Can having a previous abdominal surgery prevent you from having a tummy tuck or lipo?

This incision and subsequent surgery let you interfere with you having tummy tuck and liposuction . It really depends on examination of your abdomen. Also may depend on in the radiology findings about how your abdominal wall was closed.

Many of my patients have incisions and scars from previous abdominal surgeries and do very well after their tummy tucks and liposuction.  However, a history of smoking, other medical problems, and the exact location of the scars may affect the approach to the surgery.  During a consultation, I could give you the best advice regarding your aesthetic goals and abdominal surgery.  Thanks for your question!Dr. SchreiberBaltimore plastic surgeon

Thanks for this great question.With respect to liposuction a surgeon must always be careful when suctioning near a scar. There can be a higher risk of winding up inside the abdomen because the normal tissue anatomy is altered. Your surgeon should also check to make sure there are no hernias in the scar.With respect to Tummy tuck horizontal or oblique scars particularly in the upper abdomen can inhibit the normal blood supply to the skin making tissue loss more likely. Scars in the lower abdomen may not be a great concern because the tissue can be thrown out with the tummy tuck skin.The scar you are describing in the upper midline is likely ok for tummy tuck. The blood supply for the skin comes in from the sides of the abdomen and the scar in the middle should not diminish it. However, it may be of benefit to cut out and revise your upper midline scar because it will hinder pulling down and out the extra skin.When my own patients have this kind of scar  we often use it as an opportunity to pull skin not only down, but in from the sides as well. This is called a fleur de lis tummy tuck.Your plastic surgeon will be able to evaluate you and assess the impact of the scar for either liposuction or tummy tuck.I hope this has helped.

This may limit the amount of removal, but this does not usually prevent you from having the surgery.  Find
a tummy tuck and liposuction expert who
performs hundreds each year and has great reviews and great
before and after pictures.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Dear madam,    From your description of you upper abdomen scar, you should not have a problem having tummy tuck or liposuction. For the tummy tuck surgery, though, you will have to have scar revision, in order to be able to give you maximal skin tighteng. The old scar is rigid and will not allow for the upper abdomen skin to strech downward, which is the reason for the need to excise it and repair the wound newly. Scar on the upper abdomen from surgery due to trauma , gastric bypass, gallblader removal, gastric tumors etc., are not rare and in my practice I did lots of them. Consult with experienced board certified plastic surgeons who operate in accredited surgery center for your safety. Most importantly, check the before and after pictures to make sure that they are numerous, consistent and attractive. Check also the 'realself' reviews for positive patients experience which provides important information on the surgeons.                    Best of luck,                                     Dr Widder

The options and techniques can be more limited in patients who have had previous abdominal surgery. This is because saftey issue and blood flow to the skin. Make sure you use a surgeon who is used to this type of problem. Good luck.

You can certainly undergo an abdominoplasty operation or liposuction.  Previous incisions can have an affect on the blood flow to the abdominal wall.  I have safely  performed many abdominoplasties on patients with incisions such as the one you have described.  I would recommend you consult a board certified plastic surgeon in regards to the procedure.Best of luck,

You could likely be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. A plastic surgeon would likely want a medical clearance from your previous surgeon and possibly an operative report

You can always have contouring procedure but it will be adjusted accordingly to what scars you have.  With what you describe, you are looking at either a mini-tuck and lipoabdominoplasty using a vertical 'anchor' scar, depending on how lax your tummy is and what your goals are.  Find a reputable local plastic surgeon to help guide you through this journey.

The presence of Abdominal Surgery Scars can make an Abdominoplasty or "Tummy Tuck" a more risky procedure due to changes in blood supply to the abdominal skin that can occur. That being said, the great majority of patients with Abdominal Scars can have a successful Tummy Tuck performed using some simple modifications of the standard procedure and limiting the extent of the surgery. In your case the midline scar and C-Section scars you describe can be incorporated easily into a "Fleur-de-lis" Abdominoplasty technique, which is often used in post-Bariatric Surgery patients. A Board-certified Plastic Surgeon can confirm the safety of that technique in your case during your consultation.