Can I get a tummy tuck with a large gallbladder scar?

You can get a tummy tuck with a large gall bladder scar but the surgeon will have to make some modifications to help you heal well. The presence of that scar adversely affects the blood flow in the skin below the scar. This limits the amount of undermining the plastic surgeon can do in the area. Sometimes a reverse tummy tuck can be considered. My best advice is to obtain a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon near you that performs a lot of tummy tucks. They can examine you and discuss tummy tuck options with you. Good luck!

While it can make a tummy tuck more difficult to perform, it is not impossible. However, it would be best to see a board certified plastic surgeon for an in-person assessment to determine whether your aesthetic goals can be achieved.

It sounds like you are talking about a long subcostal gallbladder scar. A midline scar would not be too much of a problem. But the short answer to your question is maybe. Maintaining good blood flow is always one the biggest concerns with a tummy tuck, and any long scar below the ribs will affect blood flow. Sometimes the surgery scars can be thoughtfully designed to allow for a tummy tuck. This is a very tricky subject and a plastic surgeon would have to study the exact placement of the scar and any other factors that would or would not allow for surgery.

It is possible that your gallbladder surgery could increase the complication rate for a tummy tuck. It would depend on the length and location of the scar as well as how long ago you had your gallbladder surgery. The concern is the incision for your gallbladder surgery transected blood vessels going to your lower abdominal skin. You need those blood vessels to supply blood to the lower abdomen after a tummy tuck. You do have vessels on the other side to compensate, but it is possible that they won't be enough. Your plastic surgeon should be able to make that determination.

Hi there,,
Short answer is yes, but depends on how long the scar is however most the time and open chole scar isn’t an issues
All the best

Dear mdelgado,

it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. 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

Yes, it’s often possible to have a tummy tuck even if you’ve had an open gallbladder incision, but it depends on a few important factors.The main things we think about are blood supply to the skin and how flexible the skin is after healing.During a tummy tuck, the lower blood supply to the abdominal skin is interrupted, so the skin relies more on the blood supply coming from above. If a prior gallbladder incision healed well and didn’t significantly affect that blood flow, surgery can usually be done safely.Scar tissue can also make it a little harder for the skin to stretch evenly, which may affect symmetry or how much tightening we can safely achieve. This doesn’t mean you can’t have surgery - it just means the procedure may need to be tailored to your anatomy.In many cases, waiting about a year after gallbladder surgery allows the blood supply and skin flexibility to recover as much as possible, which improves both safety and results.That’s why it’s important to be evaluated in person by a board-certified plastic surgeon, who can examine your scar, assess blood supply, and recommend the safest approach for you.

Hello, this is Dr. Mehmet. Yes, in many cases a tummy tuck can be performed even if you have a large gallbladder scar. However, the final decision depends on factors such as the location, size, and quality of the scar, as well as your overall abdominal anatomy and skin condition.