I'm almost 4 weeks post tummy tuck. My stretch marks are worse after the surgery. Will they improve? (Photo)

Thank you for your question and series of photographs.  At a month after surgery your results from your tummy tuck are going to continue to improve as swelling resolves and your incisions mature.  The puckering and gathering of skin around your incision is the result of sutures and will smooth as these begin to dissolve.  As far as your stretch marks, these too should show some improvement in appearance.  The stretch marks worsen initially after the tummy tuck as they are placed under greater tension from the removal of excess skin and fat. As your tissues soften and relax you should see some overall improvement.  Hope this helps.

If you had stretch marks above your belly button before surgery these stretch marks will not be on the lower portion of your abdomen. Only stretch marks below your belly button wold have been removed during your tummy tuck procedure. Address your concerns with your surgeon. Regards, 

Congrats usermadison.Not to worry.  Now the marks look worse, but this is due to swelling that seems magnified in the stretch marks.  Over time they will settle down and should look way better than before surgery.  It will take months, but hopefully look great for summer.All the best.sek

The residual stretch marks that you have, most likely will be back to their preoperative appearance after 2-6 months.Stretch marks are scars, the epidermis (superficial layer of the skin) is thinner, as compared to the adjacent normal skin, so it is normal that after a tummy tuck, the postoperative swelling is more prominent on the stretch marks, so they look more swollen. After 3-6 months, when all the swelling from the surgery goes away,  most likely they will look better.Again, stretch marks are scars, so they are permanent, there are some procedures that can make them better, a well trained plastic surgeon, should be able to give you some advise.