Did I get botched by my surgeon ? A lot of pictures added. He has 10 years experience. Give it to me straight (Photo)

Hello,Here's the straight: You didn't have to have your scar so high, you needed liposuction, and seromas and the use of drains can be eliminated safely from tummy tucks. There is a slow revolution about prioritizing scar placement over removal of old belly button hole. It's aesthetically more pleasing and less conspicuous to have an appropriately placed low transverse scar and a small vertical scar, then a single transverse scar that cuts across the abdominal 'aesthetic unit'. Unfortunately, a majority of surgeons still prioritize removing the belly button hole over proper placement of the long scar.It is well known now that liposuction can safely be applied to the abdominal area without fear of wound healing issues. In addition, direct excision of a deep layer of fat can also be performed as well, both leading to a much thinner and pliable flap that is actually more robust with circulation.  Additionally, liposuction could have been performed in the love handle area.Finally, a technique known as progressive tension sutures or quilting sutures are used to maximally and uniformly tighten the skin flap and secure it to underlying muscle so that no drains are required, and seromas virtually never form. I think you would benefit from aggressive liposuction around the waist/love handle area, as well as the abdomen. This will serve to not only thin the tissues but also release the tissue for mobilization downward to lower the entire scar; essentially an entire abdominoplasty revision. However, no drains would be used, and your risk of seroma would be virtually zero.Best of luck!

It is easy to bad mouth another doctor's work.  However is not fair to the patient or the other doctor to render an opinion on the standard of care so flippantly.  Nor is it wise or reasonable to make promises about how low the incision will be, especially if those promises are exaggerated.  You should be frank with your surgeon about your dissatisfaction and see what steps can be taken to make you happier.In your case, it appears you had a full abdominoplasty.  In order to make the stomach flatter, you may want to reduce the fat in your abdomen,as well as allow all the swelling from surgery to go away.  You may need additional weight loss or liposuction to get the result you are seeking.  Excessive liposuction at the time of a tummy tuck can cause wound healing problems and increase the complication rate from surgery.  Some patients develop edema above the incision as well.  Time often reduces this swelling.  It is possible that you might benefit from a revision in 6 months to a year after the surgery was performed.  Hopefully you and your surgeon will see eye to eye on what revisions might benefit you further.  Requiring or desiring a revision in itself does not mean the surgery was 'botched'.

Congratulations on having undergone the tummy tuck procedure. What you describe is commonly encountered after this procedure. Patients will like their “flatness” immediately after surgery; then, these same patients are disappointed for a period of time once swelling of the tissues occurs. In the longer term (this may take several months and even up to one year), as the swelling dissipates and the skin of the abdominal wall "redrapes" over the smaller underlying musculoskeletal framework.  Remember that it takes time for the abdominal wall skin veins and lymphatics to function normally again.

Sometimes, fluid accumulations (seroma) may cause the appearance of increased swelling; best to have your plastic surgeon evaluate you if you have noticed significant changes and/or have concerns. Otherwise, ongoing time/patience will be your "best friends". I hope this, and the attached link, helps. Best wishes for an outcome that you will be very pleased with long-term.