Drainless tummy tuck in July 2022. Is my tummy tuck scar too high? Is there any way to fix this? (photos)

Question

I had a drainless tummy tuck with muscle repair and a little bit of liposuction on the sides in July 2021. The doctor who performed the procedure has great bead side manner and excellent reviews - I did my research before doing it. However, so am not happy with my results. It seems that there was laxity in the skin of my pubis area, so the end results was an abnormally large pubic area (pulled up and stretched) and a very high jagged scar too close to my belly button. Is this repairable??

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

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 Surgeon6

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Your scar can never be lowered and is way too high. The reason is clear as day: your surgeon, doing what he has dutifully been trained to do, placed your scar that high so that the hole in the abdominal skin where it was attached to your belly button would be excised with skin excess. Given the rule that the hole needs to come out, the alternatives to what you got would have been a mini tuck, a floating belly button tuck, or no surgery, all of which are insufficient or weird looking. Instead, surgeons should not fear leaving the hole behind and closing it vertically leaving an inconspicuous vertical scar in the lower abdomen, and making the long incision very very low, giving you an added benefit of a small pubic triangle. Although your only recourse is careful scar revision using post-operative mechanical tape support, you can provide your surgeon a learning opportunity so that he may break free of this backward thinking and avoid doing this to other people. To be very clear, your surgeon did not do anything considered below the standard of care, in fact, he did what too many other surgeons would have done.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Fierce580021,
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

Shlomo Widder, MD · Answer

Dear New Jerseyan,
   Thanks for posting your pictures. From observing your pictures, I agree with you that the scar is too high. The possibility of lowering the scar depends on the laxity of the skin above the belly button. It seems from the picture that there is some laxity of the skin near the rib cage. This might allow the scar to be lowered one or one and a half  inches. Obviously, you will have to be examined to ascertain it. You have to realize though, that you will have a small vertical scar at the mid lower abdomen from moving the hole of the belly button downward.
   Always, consult with experienced board certified plastic surgeons who operate in accredited surgery center for your safety. Most importantly, check the before and after pictures in the photo gallery, to make sure that they are numerous, consistent and attractive with flat stomach, nice belly button, narrow waists , improved body posture and low scar.
              All the best,
                              Dr Widder,
                      widderplasticsurgery.com

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Tummy tuck scars often tend to tide high and pull the pubic area up while stretching it out. Your scar can probably be lowered about an inch depending on how loose the skin is. You may have to wait about a year to let the skin stretch

Drainless tummy tuck in July 2022. Is my tummy tuck scar too high? Is there any way to fix this? (photos)

Answers (7)

Answer: Tummy tuck revision

Answer: Tummy tuck revision

Answer: Tummy tuck

Answer: Tummy tuck

Recommended reading

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.

Drainless tummy tuck in July 2022. Is my tummy tuck scar too high? Is there any way to fix this? (photos)

Answers (7)

Answer: Tummy tuck revision

Answer: Tummy tuck revision

Answer: Tummy tuck

Answer: Tummy tuck

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

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.