I've noticed a difference in the way some board certified plastic surgeons close their incisions. Some are shorter (not hip to hip) and have a puckered (horrifying) look initially but seem to flatten out or time. Others have very aesthetically thin, smooth, perfect incision. The physicians who do the puckered type incisions are very experienced so why make your patient deal with the temporary disfigurement??
November 1, 2018
Answer: Why do some tummy tuck incisions look pleated? Thank you for your question. This is a complex issue, partially dependent on patient's skin elasticity, amount of skin removed, how fat the patient is( not all are ideal candidates for tummy tucks), surgeon's skills and experience. Remember, long scars and short scars are permanent. I am one of those surgeons who prefers to give the shortest possible scar to my patients. Yes, this will cause some puckering at the ends, which smoothes out over time. Occasionally, I do a revision if excess pucker persists, under local anesthesia. This still gives a shorter scar, which does not go into the thighs or buttocks or almost circumferentialy as you might have noticed. This needs to be discussed with the patient during the consultation so they understand your philosophy and your ability to give them the best results with the shortest scar. Difficult to hide a long scar in a bikini, and no patient of mine said that the "temporary disfigurement", as you put it, wasn't worth it.
Helpful 5 people found this helpful
November 1, 2018
Answer: Why do some tummy tuck incisions look pleated? Thank you for your question. This is a complex issue, partially dependent on patient's skin elasticity, amount of skin removed, how fat the patient is( not all are ideal candidates for tummy tucks), surgeon's skills and experience. Remember, long scars and short scars are permanent. I am one of those surgeons who prefers to give the shortest possible scar to my patients. Yes, this will cause some puckering at the ends, which smoothes out over time. Occasionally, I do a revision if excess pucker persists, under local anesthesia. This still gives a shorter scar, which does not go into the thighs or buttocks or almost circumferentialy as you might have noticed. This needs to be discussed with the patient during the consultation so they understand your philosophy and your ability to give them the best results with the shortest scar. Difficult to hide a long scar in a bikini, and no patient of mine said that the "temporary disfigurement", as you put it, wasn't worth it.
Helpful 5 people found this helpful
July 22, 2017
Answer: Incisions It is not that we "make patients live with any disfigurement." You are dealing with different surgeons of different skill sets who do things different ways. Its kind of like sports. Some are just more talented than others. Thats all. Some take more time with closure and attention to make them look better than others. I will tell you however that an incision should not look perfect early on. It should look puckered and heaped up for lack of better medical terms. It should be that way because the deeper sutures initially are the ones that keep tension off the scar and low tension is one thing that helps scars heal pretty. Those deep stitches cause that puckered look. You also have to take into account the quality of patients skin. Some have stretched out very thin poor quality skin that will look puckered no matter what because the collagen quality is just so bad compared to others who do not have stretched out thin skin. The length of the scar depends on how much skin needs to be removed. Some smaller patients need shorter scars while some larger patients need longer scars. So it can be surgeon dependent and patient dependent. We don't "make" anyone "deal with temporary disfigurement." It is what it is. We close the way we do for a reason. But, I think disfigurement is not the best word to use here.DrRickAZ
Helpful 5 people found this helpful
July 22, 2017
Answer: Incisions It is not that we "make patients live with any disfigurement." You are dealing with different surgeons of different skill sets who do things different ways. Its kind of like sports. Some are just more talented than others. Thats all. Some take more time with closure and attention to make them look better than others. I will tell you however that an incision should not look perfect early on. It should look puckered and heaped up for lack of better medical terms. It should be that way because the deeper sutures initially are the ones that keep tension off the scar and low tension is one thing that helps scars heal pretty. Those deep stitches cause that puckered look. You also have to take into account the quality of patients skin. Some have stretched out very thin poor quality skin that will look puckered no matter what because the collagen quality is just so bad compared to others who do not have stretched out thin skin. The length of the scar depends on how much skin needs to be removed. Some smaller patients need shorter scars while some larger patients need longer scars. So it can be surgeon dependent and patient dependent. We don't "make" anyone "deal with temporary disfigurement." It is what it is. We close the way we do for a reason. But, I think disfigurement is not the best word to use here.DrRickAZ
Helpful 5 people found this helpful
