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Will Tummy Tuck Scar Disappear Completely?

asked 3 years ago by mandy82 in Albany, Georgia
Latest answer by Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Question viewed 7,470 times
Tags: scar

I have 3 children, one of which I didn't find out I was pregnant with until 6 months into the pregnancy. This caused a lot of stretch marks, so I recently had a tummy tuck. The doctor had to make a vertical incision from my lower scar to my belly button. I am only about a week post op, but it already looks like the vertical scar will not be as noticeable as my lower scar. The physician also says that within 6 months it shouldn't be noticeable. Is this possible or is there anything I can do to help with the scar?

15 answers to Will Tummy Tuck Scar Disappear Completely?

It depends on the person, surgeon, and luck!

All incisions leave scars, and thankfully, most incisions when closed properly leave acceptable scars. In the case of an abdominoplasty, you're making a trade... skin and fat gone, but a scar. Usually the scar looks very good - but time and patience is required. There are a lot of components in healing, with genetics being one of the most important... sound surgical technique and minimizing tension on the skin are the other two major factors. I'm a believer in silicone tape. We provide... more

David L. Kaufman, MD
Folsom Plastic Surgeon

Scars are forever

Mandy, Surgical scars will be present forever. But don't despair. In fifteen years of practice I have never had a patient wish they had not done the surgery because of the scar. The trade off is well worth it. There are things you can do to minimize the scar. Talk to your surgeon about what they are and when you can start them. Good luck!

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck scars never disappear completely.

To Mandy82: You can expect the scars to fade and become less noticeable over the next 18 months, but they don't disappear. Laser treatments of the scars in a few months can help.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Scar maturation takes time

Hi- I agree with my colleague that all incisions leave scars- what we are trying to achieve as plastic surgeons is very inconspicuous scars. Scars will improve with time on their own, through the process of maturation. I also am a believer in silicone tape, and do believe that the average scar will look better at all stages of maturation when this is used than without it. Ask your doctor about his or her preferences.

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Scars are Permanent

Thanks for the question. Scars are permanent. There are some things you can do to improve their healing. First and foremost follow your surgeon's instructions in terms of exercise, wound care, drain care and activity level. Beyond this Scar Guard and Mederma and silicone tape are over the counter treatments that have been clinically shown to make small differences in scar healing. I hope this helps.

Steven H. Williams, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck scars are permanent

While the scars from a Tummy Tuck can heal quite nicely, they are definitely permanent! In most cases, Tummy Tuck scars fade quite well over time.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Managing the vertical scar with a tummy tuck

The vertical scar may blend in nicely with your remaining striae. However, in the meantime, surgeons may vary in their scar managment recommendations. Some encourage the use of silastic sheeting, and while this may help, I find that patients find it difficult and cumbersome and will often abandon its use. Avoiding excessive sun exposure is also important. Other scar creams you may have heard of have limited evidence to strongly support their use. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck scar will heal and fade

As with any scar, it will heal and fade over time, but will never disappear. There are many over the counter scar creams and gels that will help improve the overall look of the scar that you can purchase from any drug store or pharmacy. Consult your plastic surgeon to determine which product woul be best for your incision and skin type. It may depend on how far out from surgery you are and how the incision is healing. Silicone sheeting is recommended for raised and dark scars. Keep in... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

A tummy tuck scar never diappears completely and scar creams don't work.

Scars after an abdominoplasty improve at different rates with different patients. Never do they completely disappear. I have not come across and cream or therapy that will help the long term outcome of the scar. Avoid trauma to the scar (sun exposure, scratching, clothes rubbing) and be patient. Almost always the result will be good.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Scar management after a tummy tuck

The scars from a tummy tuck are similar to other incisional scars. Initially, the scars are pink and can be a bit raised. As the scar remodels, the color fades and typically the scar flattens. Techniques to hasten this process include silicone sheeting, massage, moisturizers. Hyperpigmentation may be treated with lasers or fading creams. Hypertrophic or prominent scars may respond to steroid injections. All told, it takes at least 1 year before a scar is done remodeling. It is during this... more

David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

All scars are permanent

The tummy tuck scar is there to allow the doctor to tighten your lax muscles and remove the extra skin giving you a nice flat tummy. So the scar is a necessary tradeoff for this. You can massage them, laser them or leave them alone. Either way they will improve over time and can sometimes become barely visible, but not always.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Scars are forever--but can be made better over time

No scar will ever go away completely. Scars take 12-18 months to fully mature and they generally will soften and become more pale during that time. There are many scar treatments (some good, but most snake-oil) which can help. Talk to your surgeon about what she recommends to treat your scars. GIVE THEM TIME!

Carmen Kavali, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck Scars

Anytime an incision is made a scar will form. The appearance of the resulting scar depends on the surgeon's technique, the pressure and stretching of the scar during the healing process and the use of scar treatment programs. After a tummy tuck you do not want to stretch out the abdomen because this will result in a thicker scar. To aid the healing process we recommend a silicone based scar gel. When used properly, scars become lighter and more discrete.

Tarick K. Smaili, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck scars can hide but not disappear

Tummy tucks are extremely popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. When we perform a tummy tuck, in our practice, we asked the patient to bring in their favorite bikini and place them in many different poses so that we can design the incision in a manner that it will always be hidden under their favorite bikini. By using the body's own lines and closing the incision without tension, we can create a tummy tuck scar that will be difficult to notice. However, the scar will... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.miamiaesthetic.com

Scars are Permanent

Every operation leaves permanent a permanent scar. While the scar may not be very noticeable it will always be present. The way a scar heals depends on how the scar was caused, your skin type and the location of the scar. For the most part, tummy tuck scars heal very nicely and I have not meant a woman who was not glad to trade her stomach pooch for her scar.