Does height play a role in Tummy tuck scar height? (photos)

Hello,There is no reason in the world to place your scar so high.  Actually, the optimal location of a tummy tuck scar, regardless of the patients anatomy, is very low, between the thigh/abdomen border and low across the pubis, about 2 inches from the labia. Unfortunately the majority of surgeons prioritize 'getting the hole out' of the skin flap that is to be removed.  Your scar is unusually high. I would focus on optimizing scar appearance, as no revision surgery will be able to displace your scar into a better location. I am really sorry.

It is very difficult to comment on the location of the scar without a preoperative photograph and physical examination.  Height doesn't come into play too much, it's more about skin laxity.  I usually make my incision for a tummy tuck about 5-6 cm above the cleft of the labia majora, however, sometimes I may move it up a tiny bit or make a vertical scar (like a T) at the top of the incision in patients that do not have a lot of laxity. This is why preoperative discussion as to where the scar may lie in the end is of utmost importance. I hope this helps and best wishes. 

Thank you for your question about the height of the tummy tuck scar.   Patients often ask where their scar will be with a tummy tuck and what their options are.   This is an interesting topic, and I will share my thoughts and experience with over 1000 tummy tuck procedures.A full tummy tuck usually requires an incision extending from hip to hip.  However, it can be placed low almost all the time if patients are counseled on the options and help make the decision of what will work for them aesthetically.There are three types of tummy tuck techniques which I utilize:1.  Traditional Tummy Tuck Incision:   This incision location will be based on how much excess skin above the belly button is present.  A plastic surgeon can estimate this skin amount by pinching the skin above the belly button and estimating how low the tummy tuck scar can be.  If the scar is predicted to be too high, a different approach can be done.2.  Low Tummy Tuck Incision with Vertical Closure of Belly Button Opening:    I use this for patients who want a low scar, but do not have the skin necessary to move out the belly button opening.  The procedure allows for a low scar on almost any patient with tighter skin, with a small, fine, one inch vertical closure incision between the belly button and pubic hair area.  Often, this scar is fairly low anyway.  This works great.3.  Floating Belly Button Technique:  This procedure works very well for patients who have very little excess skin and a higher belly button.  No incision is required on the belly button.  The surgery moves the belly button postion down without a belly button scar and allows repair of umbilical hernias if present.  The tummy tuck incision can also be low. 

Thank you for your question. The amount of abdominal skin excess and laxity you have pre-operatively are the most important determinants of your post-op scar location, NOT your height. This question highlights the importance of a well informed pre-operative discussion with patients to establish realistic expectations. I am sorry to hear you are unhappy with the location of your scar. It is impossible to make any judgements regarding the final scar location without seeing your pre-op photos. Also, it sounds like your surgeon was cautious not to put excessive tension on the wound closure. You are very early in the recovery period and the scar will fade over the next 6 months. I hope this helps.

Although the exact placement of your tummy tuck
scar depends on your anatomy and how much excess abdominal skin you have, the
ideal location for the scar is quite low on the abdomen, just above the pubic
area. Without seeing your pre-surgery photos or understanding what your
surgeon’s plan was, it’s difficult to know how your scar ended up as high as it
did, but it should have nothing to do with your height. The good news is that
you’re in the early stages of recovery, and your incision should fade
significantly. Proper scar management can make a huge difference in your final
results.

Thank you for the question.  Your height has less to do with the location of the scar than how loose your skin is and how much will need to be removed.  There are different techniques and incisions to help camouflage the scar under your underwear or bathing suit.  Most surgeons will try to have the scar as low as possible.  You should bring in garments that will help the discussion of scar placement. Hope this helps.

When patients have an existing c-section scar, my patients can plan on that scar being removed and they must accept vertical scars above this to close the original site of her belly button.  When belly buttons are not aesthetic or if a plication is going to make the depths extremely deep, my patients are told to consider giving up their belly button and having a reconstruction later.  Besides being safer, it allows mini-tuck patients to have a plication of their muscles above their belly button as well.  I'm sorry you have both your old c-section scar and a new high transverse scar from your procedure.  This should have been clearly discussed at the time of your consultation and follow-up visits, if any.

You incision line is way too high on your abdomen and usually due to poor operative design; in a rare case, if you belly button is too high, you may have a higher incision, but this incision is definitely too high. Please see link below to get cheat sheet on getting great tummy tuck results which discusses your concern in detail.

Thank you for the question and the scar for an abdominoplasty is usually placed 7cm above your vaginal opening with the skin on stretch (below the C-section scar).  If you did not have enough laxity for a full Tummy Tuck, your surgeon could have alerted you to that fact prior to surgery and discussed other options.Dr. Corbin