Tummy tuck before & after photos
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How Big is the Tummy Tuck Scar?

Where does the scar appear after surgery?

Sort 40 expert answers by:
+1

Tummy tuck scars

The location of the incision and resulting scar of a tummy tuck should be reviewed carefully with your surgeon prior to surgery.  Generally the scar will be quite low, just above the pubic hair, and extend from one hip to the other.  I typically will have patients wear normal underwear or swimwear the day of surgery so that an outline can be made then the incision is made within the boundaries of the undergarment.  Some patients will have a natural crease which will be used to... more
William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+2

Tummy Tuck Scars

Tummy Tuck scars are planned to be below the panty or bikini line, just above the pubic hair line. The length depends upon how much skin laxity exists: the more skin and fat to be removed, the longer the incision will need to be.
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon
+2

Abdominoplasty scars depend on the amount of skin being resected

Most patients are understandably concerned about the incision and resultant scar required for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). The answer is that it depends on the amount of skin being resected. If you are very thin and just have a moderate amount of loose skin around your belly button and below, then your scar will likely be very small - usually in your natural skin crease extending from one hip bone to the other. However, if you are larger and have skin rolls that extend around to your... more
David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Location of tummy tuck scar

The location and length of scar will depend on the location and extent of your excess skin and fat.  However, the scar can typically be hidden under your bikini line.  Tummy tuck is a great procedure to contour the abdomen.  Patients have to accept some degree of scar for a better contour.  A good news is that most people heal very well for the tummy tuck scar and the scar is often times hidden.
Sugene Kim, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck scars

For a tummy tuck alone, patients will have a small scar around the belly button, as well as a lower sideways scar that extends from hip to hip.  This second scar is curved and looks a bit like a smiley face.  The length of this scar is really determined by the amount of excess abdominal skin:  the more skin excess there is, the longer the scar is going to be.  Typically the scars for a tummy tuck are well hidden, and are only visible without clothing. more
Kelly Gallego, MD
Sioux City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scar location for tummy tuck

The location of the scar and the length of the scar will depend on your individual anatomy, ie how lax your skin is and how far out to the side  the excess skin goes.  For small amounts of skin excess and minimal laxity, a mini tummy tuck can be sufficient where the scar is just above your pubic hair and only goes partially across your lower abdomen.  As the laxity and skin excess increase, the position of the scar will still be low on your abdomen, just above your pubic... more
Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Incisions from A Tummy Tuck!

The ultimate goal of the tummy tuck incision is to have it located above the pubic line.  Typically the incisions will go from hip to hip. Most surgeons want to keep the line hidden around the bikini line.
Miguel Delgado, Jr., MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

How long is the "scar"

Each person is different. On the average a full tummy tuck scar will extend from hip to hip. The quality of the resulting scar is also individual. The most important aspects of the scar is not the length, but where it is placed. The Bikini Tummy Tuck places the scar in an ideal place to wear a neutral bikini or the fashionable "hip hugger" pants. A natural looking belly button is also an extremely important element of this procedure.
Jose M. Soler-Baillo, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scars after tummy tuck

Usually, the scar is beneath a bikini bottom, above your mons pubis in the midline extending to each side in the region of your bony prominences known as the anterior superior iliac spines.  Some surgeons extend the scar longer to remove more skin, and this may be necessary depending on the distribution of your excess skin.  You should see photos of your surgeon's previous abdominoplasty scars to understand where to expect yours, and ask him or her if there is any uncertainty.... more
Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck Surgery- Size and Location of Scars

      Try bending over at your waist in front of a mirror.       Grasp the excessive skin in your central abdomen.       Follow it outward along your waist line to your hips. Incisions are kept very low in the middle or just above the pubic hair line and extends outward on both sides as far as your skin roll extends.
Ivan Thomas, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck scar

The length of the scar for a tummy tuck depends on the amount of excess skin and fat that needs to be excised.  For most women a "full" tummy tuck is required and the incisions span from approximately  hip to hip and also around the belly button.  The scar would be located low in the pubic area, even below a preexisting c-section scar, and is covered by a majority of bathing suites and underwear.  Most plastic... more
Neil J. Zemmel, MD
Richmond Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck scars

The scarring after a tummy tuck depends entirely on the type of tummy tuck you have done.   A mini-tummy-tuck (which is not right for most women) leaves a scar only on the lower abdomen.  A full tummy tuck leaves a scar on the lower abdomen and around the belly button.  The length of the scar along the lower abdomen depends on how much loose skin you have---the scar needs to be as long as the scar needs to be to remove the loose skin and not leave puckering on the ends.... more
Carmen Kavali, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck scars

Scars for a tummy tuck vary but in general will lie just above the pubic hair line and can extend from hip to hip.  The length of the scar will be determined by how much extra skin needs to be removed.  The more skin that needs to be removed, the longer the scar.  There will also be a scar around the belly button if a full tummy tuck is needed.  In my practice in Plano, I will have my patients wear their usual style of underwear so that I can try and hide the lower... more
Naveen Setty, MD
Plano Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck scars

A standard tummy tuck will usually leave a scar from hip to hip under the panty line. There are several different types of tummy tucks and each leave a different looking scar. A mini tummy tuck will leave a small incision on the pubic bone and can be very easily concealed beneath the panty line. This procedure is ideal for women who have a localized section in the front of their abdomen that is stubborn to tightening with diet and exercise after having children or weight loss. There is also... more
Joseph G. Bauer, MD
Alpharetta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck scars

Depending on the extent of the original problem and the surgery required to correct it (whether it be a mini tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck), the tummy tuck scar can extend from hip to hip. The incision will be placed just above the pubic hair line. With time, this scar will fade and become lighter .
Richard H. Fryer, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck Surgery

A  goal of the tummy tuck operation is to remove excess fat and skin from the lower abdomen area.  The amount of loose and extra skin varies depending on the weight and size of the patient.  The scar is placed as low as possible and continues across the abdomen area.  The length of the scar depends on how much skin is needed to be removed.  It is very important to have the correct operation and scar placement.  I have my patients come the day before surgery and... more
John Ward, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon
+1

Length of a tummy tuck scar

The major determinant of scar length for a tummy tuck is the degree of loose skin a person has. A patient with more excess skin (such as a major weight loss patient) will have a longer incision than the petite, thin, mother of one who has only a small amount of skin laxity.
Christa L. Clark, MD
Folsom Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck Scars

Tummy tuck scars very from patient to patient depending on the degree of excess skin to be removed. An incision is made from hip to hip low enough to be hidden by underwear or a bikini (again length varies depending on the amount of skin to be removed). Another incision is made to re-create the belly button, except in the case of a mini tummy tuck. All incisions result in scars; however, there are several ways to minimize scars including: refraining from smoking, following your... more
Tarick K. Smaili, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck scar depends on the amount of extra skin a patient has

The length of a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty incision depends on the amount of extra skin a patient has. That is, literally, the only determinant of the length of the incision. Patients with a very large amount of loose skin will have longer scars. If a patient has a very small amount of loose skin, and primarily if the loose skin is found below the belly button, she may be able to do what is called a "mini-tummy tuck". The difference between a mini tummy tuck and a full tummy... more
Usha Rajagopal, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck scar location

A full tummy tuck removes the excess lower skin from just above the belly button to the pubic bone, along with the fat under the skin while stretching the upper skin.  The resulting scar is necessary to allow the skin to be smooth when it is sewed together, so it will usually stretch low from hip to hip.  However, the scar is low enough to be hidden under your swimsuit - even a bikini!  The belly button is left on the underlying muscle and brought out through a window in... more
Randy J. Buckspan, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck Scar - Individualized

A tummy tuck scar really does vary from patient to patient, and it all depends on what the goal of the surgery is.  Some women need a very long ( hip to hip) scar to address all of their excess skin/fat, while others need only a shorter scar if their excess is more centralized.  Regardless of who the patient is, the goal is always to keep the scar as low as possible, so that it can still hide in underwear or a bathing suit.  This is not always possible, but every effort should... more
Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD
Barrington Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck scars vary in length

The position of tummy tuck scars changes with the fashions of the day- but the length of your tummy tuck scar will depend on the amount and lateral extent of skin laxity that you present with. If you've got skin laxity above and below your belly button and from 'hip to hip' you looking at a scar that will be placed low on your pelvis and extend across the junction of thigh and pelvis, swing up slightly and round the corner below your hip bone. 
Scott Sattler, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+1

Design your own tummy tuck scar

When we perform tummy tucks, we emphasize to the patient that our first priority is to achieve a beautiful abdomen that you will be happy with and will not be self conscious when using a bikini. Our next priority is to hide the scars as much as possible. In my practice, the patient helps design their tummy tuck scar. Before their surgery, the patient brings their favorite bikinis and panties and gets into multiple poses. This helps determine where we can put the scar to make sure that it... more
B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scars after tummy tuck may be long but they are generally very acceptable and well hidden.

To remove skin, an incision and resulting scar is necessary. A tummy tuck removes skin and the length of the resulting scar is proportional to the amount of skin removed. In any event, the scar will traverse most of the lower abdomen. Fortunately, over time it usually ends up being inconspicuous and is placed so that it is covered by underwear or the bottom of a 2 piece bathing suit. The navel is reconstructed in an abdominoplasty so there is a scar in that area. However, the scar can by... more
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

There are always 2 scars and potentially 3 associated with tummy tucks

There are three different scars potentially associated with a Tummy Tuck. The scar most patients are familiar with runs horizontally across the lower abdomen, usually just above the pubic hair from essentially hip to hip. There is always a second scar, often times overlooked, around the navel. These two scars are always present after a Tummy Tuck. In certain instances there are vertical scars in addition to the horizontal scar that run in the midline at a ninety degree angle to the ... more
David  A. Ross, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
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