Just Had a Tummy Tuck and Hate My Scar. What Are My Options? (photo)

Hi, from the pics it looks like the surgery wasnt that long ago, so any opinion on the scar quality at this point is baseless, but if later the scar was found to be too high, it could be lowered if needed. please keep your follow ups with your surgeon and do not consider any revisions before several months to a year go by.

Hello! Thank you for the question! It is common for scars to fully mature for up to a year. In the meantime, there are a few things that may help to ameliorate your incision/scar. The most proven (as well as cheapest) modality is simple scar massage. Applying pressure and massaging the well-healed scar has been shown to improve the appearance as it breaks up the scar tissue, hopefully producing the finest scar as possible. Other things that have been shown to add some benefit, albeit controversial, are silicone sheets, hydration, and topical steroids. These can usually be started at approximately 3-4 weeks postop and when incisions healed. In addition, avoidance of direct sunlight to the incision will significantly help the appearance as they tend to discolor with UV light during the healing process. Scars will never disappear, but attempt is made to make the finest scar in a concealed location. If unsightly scars are still present after approximately a year's time, other things that your surgeon may consider are intralesional steroid injections, laser, or just surgical revision of the scar itself. Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

Looks like it is less than a month since you had your surgery. The scar will heal and eventually will look like a stretch mark. You have to be patient. You also need to look at the benefits of the operation and see the improvements. I usually give the patients a set of preoperative pictures so that while they are going through the healing period they can see the difference and get continuous encouragement.

Thank you for your post. In tummy tuck and other lift/tightening surgeries, tension is the enemy. The scar is healing gradually over 12 weeks or so, and until it is strong, it is the weakest link. As there is a great deal of tension in tummy tucks, body lifts, breast lifts, etc., the scar is at high risk of 'stretching' or widening. Silicone sheeting, although having the ability to make a scar flat, does nothing to prevent stretching of the scar. Creams or steroids or lasers also do not have the ability to prevent stretching of the scar. Those are used if scar is thick or dark, but not to reduce the wideness of the scar, which is the main problem. Massage also does not help keep the scar thin, and can actually worsen the scar in the first 12 weeks because you are actually adding tension to the scar. Massage is for softening a hard or thick scar, but if used early, will hasten the scar widening. Only tension reduction has the ability to keep the scar as thin as possible. You may notice in a lot of tummy tuck scars that the center portion of the scar is the widest with the sides toward the hips being the thinnest. This is because the maximum tension is at the center, and least amount on the sides. Embrace removes a lot of the tension by putting more tension on the skin on either side of the incision and drawing the incision together. It is expensive though at about $100 per week for 12 weeks. When patients do not want to spend the money for embrace, I tape the incision trying to remove as much tension as possible for 12 weeks and recommend no stretching back and to sit most of the time, keeping tension off the scar.Best wishes,Pablo Prichard, MD

Based on the photos presented, you are in the very early phases of healing. You will need to allow for at least 6 months prior to judging the final outcome. Patience is required at this stage of the process.

Based upon the posted photos you are very early in the healing phase. Allow at least 6 months of healing. In the time of healing try massages, external ultrasound therapy. 

Dear juana1979,

 

A tummy tuck is a wonderful way to flatten and tighten your tummy. One of the main tradeoffs for having a flat tummy is the bikini line scar. The scars after a tummy tuck can be reduced using meticulous surgical technique and careful postoperative care including the use of tapes, dressings, and other anti-scar treatments.

 

It appears from your photos that your tummy tuck was fairly recent. Scars typically fade and flatten over the first several months to year after surgery, so patience is key.

 

If you are not satisfied with the appearance of your scar after a year or more has passed since the time of your tummy tuck, you may be a candidate for scar treatments. Please visit a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your options.

 

Warmest wishes,

Larry Fan, MD 

The operative word here is "just". Scarring takes a full year to settle down and it is completely premature to rush to conclusions as to the ultimate appearance of the scar. I would hope that your plastic surgeon discussed scar healing with you---and that you remember this part of the preop consultation. Be patient, continue to followup with your plastic surgeon and remember that time is a great healer.

I agree with my colleagues answers. It is much too soon to tell the final result. Scars take awhile to fade. I always set expectations with my patients and explain that scars take time to heal. Furthermore, everyone heals differently, some slower than others. There is a wonderful product called "BioCorneum" that my patients love. It helps speed up the process. We have a hard time keeping it in stock. However, you can do nothing, be patient and give it some time.

Thank you for the question and pictures. Although you do not mention specifically, based on the pictures,  you are probably only a few months out of your tummy tuck surgery. At this point, I would not suggest any surgical intervention. However, down the line ( close to one year after your tummy tuck operation) you may be a candidate for revisionary surgery. For example, if the positioning of the scar at the waistline is of concern at that point, the scar can potentially be lowered.

I would suggest continue to follow-up with your plastic surgeon. Communicate your concerns in a calm/nonaccusatory fashion.

Best wishes.