Am I a suitable candidate for a tummy tuck/Possibly scar removal?

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. The upper abdominal scar may pose a small risk to the circulation of your abdominal skin, but give that surgery was so many years ago, I would like to say that a tummy tuck would be safe. I would confer with your board certified plastic surgeon and perhaps he/she may want to obtain imaging to confirm. Aside from this issue, you are a great candidate for this surgery. I hope this helps.

You appear to be a great abdominoplasty candidate. Although you do have an old large scar on your abdomen, it does not rule out abdominoplasty as a surgical option. It may increase your healing risks slightly. Good luck on your abdominoplasty journey.

Dear Thrifty443696,
based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. Flanks liposuction would give you a better shape. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

The abdominal scar you have from your childhood surgery carries a possibility of interfering with proper healing from a tummy tuck but an assessment of the area would provide better information. It is a benefit to you that the surgery was so long ago. I encourage you to meet with a board certified plastic surgeon near you for a consultation.

Plastic surgeons do not like parallel scars. It creates a watershed zone that puts patients at risk for skin necrosis.

Your previous scar it’s not only in the wrong position but the length of it makes having a full tummy tuck a high risk procedure.

Some surgeons may consider doing the procedure and some may not. some plastic surgeons may do the procedure but be much less aggressive in order to maintain safety. it’s also possible that this could be done as a staged procedure creating some thing called a delay affect. this basically means creating partial parallel scars allowing blood vessels to grow and make up for the lack of an immediate blood supply followed by the definitive procedure at a later date.

The last option is something called the reverse tummy tuck.

I’m not a big fan of that procedure but in your case it may be a better option.

Expect different plastic surgeons to have different opinions and recommendations for this one. i’m looking forward to hearing what others have to say.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD