How to Correct Dog Ears After Tummy Tuck?

"Dog ears" are very common after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), so do not fret. I estimate maybe as many as 20% of all patients that undergo tummy tuck will end up with some degree of one on at least one side.
Some dog ears are simply puckers in the skin that only require reopening a portion of the "scar" and excising the loose skin, and some have residual underlying fullness that needs liposuction touch up to improve the shape.
Oftentimes, it is some of both. I wait until 6 months after a tummy tuck to determine if there is one present, and if so, will usually correct them as an office procedure under simple local anesthesia.
With some xylocaine in the office, touch up liposuction and excision of dog ears can be easily performed with a rapid recovery.
I hope this helps!

Hello janher2009. Thank you for your question regarding how to correct dog ears after a tummy tuck.

Dog ears, or excess skin and fat that protrude at the ends of a tummy tuck incision, are a common issue that can occur after surgery. They can be corrected through a minor revision surgery. This procedure is typically straightforward and can often be done under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting (like in your plastic surgeon's office). Your plastic surgeon will extend the incision slightly and remove the excess tissue, smoothing out the contour of your abdomen. This revision can significantly improve the appearance and symmetry of your tummy tuck results.

I recommend consulting with your original plastic surgeon or a board-certified plastic surgeon who has experience with tummy tuck revisions. They can assess your specific situation and determine the best approach to correct the dog ears.

Good luck, and I hope this helps answer your question regarding correcting dog ears after a tummy tuck.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS

This is a very common problem after a tummy tuck.  This is caused by puckering of the skin at the end of the incision.  This can usually be easily corrected in the office with excision of the excess skin under local anesthesia.  The downtime afterwards should be minimal.  Best of luck.