{"id":27987,"date":"2024-07-31T12:30:06","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T19:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=27987"},"modified":"2024-07-31T12:30:09","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T19:30:09","slug":"signs-of-a-botched-tummy-tuck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/signs-of-a-botched-tummy-tuck","title":{"rendered":"5 Telltale Signs of a Botched Tummy Tuck"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Featured Experts<\/strong>
Dr. Jerry Chidester<\/a>, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Draper, Utah
Dr. Lyle Leipziger<\/a>, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

The tummy tuck<\/a>, a surgery that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and lifts the belly button, is one of the more intense procedures out there: it can come with weeks of downtime<\/a>, significant swelling, and pain that, while manageable with pain meds, can still be uncomfortable when you laugh or sneeze. <\/p>

That said, it’s one of those procedures that most people are happy with, with a 95% Worth It Rating<\/a> on RealSelf. While abdominoplasty is known for helping to address issues after childbirth, like diastasis recti, it’s experiencing increased popularity—possibly with the rise of medications like Ozempic<\/a>, which lead to rapid weight loss and, often, sagging skin<\/a>. In fact, 2023 saw a 5% increase in tummy tuck procedures in the U.S. compared to the previous year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgery<\/a>. <\/p>

But it’s not without drawbacks. “For tummy tucks, risks may include infection, bleeding, wound healing problems, and unfavorable scarring,” says Dr. Lyle Leipziger<\/a>, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City. And because abdominoplasty is so involved—and can be combined with liposuction, to contour the waist and flanks, or a breast lift to create a full mommy makeover—there are a few ways in which it can also go wrong. Here’s what to look for in a botched tummy tuck.<\/p>

Misshapen belly button<\/h2>

The most common telltale sign of a botched tummy tuck is the size and shape of the belly button, according to Dr. Jerry Chidester<\/a>, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Draper, Utah. “During abdominoplasty surgery, many times a scar has to be made around the native belly button in order to pull the skin down toward the pubic area and remove the excess skin and fat,” he says.<\/p>

There are various ways to shape and mold the original belly button in its new location to look natural—and if it doesn’t, then it can look…weird. For that reason, “the most obvious sign of a bad belly button is a belly button that is too large in size or way too small,” says Dr. Chidester. “This can be a dead giveaway for a ‘botched’ tummy tuck.”<\/p>

Interested in tummy tuck?<\/small><\/div>Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div>

Visible scarring<\/h2>

A scar is tough to avoid with a surgery as big as a tummy tuck—but a good one is virtually invisible. However, a poorly positioned scar can be a sign of a botched tummy tuck. “When the scar is placed too high on the lower abdomen, it can be very visible in even regular clothing,” says Dr. Chidester. On the other hand, the scar can also be placed too low, especially along the outer waistline. The ends can hook downward, he says, allowing it to peek out of swimsuits or activewear.<\/p>

\n