I’ve written in regarding possible liposuction and thank you to all the doctors who responded. I’m now considering a tummy tuck because want a predictable outcome. I really don’t want to take the chance with lipo and be left with loose skin only to have to have another surgery. I’ve have 3 consultations and everyone mentioned a vertical scar, plus the traditional TT scar. Why would I have the extra scar if my skin laxity is less than the typical TT patient. I’m 5’, 101 lbs, no stretch marks
November 20, 2017
Answer: Possibly avoid the vertical scar with a tummy tuck The vertical scar is the closure of your previous belly button opening. However, you may be a candidate for an umbilical float, where there is no incision made around your belly button and the excess skin in the lower abdomen is removed. Your original belly button will be "floated" downward a few inches.I hope this helps answer your question.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
November 20, 2017
Answer: Possibly avoid the vertical scar with a tummy tuck The vertical scar is the closure of your previous belly button opening. However, you may be a candidate for an umbilical float, where there is no incision made around your belly button and the excess skin in the lower abdomen is removed. Your original belly button will be "floated" downward a few inches.I hope this helps answer your question.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
November 20, 2017
Answer: Why some people get a small vertical scar with tummy tuck This question is actually easier to answer with a drawing, but I will try to give you the same visual in words. For any given patient, there is a certain amount of laxity (or looseness) of the abdominal skin. After having kids or large weight changes, most women have enough laxity to be able to remove the skin between the belly button and the lower horizontal tummy tuck scar (the placement of this scar varies surgeon to surgeon, but I like to make it low so that it would be hidden in a bikini). In patients who do not have that much skin laxity, there are 2 options.One involves leaving a small vertical scar between the new belly button and the lower horizontal scar, and the other involves "floating" the belly button and avoiding the vertical scar. Normally during a tummy tuck, an incision is made around the belly button, the skin flap is elevated off of the muscle fascia from the lower abdominal scar all the way up to the ribs and lowest part of the breastbone in the center, and pulled down tight like a windowshade, and the belly button is popped out through the skin where is was sitting. The hole made in the skin by cutting around the belly button and dunking it in while the flap is raised, ends up being removed in a standard tummy tuck since there is that much loose skin. In the version where you end up with a small vertical scar, the scar is where the old belly button hole was closed, and there wasn't enough loose skin to remove that hole completely. In the option where the belly button is "floated", instead of making an incision around the belly button that gets closed as a vertical scar, instead the belly button is detached from below, and re-attached at a slightly lower position once the skin is tightened. This leaves a normal looking belly button, just positioned a little lower. Whether or not you are a good candidate depends on how high or low your belly button currently is, and if you mind that it is no longer at it's natural position.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
November 20, 2017
Answer: Why some people get a small vertical scar with tummy tuck This question is actually easier to answer with a drawing, but I will try to give you the same visual in words. For any given patient, there is a certain amount of laxity (or looseness) of the abdominal skin. After having kids or large weight changes, most women have enough laxity to be able to remove the skin between the belly button and the lower horizontal tummy tuck scar (the placement of this scar varies surgeon to surgeon, but I like to make it low so that it would be hidden in a bikini). In patients who do not have that much skin laxity, there are 2 options.One involves leaving a small vertical scar between the new belly button and the lower horizontal scar, and the other involves "floating" the belly button and avoiding the vertical scar. Normally during a tummy tuck, an incision is made around the belly button, the skin flap is elevated off of the muscle fascia from the lower abdominal scar all the way up to the ribs and lowest part of the breastbone in the center, and pulled down tight like a windowshade, and the belly button is popped out through the skin where is was sitting. The hole made in the skin by cutting around the belly button and dunking it in while the flap is raised, ends up being removed in a standard tummy tuck since there is that much loose skin. In the version where you end up with a small vertical scar, the scar is where the old belly button hole was closed, and there wasn't enough loose skin to remove that hole completely. In the option where the belly button is "floated", instead of making an incision around the belly button that gets closed as a vertical scar, instead the belly button is detached from below, and re-attached at a slightly lower position once the skin is tightened. This leaves a normal looking belly button, just positioned a little lower. Whether or not you are a good candidate depends on how high or low your belly button currently is, and if you mind that it is no longer at it's natural position.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
