What Causes Pointed Protrusions on Either End of Abdominoplasty Scar?

These abdominoplasty dog ears are a direct result of the operating surgeon's technique, and proper initial incision design can MINIMIZE (but not completely eliminate) how often this occurs in tummy tuck patients. Extending the incisions laterally (more to the side) can also eliminate them, but the scar length is increased.

Hence, the trade-off every surgeon and patient has to be aware of!

Either the surgeon tries to keep the scar as short as possible and sometimes gets a pair of dog ears (which do diminish over time, but may require an additional small, local anesthesia operation to remove), or a long(er) incision is chosen to reduce the likelihood of getting dog ears in the first place.

Proper design and skillful execution can minimize the tendency for dog ears, but scar length is an issue for many patients, so when any plastic surgeon tries to keep the scars short, sometimes dog ears result. Big ones should be fixed at the time of the initial surgery, for they will NEVER soften and settle to a completely flat and normal contour. But small ones do indeed get better, and just as your friends seem to be OK with their "squishy-squishy" dog ears, if small dog ears are all they have, no further surgical revision is needed.

You, on the other hand, are honest enough to explain that you would not like these, and should share this with your surgeon, who can take your request to heart and extend the incisions slightly, diminishing the likelihood for dog ears. The mathematical analysis of dog ear prevention, formation, and correction is beyond the scope of this forum, but understand that individual patient anatomy has a factor in this whole "dog-ear" equation, not just a surgeon's measurements, marking, incisions, and surgical technique.

But, the more skilled and experienced the surgeon, the less the likelihood for dog ears, or if they do occur, the lower the likelihood they will be large and require a larger touch-up procedure. Discuss with your surgeon the cost policy for revisional or touch-up surgery, where it is done, and if there are charges for the OR and anesthesia  at the hospital or surgical center. Best wishes!

This happens on occasion with abdominoplasty. There are options. A completely non invasive option would be CoolSculpting. This can freeze the fat and deliver an improved contour. More traditional options are some liposuction, or resection of skin/soft tissue. This is a much smaller procedure than the original surgery and is usually well tolerated. The cost will depend on the extent of the surgery, the method used, the cost of the surgery center, and if the original surgeon is doing it. Please speak with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Together, you will figure out a plan.

Thank you for the question.

The areas you are referring to (dog ears)  amount to " excess" skin and/or adipose tissue at the end of the tummy tuck incision lines. These can be avoided by making sure the incision is long enough to remove the redundant skin and adipose tissue. Otherwise, patients may be displeased with the appearance of these  areas  and revisionary surgery may become necessary.

Address your concerns with your surgeon prior to surgery.

Best wishes.