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Can a Tummy Tuck Hide my Vertical Scar?
I have a vertical scar center my abdomen that starts above my belly button and goes down not quite to pubic hair line. I have a skin apron lately too from weight loss. I have no stretch marks and good skin, can a tummy tuck remove the majority of this vertical scar or at least enough to wear a bathing suit bottom or low rise jeans?
Asked 36 months ago by
carolinagirl965
+3
Vertical scar
If you have an apron of skin from weight loss and a prominent vertivcal incision, chances are excellent that a majority of your scar can be removed.
With patients who have lost a great deal of weight, the abdominal and sometimes the flank skin hangs down, so removing this skin can be very beneficial for the right patient.
The incision is usually a lower abdominal incision that is horizontal and much more concealable under clothing than a vertical scar.
+3
Vertical scar can usually be removed with Tummy Tuck
To carolinagirl965,
Hi! This a very good question, because the vertical scar bothers a lot of women. In general, it can be removed, because the skin from the belly button down is removed.
Even when the vertical scar cannot all be removed, the short part that remains is brought down to just above the pubic hair. So you can wear a bikini bottom or low cut jeans
Go see a board certified plastic surgeon.
+2
Tummy tuck that scar away
Carolina Girl,
Depending on how high above the belly button your scar goes, you may be able to have it completely removed. A full tummy tuck can remove the skin (including your scar) sometimes an inch or two above the belly button. See your board certified plastic surgeon for a consultation. Good luck!
+2
Your vertical scar can be reduced.
It is quite possible to reduce your vertical significantly. It all really depends on the laxity of your skin. If you have great skin laxity, then more of it can be excise. Usually with abdominoplasty it is safe to say that all the skin between your pubic area and your belly button can be excised (removed). However, in most cases we can also excise 3 to 4 more cm above your belly button. This should allow for most of your scar to be removed. If you post a picture, we could likely give...
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+2
A tummy tuck should hide a good amount of your scar
The amount of excess skin you have, will determine how much of the scar can be removed. In patients with significant weightloss, is common for the skin from just above the umbilicus (belly button) to the pubic region to be removed. This should remove most of the scar you described.
Remember that you are trading a horizontal scar for the vertical, which is easier to conceal.
+2
A tummy tuck probably will not remove all of your scar
Whether you would be able to remove the entire scar depends how far above your belly button your scar goes and how lax your skin is.
Generally speaking, you cannot remove the entire scar. This does give you a chance to have your plastic surgeon revise the verticle scar, bring the edge together, and narrow your waist a bit for added benefit.
However, it is not unusual to have more complications when you have a midline scar and are attempting to narrow the waist, as the blood supply...
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+2
Tummy tuck can excise vertical scar
In response to your question, yes it is very possible that the abdominoplasty can excise a majority of your vertical scar.
Whether it can be hidden beneath a bikini or low-rise jeans is more dificult to say. However, this can llkely be determined in the course of an consultation.
+1
Full Tummy Tuck will probably remove about half the vertical scar
A Full Tummy Tuck will usually remove about half of a full length vertical abdominal scar. It varies based upon how much skin can be removed during your tummy tuck operation, of course.
+1
Depends on how high above your belly button
In general, when there is sufficient skin laxity, I am able to excise about 2 cm of skin above the top of the umbilicus. So it depends how high your scar goes above your belly button and how lax your skin is. Judging by your description, I would say that you have good amount of skin laxity to be able to pull the abdominal skin pretty low, now it just depends how high your scar goes above the belly button.
Just remember that the vertical scar may be concealed and low, but you are in for a...
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+1
Tummy tuck scars
If you have a vertical scar from a previous procedure, the area that is below the umbilicus will most likely come out during a full tummy tuck. You will probably be left with a portion of the scar that is just above the umbilicus.
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Most of your scar should be removed by Tummy Tuck
Carolinagirl965,
It is likely that the scar you describe may be removed. The portion that extends above the umbilicus will usually be moved down to the area just above the pubic area. If your upper abdominal skin is quite loose, you are more likely to see the entire scar disappear. Your surgeon should be able to estimate the outcome for you. Best wishes.
+1
Most, if not all, can be removed by Tummy Tuck
The abdomenal tissue is lifted like a window shade and pulled down during a tummy tuck. Excess tissue is removed. The amount of tissue is determined by the laxity of the skin in the upper abdomen. But in most cases, especially afeter weight loss, the majority of the scar and a small amount (1-2 cm) above the umbilicus can be removed. Above that point the scar tissue will be moved to the area below your pant line.
+1
Excising the vertical scar
How much of the vertical scar you could remove is dependent upon the location of the apron (usually lower abdomen), the amount and laxity of the abdominal skin that is free of the vertical scar, and the relative position of the vertical scar (you said it went above the belly-button so it is more centrally located than the lower abdomen).
While you could remove the vertical scar, you would be trading it for a horizontal scar, the position of which depends on the things I mentioned above.
It...
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Yes, a very good chance Tummy Tuck will work
Tummy Tuck is a very popular operation. I have done several hundred. I have certainly done numerous ones on patients like you. The skin has to be separated off the underlying muscle so that the excess skin can to pulled down and removed in a horizontal direction. In your case, the skin removed would contain the vertical scar so that you would be rid of it forever. It is not an easy operation to go through, but the results can be spectacular.
+1
Almost always
Hi there,
Scars like your are very common, and a well-done tummy tuck is almost always successful in removing all evidence of them, in addition to the other obvious shape benefits of the tummy tuck procedure. With modern scar minimization techniques and suture techniques, the scar you trade for is much more favorable. Hope that helps!
+1
Abdominoplasty to correct scars
Abdominoplasty can be an effective way to improve abdominal contour, tighten abdominal core muscles and remove excess skin.
In my San Francisco area practice we put particular emphasis on improving contour and shape as well as existing scars. Usually scars and stretch marks below the umbilicus can be included as part of the resection.
In your situation, it may be possible to include the vertical scar that goes above your belly button, it depends on the amount of skin laxity you have.
I...
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Tummy Tuck could excise most of the scar
A tummy tuck could take out most of this scar. As the skin is pulled down, the portion of the skin harboring the scar will be excised as well as the abdominal apron.
Anxious about a tummy tuck and whether you're getting the full story? Learn 12 secrets from a RealSelf community member who went through it all.