What Type of Tummy Tuck Surgery Necessitates a Vertical Scar As Well As a Horizonal One?

I have seen pictures of tummy tuck after photos and been concerned by the small vertical scar I see in some along with the expected horizontal scar. Are these scars a normal part of the procedure or due to some other type of repair? Also, are there always scars around the belly button and why are these so hard to see in the after photos while the horizontal ones are so pronounced?

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by palmtrz

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Tummy Tuck

When a full tummy tuck is performed, the primary goal is to remove all loose skin and fat from the level of the belly button down to the pubic hair area which is where the final scar will be. If there is enough laxity the original opening of the belly button can stretch down to the level of the final scar. If there is only mild laxity of the lower and mid abdomen then the circular opening from the original circle cut around the belly button may only make it part way down... more

A big one

A standard tummy is done to remove excess skin and tighten the abdominal muscles. Understand the problem is a 2 dimensional one with the skin being loose horizontally and vertically. A standard tummy tuck removes the excess skin that is horizontal. Usually there is not enough vertical laxity to worry about, except in patients who have large amounts of skin in both directions. We usually see this is massive weight loss patients. That will require a... more

Small vertical scar after tummy tuck

Thank you for your questions. The small vertical scar that I think you are referring to is the vertical scar that is closed where the skin used to be around the belly button. Depending on how long or short someone's torso is and the amount of extra skin, not all of the skin between the belly button and pubic region can be removed. A short vertical scar is sometimes necessary to close this area. This is not common but does happen at times. The horizontal scars are... more

Vertical scar after tummy tuck

I am assuming that you are referring to a vertical scar in the middle of the lower part of the tummy that is connected to the horizontal, hip-to-hip scar and there are two possible reasons for this. The most common is that there was not enough skin to be able to pull the site of the old belly button down to where it would be removed. This usually leaves a small approximately 1 inch scar in the midline. The other reason is to remove excess skin in the side to side direction. The horizontal... more

Role Of A Vertical Scar In Tummy Tuck Surgery

There are several indications for the use of a vertical scar in a tummy tuck. There are useful after large amounts of weight loss usually after baristric surgery, when there is a pre-existing vertical scar from a prior ob-gyn procedure and in some forms of a mini-abdomioplasty when the desire it to keep the scar very low or avoid a horizontal scar altogether. It is not common after most forms of a tummy tuck but has a role to play when the benefit of extra skin removal provided... more

Tummy tuck with vertical incision

The tummy tuck with a vertical incision is a good method for treating patients and avoiding a hip to hip incision. It allows the surgeon to lower the incision and make it shorter. The tradeoff is a small vertical incision.

The small vertical scar after tummy tuck

The very small vertical scar you occasionally see after tummy tuck indicates there was not enough skin laxity to bring the skin from around the 'old' belly button down to meet the low closure line above the pubis. To avoid this something must be compromised, the scar must be raised, or the closure too tight. We perfer to keep the transverse scar low, without too much tension over the pubis. Best of luck, Peter Johnson, MD.

Best to have vertical scar in tumy tuck only after massive weight loss

The vertical scar in TT surgery should be reserved only for those who have had massive weight loss. Otherwise, it is better to have the horizontal scar as low as possible but not so low that a vertical is needed as this is never easy to hide and doesn't heal as well as the horizontal. I just saw a patient last week operated on by another surgeon whose horizontal scar was so low that it stuck out of the BOTTOM of her bathing suit and this low scar necessitated a vertical... more

Tummy Tuck Scars

Most tummy tucks (abdominoplasties) will result in a horizontal scar, usually concealed within the underwear garment as well as a scar around the belly button. Sometimes there may not be enough skin laxity to remove all of the skin below the belly button. In these cases, part of the closure may be vertical in the midline (in addition to the horizontal closure) in an effort to avoid an exessively tight closure and wound healing problems. This small midline scar can... more

Scars after tummy tuck

If there is not enough looseness above the old belly button then the old belly button site cannot be pulled down far enough to be removed. Then the doctor has to stitch it up causing the small vertical scar in the lower tummy. The scar around the belly button is always present unless only a mini-tuck is done, or if the belly button is "floated" (cut free underneath), which is usually not done. It is hard to see because it is usually pulled into the shadow of the belly button... more