Will This "Rope" Incision Ever Go Flat and Should I Have "Gathering" at the Ends of my Incision? (photo)

Question

Docs, my ps told me that this "rope" style incision was done intentionally. I have never seen anyone on this site with a ROPE stitch incision. So at the ends of my cut on both sides are "gathered" is any of this NORMAL and will it look normal? How is either expectable as to b proud of your work?

Sacha Obaid, MD · Answer

Many plastic surgeons will try to raise the wound edges initially during surgery so that as the wounds heal and scar contraction occurs, the scar tends to flatten.  The gathering at the ends of your incision was designed to limit the length of the scar.  Both should improve with time.  If for any reason they do not, they can easily be touched up in the office.  Good luck.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

This incision looks a bit extreme in my opinion.  Some of the pleating will improve but the everted incision line is over done.  A slight amount of eversion is welcomed because this will flattened but not become depressed. You will probably need some revision of this incision.

	 

	Dr. ES

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

The skin in the picture shows a gathering as part of the suturing process. The appearance is aggravated by stretch marks and the presence of the suture itself. This will improve with time is not predictive of a scar revision in the future.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

If you are early in healing, the gathering and dimpling will likely improve.  Everyone has a different preoperative anatomy, and it is hard for me to evaluate the result with pictures included.  There may have been an attempt on the part of the surgeon to reduce the length of the scar by gathering the skin.

Remus Repta, MD · Answer

Hello,

	Thank you for the question and photos.  The indentations associated with the deeper tissue closure will improve as the dissolvable sutures or internal staples go away.  The "pleats" are a result of advancing your incision to keep the incision shorter but also to prevent large lateral dog ears.  The "pleats" also will improve with time.  At this stage I would take some comfort in that it is early in your recovery period and some of the issues that you are seeing tend to improve if not completely resolve with time.

	All the best,

	Dr Remus Repta

Will This "Rope" Incision Ever Go Flat and Should I Have "Gathering" at the Ends of my Incision? (photo)

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Will This "Rope" Incision Ever Go Flat and Should I Have "Gathering" at the Ends of my Incision? (photo)

Answers (7)

Answer: Rope Incision after Tummy Tuck

Answer: Rope Incision after Tummy Tuck

Answer: Suture indentation and "pleats" will improve with time

Answer: Suture indentation and "pleats" will improve with time

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.