Revision tummy tuck over skin graft for a better appearance? (Photos)

Question

Updated: I had a tummy tuck overseas in Turkey. Which resulted in a burn to the area leading to an infection. Necrosis in the abdominal area. Surgery was performed and a skin graft to cover the area. I am extremely unhappy with the appearance of this area on my body and would like to know if an revision tummy tuck can be done to give a better appearance or any other suggestions you are willing to provide? Many thanks

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello Jane Lewis, thank you for your question regarding revision tummy tuck options after a skin graft. I appreciate you sharing your history and pictures, and I’m sorry for the complications you’ve experienced. There are a few options available to improve the appearance of the grafted area and achieve a more aesthetically pleasing result.

One approach is serial excisions. This involves making an incision in the existing scar just above the pubic region and gradually removing sections of excess skin and fat in a horizontally oriented elliptical pattern. Since a large excision may not be possible in a single surgery, multiple procedures—typically three to four—may be required. The final stage would focus on reconstructing a more natural and aesthetically pleasing belly button.

Another option, though more complex, involves the use of tissue expanders. Tissue expanders are balloon-like devices that are placed under the skin and slowly inflated over time, allowing the skin to stretch and create additional tissue. This process mimics the way skin expands naturally during pregnancy. Once the skin is sufficiently stretched, the expanders are removed, and the newly created tissue is used to reconstruct the lower abdomen. This method requires multiple office visits for gradual inflation and could take several months to complete. Additionally, during the expansion process, the area may appear distended, which is an important consideration.

Both options have advantages and challenges, and the best approach will depend on your specific case, skin quality, and healing capacity. I highly recommend consulting with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in revision tummy tuck surgery to determine the most effective plan for your needs.

Best of luck, and I hope this information helps!

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

You'll need to lose a lot of weight, possibly 10 kg or more, to reduce the excess fat on the INSIDE of your abdomen, an area we can't liposuction. Once that has occured a revision tummy tuck can be performed to remove the graft and give you a normal contour to your abdomen. The caveat is the scar will be an inverted T shape, with the vertical portion reaching your belly button.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Tissue expanders can be used to stretch your normal skin and give more skin to remove the graft. This may take two or four total procedures, but the graft can be removed.  Please go visit with a reconstructive plastic surgeon. Perhaps your insurance might assist with this.

Daniel P. Markmann, MD · Answer

Wow!   I'm so sorry to see and hear about what you went through!   That is horrible!   
Fortunately, I do believe this can be made better.   Not perfect, but better.   Normally, I try to put the Tummy Tuck scar as low as possible so it is hidden under skimpy bikinis.  Unfortunately, you are going to have a scar up to your belly button.   It appears that the skin of your upper abdomen and sides is pretty tight.   Weight loss may help relax this so that it can be pulled down to cover the missing tissue.  It can likely be pulled down a little at your current weight, which would help reduce the defect, but not close it.   
It also appears that your pubic skin remains rather loose.   This can easily be pulled up, maybe even all of the way to your belly button or at least close, allowing my to entirely close the wound/defect!

This however, would leave you with pubic hair up to your bellybutton.   Fortunately, this is an easy fix  for this!   Laser hair removal.

Good Luck to you!

R. Morgan Davoudi, MD · Answer

Regretful that you had to experience such on favorable outcome. But there are solutions which may require 2 to 3 different procedures to be done over several months to years.The simplest thing to do is to remove the central part of the skin graft by simply cutting it out and closing the rest of the wound letting the surrounding the skin to relax for at least another six months to a year make another visit to the operating room removing additional for the skin graft and bringing your own natural skin slowly together over the course of several different visits to the operating room (commonly know as "serial excision". Another option is to place tissue expanders (balloons) underneath the skin on the sides of your abdomen to expand the skin overtime by putting fluid in these balloons and then cutting the skin graft in the middle and bringing the edges of the newly grown skin together, but that's a much more complicated option. I guess the good news is you do have choices to enhance the appearance but the trade-off is additional surgeries. Good luck and thanks for the question1

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Answers (7)

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck Revision

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.