Does your tummy tuck cut have to be hip to hip? A previous cut from c-section. Would that cut be widen from hip to hip? (Photo)

Since one of the main objectives of a Tummy Tuck is to remove excess skin, the incision has to go as far as the excess skin goes.  From the photographs it seems as though the skin is loose all the way to the hips.  In fact this is almost always the case. Attempts to shorten the incision will lead to a "dog's ear"(in Britain they call them "standing cones"), which is a bunching up of the extra skin. So the trade-off is the long scar, but if a flat and smooth abdomen is the goal, the scar may be worth it.  Best wishes.

If your C-section scar is located low enough, your tummy tuck incision will go through the existing scar. For a full tummy tuck, it will extend it so it is longer in order to remove enough skin. For a mini, it is about the same length.

Hello and thank you for your
question. Based on your photograph, you are a great candidate for a tummy tuck
with liposuction.  This can be done
through a low and short incision, all completely below the bikini line.  The belly button can be designed to look
natural and have no scars on the exterior.  
Your muscles can also be plicated resulting in a flat abdomen.  Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.  The most important
aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek
consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate
you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Scar length and positioning are determined by what is would take to achieve the best, tightest, flattest abdominal wall. If there is a low transverse or horizontal scar it can be extended to each side- only as far as needed to create the best result. Scars should be only as long as necessary and never longer. Before closure - the vertical inside muscle- can be tightened to assist in the flattening process. Be sure to seek an experienced Board Certified PS for in person exam

Dear destinylove1,No the tummy tuck incision does not have to be hip to hip. In certain patients a mini-tummy tuck is all that is needed which only extends on the lower part of the abdomen. It really depends on your anatomy and how much loose skin you have. Make sure you consult with a qualified surgeon, such as one that is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.Nirmal R. Nathan, M.D.Certified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic Surgeons

The tummy tuck incision does not have to be hip to hip.  The length of the incision depends on the amount of tissue that needs to be removed and the shape that is desired.

Scar length is influenced by the amount of skin that is removed as the surgeon aims to create a smooth contour of the abdomen. From your photos the length of the scar for a standard tummy tuck would be approximately hip to hip. A well designed scar will remove your current c-section scar and create a new one that can be hidden beneath most bikini bottoms. I've included a video I hope you find helpful.

The length of the tummy tuck incision is determined after examining the patient and assessing how far the natural crease below the overhanging skin extends, as well as identifying if liposuction of the love handle area is indicated. This might require slightly lengthening the incision to remove skin that might loosen with lipo fat removal. Trying to arbitrarily keep the scar short is often a bad idea, as it can result in a more wavy, pleated, irregular scar. The surgeon can mark for you the approximate expected length of the scar after examining you thoroughly.

Thank you for your question as well as providing photos. There are different approaches to tummy tucks and they are all dependent on the needs of the patient. In your situation it is important to remember that the incision will extend as far out as the redundancy does, in fact it will extend a little past in order to reduce the risk of whats known as a "dog ear" at the end of the incision. With that being said, your incision will extend from hip to hip. The c-section scar will be removed as part of the skin resection. I would recommend visiting a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your surgical plan in detail, and ask him/her to draw where they would expect the incision to be. Good luck and best wishes!

There are multiple types of tummy tucks. One needs to evaluate the quality of the tummy skin, weakness of the tummy muscles and excess tummy fat. If one has good quality skin, excess fat and weak tummy muscles, they may be a candidate for a mini scar tummy tuck (which I helped to pioneer). If one has slightly loose abdominal skin with the above, the patient may be a candidate for a moderate scar tummy tuck. If the patient has a lot of loose skin (which you appear to have from your pictures) you may be a candidate for a full tummy tuck. I invented a full length tummy tuck where patients typically wake up in no pain, recovery is quicker than liposuction alone and the patients have natural looking belly button where many of them, even into their late seventies enjoy showing them off in a bikini. As one progresses from a mini scar to a full tummy tuck the scars get longer. I hope you find this information useful. Please watch the enclosed video.