the lower belly. These are things that are discussed during the consultationa and may come up... more

The maximum amount of skin taken is between the top of the belly button and the midline of the pubis. Some surgeons make the inverted "V" at the pubis just in case the skin from above the belly button doesn't reach all the way to the pubis. Final scar placement has a lot to do with the balance of tension between the skin above the belly button and the skin at the pubis. The good news is that after a few months the skin will relax, and if you still are unhappy with scar placement,... more

The most important question is usually, do you have any extra skin below the belly button. If that area is tight, then there was no additional skin and the scar is as low as your surgeon could make it. The alternative would have been a lower scar with an additional vertical (up and down) scar. Most women prefer the slightly higher scar than a lower scar that also has a vertical portion (inverted T). It sounds like your surgeon did a fine job. Keep him/her posted on your progress and any... more

Abdominoplasties and the scars that result vary greatly. There is no single method to perform this procedure. As with all cosmetic procedures, it should be tailored to your anatomy and your goals, and all aspects discussed with you, including position of the scar since this an adjustable element of the surgery. It certainly is possible that in order to perform the procedure on you, the scar might have had to be placed "relatively" higher on the lower abdomen. This should have be... more

Tummy tuck incisions, just as those in all cosmetic procedures including facelift and breast augmentation can vary depending on an individuals needs and expectations. Incision planning is an important part of preparing for a procedures and patients should be aware of choices and limitations. In planning for tummy tuck it is important to most that the scar be hidden or concealed under clothing that is comfortable and worn often. The scar around the belly button or umbilicus can not be... more

There are many options for the incision design for this procedure.  It does not sound like anything unusual was done for you.  It's not really possible to say for sure without seeing you.