38 year old, 3 children, twins. Tummy Tuck for C-Section Scar Area Revision? (Photos)

What you went through after your C-section is more common than people realize, and it’s completely valid to feel both physically and emotionally affected years later. Based on your symptoms and concerns, you may be a candidate for a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) or scar revision surgery to address lingering discomfort, scar tissue, and the disconnected feeling in your lower abdomen.
The complications you had like hematoma, infection, and fluid expulsion are known risks in surgeries involving the lower abdomen, but they aren’t guaranteed to happen again. Your healing experience could have been specific to your C-section, or it may signal a higher sensitivity in that area. A thorough evaluation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, ideally with access to your medical records, would help determine your individual risk and the safest path forward. Many patients with complex surgical histories go on to heal beautifully with the right care plan.

Thanks for your question! If that is all that's bothering you, you can consider some form of a tummy tuck (possibly a mini). I don't think you need to expect a similar reaction. A c-section, although similarly scarred, is a VERY different surgery and this is far more controlled. Best of luck!

Your experience after the C section sounds very difficult, and it is understandable that the ongoing sensitivity and appearance continue to affect you.
Complications such as infection and hematoma are recognized risks after a C section. They do not automatically mean the same thing will happen after a tummy tuck or revision surgery. The setting is different plastic surgeons use meticulous techniques to control bleeding, place drains when needed, and close tissues in a way designed to reduce fluid collection and improve healing.
It is true that any surgery carries a baseline risk of hematoma, infection, or wound healing issues but the fact that this happened after your C section does not necessarily increase your chance of the same outcome with a tummy tuck. Many patients who experienced problems with obstetric surgery go on to heal well from cosmetic abdominal surgery.
Revision or tummy tuck can also help restore both the contour and your sense of connection with your lower abdomen which is a very real concern after pregnancies and complicated healing.
I have also shared a detailed video where I explain how healing after C section and tummy tuck differ and show patient examples to help you visualize what to expect.
— Güray Yesiladali, MD

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding a tummy tuck for a C-section scar area revision. Thank you for your history and your pictures. I’m sorry for your misfortune. Developing a hematoma after your C-section can happen. From your history, you probably developed a hematoma that became infected after your pregnancy. The hematoma and infection healed, leaving you with some redundant abdominal skin. The solution would be the removal of the skin. The removal of the skin surgery is called an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. The tummmy tuck incision is made below the C-section scar, and tissue dissection is carried out either to the umbilicus or the sternum, depending on the type of tummy tuck you want. If tissue dissection is carried to your belly button, the procedure is called a mini-tummy tuck. If tissue dissection is carried to your sternum, the procedure is called a full tummy tuck. During the tummy tuck, the abdominal muscles are typically plicated or brought together from the sternum to the pubic region. Abdominal skin and fat are removed. The mons or pubic region is lifted and reduced, and the belly button is repositioned. Most plastic surgeons would agree that you would obtain an excellent result with a full tummy tuck. However, you would also obtain good results with a mini tummy tuck. It just depends on the extent of the surgery you wish. To be safe, I would suggest you consult with a hematologist. A hematologist will check your blood for any increased risk of bleeding. Perhaps you developed the hematoma due to a genetic blood disorder. I hope I’ve helped to answer your question regarding what to do with excess skin fat left from a hematoma after a C-section. Good luck. If it bothers you, I would highly suggest you consult with a plastic surgeon. Good luck. If you have any more questions regarding tummy tucks, abdominoplasties, or abdominal liposuction, contact an experienced plastic surgeon. Since the tummy tuck surgery is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience in performing tummy tucks. Do your research. If you cannot find an experienced tummy tuck plastic surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA, FACS, FICS. ( Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic surgery, American College of surgery, and International College of surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic surgery, RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)

From your photographs, it seems like you would be best served by a very straightforward scar revision. There is always a chance of an infection, but this is a much lesser degree of surgery then you had before, and the chance of infection should be very very low. Good luck!

You can undergo a scar revision, a mini tummy tuck where the scar can be lowered more toward the pubic bone or a full tummy tuck. A tummy tuck will result in a wide scar from side to side. You may be a candidate for any of these procedures.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Thank you for your photos. Hematoma, with or without infection, is a well-known potential complication after any surgery, although it is rare. Now that your hematoma has resolved, and your incision is fully healed, and the scar is matured, you are unhappy with its appearance and have pain in the area. A scar revision could be accomplished where the old scar is removed, and, depending upon your anatomy, varying amounts of abdominal skin tightening could be performed. This would leave you with a new incision line, which should be better than your old incision line. With revision, there is still a very small possibility of a hematoma, although the odds are strongly in your favor of that not happening. Whether the scar revision would help with the physical pain is harder to predict. A detailed consultation with a plastic surgeon should help you understand your best option. Best wishes.

Thank you for your question. It is unfortunate what occurred after your C-section, but it is no means a guarantee that a similar situation will occur again. Based on your photographs, there are several options available, including scar revision, mini tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon will help you define your goals as well as what you are hoping to achieve. Good luck on your journey!

your concerns are completely valid and understandable. What you described after your C-section (infection, hematoma, and delayed healing) is within the range of known postoperative complications that can happen with any surgery, including a tummy tuck. These are typically related to factors such as blood flow, surgical trauma, or immune response.
The risk of complications like wound infection, hematoma, or delayed healing in abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery is generally about 2–5%, and your chance of a better outcome depends on several personal factors, including:
Your overall health
Underlying conditions like diabetes, anemia, or immune issues
Use of medications (e.g., steroids, NSAIDs)
Smoking, alcohol, nutrition, and even emotional stress during healing
Since your initial incision healed well and the complication came from deeper tissue, it’s very possible that with careful surgical planning and close monitoring, a revision surgery (tummy tuck) could help address the scar, tightness, and emotional discomfort you've been carrying—safely.
A full assessment including medical history, physical examination, and lab work would help determine your healing potential and how to best manage any risks.

If you are not interested in a tummy tuck then you can consider scar revision. A tummy tuck would address excess fat and skin and correct abdominal wall laxity. During the procedure the current scar would be removed and replaced by a different one. If you are not interested in that surgery you can opt for a scar revision which would focus on removing the current scar with the intention that the new scar would heal more favorably.