What is skin redraping? And how long does it take for skin to redrape after a tummy tuck? What does skin redraping do?

Thanks for your question. Skin redrawing applied to the process whereby a plastic surgeon elevates the skin off of the underlying tissue, pulls it down to be tighter, removes the excess skin, and closes the incision.  This is a main component of tummy tuck surgery.  Patients are advised typically to wear compression garments after the procedure to help the skin heal down in its new location.  You are restricted from strenuous activity typically for 6-8 weeks and your final result is not truly assessed until at least 3 months.  Hope this helps!

Thank you for the question. Skin redraping is lifting the skin off the muscle and facia, pulling the skin down, cutting off the extra skin, and closing it back up. This the method by which tummy tuck tightens the skin uniformly. 

Dear foreveryoung908,

Skin redraping is a term generally used when the surgeon is
correcting irregularities or skin adherence abnormalities from previous
surgery. This previous surgery could be
liposuction or a previous tummy tuck or abnormal wound healing has
occurred. Occasionally, there can be
some natural causes for skin redraping like weight loss or infection.

During a skin redraping procedure the skin is elevated for
the underlying tissue freeing it up from any scars. Excess skin is then removed and the skin is
repositioned to form a smoother surface.
The analogy would be taking a messy duvet on top of a bed and spreading
it out.

Given the correct clinical diagnosis, proper patient
expectations, skin redraping can be quite successful.

I would present these questions and concerns with your
operating plastic surgeon in order to decide if it’s right for you.

I hope this information has been of some assistance and best
of luck.

For more information, please review the link below.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto