Tummy tuck puckering - what is the best way to fix this?

Abdominoplasty scars can be quite complex, ranging from the simple hypertrophic scar to a multiplane inflamed keloid. Pigmentation, discoloration, chronic inflammation, scar visibility can all occur in the short term. We begin each treatment with combination therapy using Yellow broadband BBL, Vbeam, fractional erbium, intralesional IIT, and scar modulation. Start with a combination of Plato's Scar Serum massaged twice daily after one week of epithelialization followed by Luminase/Exfolase. Scar consultation and revision may be recommended.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Dear Mariemaria1985,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello @Mariemaria1985, thank you for your question. To make an informed recommendation, we need more information. A consultation is vital to establishing a surgical or non-surgical protocol plan that meets your needs, meets your expectations, and takes into account what is realistically possible. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS),International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS), American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP)

Yes it is normal to fix the scar under local anesthesia. I have done scar revisions under local anesthesia without having to put a patient under general anesthesia. This saves on operating room and anesthesia costs and is generally preferred by patients. Good luck.

You did not post photos, but many revisions can be done in the office under local anesthesia, especially puckers.

The severity of the puckering would determine if local or general anesthesia would be recommended. Typically small areas of correction can be safely and adequately done under local. More extensive revisions are best performed under general.

Dear Marie,
It would help immensely if you added photos of your belly so we could assess what is going on. It is not uncommon to fix small issues under local anesthesia (lidocaine/Novocain alone).
Best wishes.
Dr. Taranow

To make an assessment on the outcome of a procedure we need to see proper before and after pictures. If you don’t have before and after pictures and ask your surgeon to forward the ones they took.
There can sometimes be a mismatch between the incision length on the upper and lower incision lines when doing a tummy tuck. This is especially true for individuals who had a lot of skin laxity. puckering can happen when approximating skin edges trying to incorporate extra skin on one side.
This can happen towards the ends of the incisions especially in individuals who may have needed an extended tummy tuck rather than a traditional tummy tuck.
Without pictures we can’t make an assessment or give you any type of quality answer.
You can ask your surgeon if he’s willing to take you to the operating room but you’ll probably be responsible for paying for the facility and anesthesiologist.
It is common to do revision work in the office under local anesthesia to help patients save costs of using the operating room.
The extent to doing procedures using local anesthesia varies from surgeon to surgeon and to some degree from patient to patient.
If you have concerns about this then I suggest you schedule an appointment and talk about it with your surgeon.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD