Tummy Tuck Scar is High and Pulls Pubic Line Higher - Why?

This may or may not be a difficult problem to fix, and repair is usually a matter of degree, e.g., the scar may be lowered by a second procedure, but perhaps not as low as you would like.

Your problem illustrates the importance of careful research BEFORE committing to any procedure.  Do not choose based on price or technique, choose based on surgeon and results.

A high pubic cannot always be prevented but it could be due to excessive mobility in the area or lack of fixation to the deep fascia. Your alternatives are to consider a lowering of the scar or possibly laser hair removal

Tummy Tuck Scar is High and Pulls Pubic Line Higher - Why?
I had a tummy tuck 9 months ago.The doctor marked underneath bikini bottoms I had brought with me.I didn't have that much skin to remove, but he said a full tummy tuck was necessary to remove all of the looseness (3 children) My scar however is very high. It ends up showing in any jeans I wear, and you can forget about that bikini as it's at least 2 inches 2 high to wear that.I can deal with the scar but not the fact that it pulled my pubic hair up and the hair is also visible with pants on. WHY

Difficult problem to fix and can be addressed to a point depending how things are.  The abdominal skin can be pulled tight to achieve a very tight flat contour but the pubis would need to be cut low to compensate for the elevation.  Sometime the pubis is a bit droopy and if this is not taken into account then when things heal, the pubis can be pulled up too high.

Hope that helps.

Incision placement should be low and in the bikini line. In my opinion you get some upward movement of the scar as the patient feels more comfortae and walks more upright . Additionally, the closure may have been tight causing high final location and upward movement of the pubis.


Dr. ES

 I am sorry to hear about your concerns after tummy tuck surgery. Unfortunately, only time will tell whether there will be enough tissue laxity above and below the scar line to allow for revisionary surgery to lower the scar significantly. This time frame may be somewhere between 1 to 2 years. 
Sometimes, especially for patients with a relatively short torso and/or minimal redundant abdominal wall skin, a short vertical scar is necessary ( in addition to the usual transverse tummy tuck scar). This vertical scar results from closure of the previous umbilical opening and prevents excessive tension upon closer in the midline of the tummy tuck incision line. If this vertical incision is not used, patients may end up with high scars, wound healing problems and/or wider scars.
Best wishes.

Thank you for your post. It is not common for surgeons to anchor the lower incision to the fascia or covering of the abdominal muscles to keep the scar low, however, I do use this technique and agree with it. All the tension on the incision is from above, not below, and thus the scar tends to move toward the area of maximal tension (towards the ribs/bellybutton). This moves the scar higher than desired. I like to keep my scars very low, and feel that anchoring the scar helps accomplish this. The following photo is an example of this.

Sometimes the incision for a tummy tuck rides up a little bit and that sounds like what is happening to you.  You may need a revision to lower it at some point.

Regarding: "Tummy Tuck Scar is High and Pulls Pubic Line Higher - Why?
I had a tummy tuck 9 months ago.The doctor marked underneath bikini bottoms I had brought with me.I didn't have that much skin to remove, but he said a full tummy tuck was necessary to remove all of the looseness (3 children) My scar however is very high. It ends up showing in any jeans I wear, and you can forget about that bikini as it's at least 2 inches 2 high to wear that.I can deal with the scar but not the fact that it pulled my pubic hair up and the hair is also visible with pants on. WHY"

Truly sorry to hear of your condition.

You are NOT going to like what I am about to tell you. The ideal Tummy Tuck scar should be hidden in the groin crease which is covered by most styles of jeans and panties (except for low riders etc). When there is ample loose skin, the former belly button opening can be removed without a problem. In cases where there is less skin, the surgeon faces 2 choices: 1. leave the former belly button opening on you as a short low-lying vertical scar (which may be visible with certain fashions) OR 2. to pull the Mons pubis up harder and make up the skin shortcomings by recruiting some from the Mons. The latter option is often not a good option.

The vast majority of women with 3 children would benefit from a full Tummy Tuck. In addition, they have some to pronounced sagging of the Mons pubis (with labia and even clitoris facing inferiorly). Most of them benefit greatly from shortening the height of the Mons pubis ( and sometimes defatting it with liposuction) AND elevating it to a more youthful position. However, over-elevation of the Mons, or worse yet, the "Sunrising" of the pubic mound and hair over the border of the underwear in extremely unattractive and are caused by : too much traction and pull from the lower Tummy skin and related to the surgeon not having attached the elevated Mons pubis with stitches to the abdominal wall allowing tension and scarring to continuously lift it.

This MAY get better with time - but will take years. Alternatively, it will need surgical repair.

You may wish to discuss it with your surgeon.

Dr. Peter Aldea

Sounds like he made the incision a little too high and it's pulling up. I've repaired this problem in certain cases, but it depends on how tight you are.

Hi.

This is tough to fix, I am sorry to say.

In women who do not have a lot of loose skin, the best compromise is a very low scar and a short vertical scar in the middle (where your belly button came from). But that doesn't help you. You may just have to live with it.