Should I be concerned about the pleats and thickness? (Photo)

Question

I am six weeks postop and the pleats are still bad. I'm very unhappy with my results. My scar has now started to pucker outwards and he told me to massage it. When I do I can feel the stitches just below my skin poking almost through and it irritates me. What else can I try?Should I give it more time for the puckering to go down?is there still a possibility that they may go away completely?my Sideview pictures do not seem flat at all and I can still grab a nice they're fat while standing up.

John J. O'Brien, MD · Answer

Hello, and thank you for this questions. Although it does appear that you still have some excess skin and bleeding many of these issues will improve in the first 3-6 months. Your now only 6 weeks following your procedure. Even if you need an additional procedure it is much too soon to consider that. you may need to have some additional skin removed but I certainly would allow everything to mature for at least 6 months. Discussed all of this with your treating surgeon.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Thank you for your pictures.  It seems to me you still have excess skin .  You will most likely need a revision.  I would wait at least 3 months before getting opinions on your revision.

William Andrade, MD · Answer

Pleats, puckering and swelling are common after a tummy tuck.  They will generally start to improve after several months.  If they do not resolve, often the touchup can be done under local anesthetic.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

After the excess skin has been trimmed during a TT, the lower incision line is almost straight (gently curved) but the upper line is close to a semi-circle, and is quite a bit longer than the lower line, so when closed, there are pleats.  Were you made of cloth, these would be permanent.  But skin remodels, and over the course of six months or so the pleats usually resolve without treatment. you can also expect a more even contour as the swelling above the incision settles.Follow with your surgeon. All the best.

John A. Millard, MD, FACS · Answer

Both the thickness and pleating are very normal after tummy tuck.  The reason for the pleating is that when your surgeon (or any surgeon) removes the skin, the length of the upper skin cut line is longer than the lower skin cut line.  When your surgeon brings these two edges together he or she needs to make up for this difference and that is what the pleating is.  Your body will naturally absorb this extra skin over time and your pleasing will in almost all cases completely go away.  Occasionally there is a little "dog ear" of skin after this that can be removed easily in the office setting.  The thickness is also very normal and represents an abundance of healthy collagen (healing tissue).  As your scar matures, a lot of this extra collagen will disappear.

Should I be concerned about the pleats and thickness? (Photo)

Answers (5)