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Scar Revision or Tummy Tuck to Remove Vertical Scar?

asked 2 years ago by kelly007 in kansas
Latest answer by George J. Beraka, MD
Question viewed 1,335 times
Tags: abdomen, female, scar

I have a vertical scar on my Tummy and I have been to 3 different plastic surgeons and each answer is different. One says I don't have enough skin for a Tummy Tuck which will lead to problems.

Another says a Mini Tummy Tuck and the other a Full Tummy Tuck. How do I know which one is the right answer? I just want the best outcome with the least problems. Please Help!

13 answers to Scar Revision or Tummy Tuck to Remove Vertical Scar?

+2

Vertical scar removal vs. full tummy tuck

There will definitely be a tradeoff between having a horizontal scar and having the vertical scar if you opt for a full tummy tuck. This option would "clean up" the area around the belly button, but the horizontal scar would likely be rather high given that you don't seem to have much extra skin. The choice will ultimately be yours once you know the pluses and minuses.
Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

+1

Not enough skin for tummy tuck.

Hi. Of course, it is hard to be sure just from one picture, but I think you should just try a scar revision. Any tummy tuck will give you additional scarring, and probably not completely remove the vertical scar.
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini Tummy Tuck for scar

It appears you have an irregular vertical scar from the picture. The underlying muscle may also be loose causing a midline separation or diastasis. The excess skin below the belly button or umbilicus could be removed through the vertical scar, improve the appearance of the scar, and at the same time tighten the underlying muscle. An additional horizontal scar may allow more skin to be removed. Liposuction could also be performed to remove any unwanted fat deposits. Consult a board... more
Andrew Turk, MD

Naples Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck vs scar revision

I agree with many of the opinions on this site, however I think there may be another option that you have not considered. You may benefit from liposuction of the abdomen, with release of the vertical scar from the deep tissues, and fat transfer under the scar. This will eliminate the depression that you have from the scar, without creating a new, red scar that will take up to a year to lighten, and give you a smooth look to your abdomen. I am not sure if you have enough skin to make it... more
Amy T. Bandy, DO

Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck for Scar Removal

You are options are either to have a scar revision of your vertical scar which will leave you with a scar that will probably be improved from what you have now. Your other option is a full tummy tuck to try to get the scar completely out and here I dont know if you have enought skin above the belly button to stretch down. Also you will be trading a vertical scar for a longer horizontal scar. Hope that helps.
Farbod Esmailian, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Vertical Scar Removal during Tummy Tuck

You would probably need a standard, not a mini tummy tuck for the best results.  Also, complete removal of the scar will depend on the amount of excess skin you have above the scar.  
John LoMonaco, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.DrLoMonaco.com

+1

Scar Revision or Tummy Tuck for vertical scar

Sounds like the first and third consultant are saying the same thing -- Full Tummy Tuck. Very hard from your one photo to tell if indeed you have enough skin. But I assume you must so I chose a full tummy tuck. 
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Removing vertical scar with tummy tuck

 First of all a mini tummy tuck with not address your problem.  Based on your pictures, a full tummy tuck / abdominoplasty should help considerably.  It is hard to say for sure without examining you, but you should get a nice result.  Good luck.
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

+1

A Tummy Tuck COULD remove a Vertical scar

The most important point is DO YOU have enough loose skin which would permit the removal of your vertical scar? The only ones who know are the three surgeons who saw you. Without an examination, obstetrics history, pictures of you leaning over and relaxing your tummy all we could do is guess and you should not have surgery based on guesses. I WOULD tell you that if you are done having children you probably do have a lot of loose tummy skin. Moreover, the higher from your privates you are... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Vertical scar and Tummy Tuck

The only way to remove a scar is to remove the skin that contains the scar. Ultimately what is your goal? If you want the scar improved, the easiest way is a scar revision. If you want it removed then you could get a fair amount of it removed with a Tummy Tuck. In doing a tummy tuck the horizontal incision would be higher than what is normally done and there may still be a vertical scar in the lower abdomen. The upside is that your belly will look much better overall by doing the tummy... more
John P. Stratis, MD

Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon
+1

Please send picture of the abdomen in a sitting position

One option in your case is to do lipo/Tummy tuck and accept that you will have vertical scar but it will be musch shorter and will be 1 inch below the belly button. Lipo will help to losen the skin above the belly button to be able to bring the skin down. This is in case that patient does not have enough skin and surgeon has to leave some of the original skin below the belly button. The most important thing physical examination and if your plastic surgeons do not feel that you have enough... more
Kamran Khoobehi, MD

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon
+1

Revision of a vertical abdominal scar

While it is nice to remove vertical scars in the lower abdomen in a tummy tuck, you might not have enough laxity of skin to do this. A scar revision can help the indentation if the fat is sutured together (it probably wasn't during the previous closure you had). Unfortunately, vertical scars are never as nic as horizontal ones.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scar revision and Tummy Tuck are partially correct for vertical scar

I also don't believe you could have a tummy tuck based on the limited photo and without an exam. A mini-tummy tuck would still give you a vertical scar as well as a horizontal scar -- not a great trade off. I'd counsel you to have a simple scar revision. Once your scar isn't depressed and tethered to the muscle fascia you should be significantly better off. Obviously this doesn't accomplish what you said in your headline but I don't believe "removing" your vertical scar is going to... more
Robert Frank, MD

Munster Plastic Surgeon

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