Is my scarring normal 10 months post op? (Photo)

Thank you for your question and posting appropriate pictures. You seem to be a good candidate for revision of your belly button called umbilicoplasty. It’s about hiding the scars within the belly button which is something that I do is part of the procedure itself. It is best to have a consultation either in person or virtually.

Thank you for your questions regarding scarring and for including photos.

There are multiple ways to help the appearance of scars depending on what the problems is (thick scarring, redness, etc). I would recommend follow up with your surgeon for an in person evaluation so your scars can be thoroughly assessed.

Hope this helps!

Your scars seem to be healing well so far! Scars mature up to 12 months, there are many things to aid in scar healing at this time in your recovery. I would recommend laser treatments if the pigmentation is your main concern. Best of luck!

Dear Terrific22542,
I understand you are concerned with the appearance of your scars. As your scars heal, it should flatten out and lighten. Loss of pigmentation or hyperpigmentation may also be experienced but will resolve over time. Always follow your surgeon's post operative care instructions when it comes to scar management to avoid any complications like infection and for faster healing and recovery.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

The scars are permanent but could be improved with micro-needling. From the color, you are fading, but may need a few more months to achieve your final color.

From the posted photos your scars appear to be healing appropriately at 10 months post op. Scars will continue to mature and fade with time. If they are bothersome to you you can consider scar revision. I have included a video on this that I hope you find helpful.

As seen in the posted photos your scarring is at its maximum healed potential. And the type of scars are acceptable. Maybe decorative color tattoos can camouflage

Each person heals differently and the final appearance of abdominal scars have much more to do with individual genetics then who performed the surgery.
The design of your incision looks above average. getting a natural looking bellybutton is the hardest part of a tummy tuck. I usually tell people to judge surgeons primarily based on who gets the best looking belly buttons when reviewing before and after pictures during the vetting process of choosing the right plastic surgeon.
Once done it’s difficult to improve upon a full tummy tuck.
It’s hard to get a really natural looking belly button and I’ve seen far worse than yours. The scar around the belly button is one of the big drawbacks to this procedure.
Skin incisions continue to mature and change for 12 to 18 months so your scars may continue to fade further with time. I don’t think the overall appearance of your bellybutton is going to change much at this point.
If you feel unhappy about the outcome of your procedure I suggest getting a copy of your before pictures and looking at those for a while to help appreciate the outcome of the procedure.
Your result looks like a typical to slightly above average tummy tuck result.
To get a proper assessment on the outcome of a procedure patients should generally always include proper before and after pictures.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Hello. There are plenty of useful treatments to improve scar appearance. First of all, have you used scar silicon patches? They are one of the most reliable scientific proven treatments to improve scar appearance and advisable to use daily for 12 months after surgery, but they can be used on older scars. You can also use retinols (over the counter or prescription ones) to improve appearance and the hyperpigmentation. Another option is CO2 laser treatments, that helps improve scar appearance and hyperpigmentation.The most important thing with any treatment is patience, consistency and discipline.

Hi and welcome to our forum!
From your photos, I note that the healing scars of the lower abdomen and flanks are maturing satisfactorily with minimal residual redness. The umbilical scar appears to demonstrate evidence of previous delayed healing or infection as there are areas of increased pigmentation. However, it too is not yet totally healed.
Scar healing is a dynamic process, taking up to 2 years to be completed. The fading of the redness (from the hypervascularity of healing) signifies scar maturity.
Continue follow-up care with your plastic surgeon as it is still too early to assess the final result. Use a moisturizer and avoid sun exposure.
Best wishes...