The length and location of the tummy tuck scar is mostly patient dependent but there are a few guiding principles for the plastic surgeon. First, we like to keep the scar hidden, so placing it lower can be desirable. Often women have C-section scars that are quite low, and we do our best to incorporate these scars into the procedure. Second, we need the scar to be long enough to remove the excess skin in the abdomen without leaving behind "dog ears". "Dog ears" are prominent skin folds at the edges of a scar that can occur as the skin edges meet one another during closure after skin removal. Lengthening the incision can help remove potential dog ears, so the principle is to keep the scar as short as possible while doing our best to avoid dog ears. These are the principles but again, every patient is different. See a board certified plastic surgeon to help understand what works best for you. Hope that helps and good luck!
Hi,Thank you for your question. There are 2 ways to answer . The first to say the scar is low and covered by your bikini, which is a true statement, but most photos don't actually show the scar, just the undergarment. The scar length is really a function of how much vertical excess you have. Its a difficult concept but it basically means the more extra skin you have, the longer the scar. The height of the scar is somewhat more consistent. We try to keep it between 2 and 3 inches above the pubic cleft. Hope this helps.Beverly Friedlander, MD
