After undergoing a tummy tuck surgery, patients will inevitably be left with scars from the incision and stitches used during the procedure. These scars can be a source of concern for many individuals, but with proper care and attention, they can fade over time. It’s important to understand the different types of scars that can result from a tummy tuck and how to address them.
The scar from the incision made during a tummy tuck is known as an anchor scar. This type of scar gets its name because it typically resembles an anchor or hourglass shape, with a wider section in the middle and narrower ends. The anchor scar is a common result of abdominoplasty procedures, as it allows surgeons to remove excess skin effectively and reshape the abdomen. While this scar may be more noticeable initially, it will fade over time with proper care.
The scar from the stitches used to close the incision is called a linear scar. This type of scar is typically straight with no bends or curves, following the path of the incision. Linear scars are common in many types of surgeries, including tummy tucks, and they can also fade with time. Proper wound care and scar management techniques can help speed up the healing process and minimize the appearance of these scars.
Where are tummy tuck scars located?
In some cases, tummy tuck scars may not heal as expected and could indicate a problem with the surgical procedure. Signs of a bad tummy tuck can include:
– Excessive scarring or keloid formation, where the scar tissue grows beyond the boundaries of the original incision.
– Uneven or jagged incision lines, which may indicate poor surgical technique or inadequate wound closure.
– Persistent redness, swelling, or pain around the scar, which could be a sign of infection or other complications.
If you experience any of these signs, it’s important to consult with your surgeon immediately to address the issue and prevent further complications. With proper care and attention, tummy tuck scars can fade and become less visible over time, allowing patients to enjoy the results of their surgery with confidence.
Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is a procedure that removes excess fat and skin from the abdomen. Often combined with liposuction and “muscle tightening”, tummy tucks can result in a leaner, smoother, and slimmer belly!
And this is why it is one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures in the US. There were 140,711 tummy tucks performed in 2019 and has been increasing over the years.
Probably one of the most common questions about abdominoplasty is how the scars will look? In this post, we’re going to discuss tummy tuck scars and what to expect after this procedure.
DISCLAIMER: This information is meant as general health information and is not meant as specific medical advice or as a replacement for direct communication with your plastic surgeon.
Regardless of the type of abdominoplasty (mini vs full tummy tuck), scars will need to be created. When skin is cut away, an incision is made, and a scar will result. The final length, position and quality of these scars will depend on several factors. We will discuss a few here.
Scar Locations
Lower Abdomen:
Most abdominoplasty procedures leave a scar running horizontally across the lower abdomen, usually lower than “normal” modern waistbands. The goal is for the scar to be at the junction of the abdomen and the lower hair-bearing pubic area (mons pubis). The shape of the scar depends on the type of tummy tuck surgery (straight line, bicycle handle or French bikini).
Around the Belly Button:
Most full abdominoplasty procedures will place a scar around the bellybutton. Your native belly button stays in place, and the skin of the abdomen ‘moves around it’. Although the scar maybe visible at first, for most patients it will blend into the abdomen and becomes less noticeable over time.
Vertical Scars:
Even though most tummy tuck scars are only horizontal, a vertical scar may also be needed.
- Short vertical scar: Located between the belly button and the lower side to side scar. These occur when patients do not have a lot of excess skin, but more loose skin than liposuction alone can handle.
- Long vertical scar: Located between the lower incision and up to the level of the breasts. This long vertical scar with long lower side to side scar is known as a Fleur de Lis tummy tuck or FDL. These occur inpatients who have had massive weight loss or bariatric surgery and have extra skin both ‘top down’ and ‘side to side’.
Abnormal or Pathologic scars
Some patients may heal with abnormal scars, but this is uncommon. These scars form due to excess of collagen, and include:
- Hypertrophic scars – More Common. Hypertrophic scars are raised, red scars that respect the borders of the incision, and don’t continue to grow over time.However, they may increase in size and projection in the first few months after surgery and can be confused with keloids scars.
- Keloid scars – form beyond the original wound site (typically genetic patients will know if they are likely to develop this based on previous scar history)
Wide Scars
Some patients may heal with wide scars that are not “abnormal”. Although this can occur in ANY patient, there are certain risk factors for wide scar. The most common contributor is Excess Tension at closure, and is due to trying to remove too much skin during the tummy tuck (sitting the patient up too much during skin removal). As an aside, this is also one of the reasons the scar may rise upward more than it should. Postoperative recovery also affects scar width. We recommend scar tape to reinforce and support the healing scar when it is still weak and prone to widening.
Healing Process
Many factors that influence scar healing are specific to each patient. These include age, nutrition, genetics, compliance(or noncompliance) with postoperative care instructions, smoking, infection, tension, size, activities, and overall body composition. Your general health and wellbeing clearly play a role in how fast and how well your scars heal and fade. Below you can see the general description of the healing process of tummy tuck scars indifferent stages.
Right after surgery
The incision usually looks red and thin. There may be ridges or pleats in the skin. Swelling, inflammation, and a bit of oozing are the norm at this stage. Nowadays, most incisions will be reinforced with either tape or glue, and you may not be able to see your incision.
On a microscopic level, your cells are trying to hold the wound together, and will produce a more disorganized collagen network to help bridge the wound. Although quick to produce, this collagen is not as strong as final mature scar.
First few Weeks to Months
Wound healing is dynamic and actively changes over time. The initial disorganized collagen (think about it as the old pick-up sticks game) will be broken down and replaced with more organized ‘braids’ of collagen. This collagen is stronger but takes time to produce. Concurrently, during this period of turnover your internal stitches will be weakening and unable to provide as much support to the incision. This is where external support like tape can be helpful and why we recommend patients use it AT LEAST until 2 months after surgery. Longer is better.
Visually the scar will still be fairly dark and may be reddish in color (due to blood supply in the wound). Usually, the incision will flatten and small pleats may go away. You may still have a slight prominence (or a large dog ear), at the end of the incision during this time. If it is small, it will usually contract and soften becoming less noticeable by the time the scar is “mature”around 8-12 months after surgery.
Six months later
It’s perfectly natural to notice scars are still visible even six months of the postoperative period. At this point, the scars gradually lose their pigmentation. This means there won’t be prominent red color, and you can see the scar fade. Instead, your scar may appear rosy pink or soft brown.
One year later
Scars take 8-12 months to mature. The scar is breaking down blood vessels it needed to help heal the wound, and this is when scars tend to fade. The swelling is completely gone, and scars have faded considerably.
How to make scars less visible
A tummy tuck scar is a normal side effect of abdominoplasty. However, you may want to diminish the appearance of a noticeable tummy tuck scar. Taking care of your overall health and skin before surgery can help prevent severe scarring. Postoperative wound care, skin ointments, steroid injections, laser resurfacing and surgery may help improve the look of a scar after a tummy tuck.
Scars after a tummy tuck are inevitable. Although the scars don’t go away entirely, they typically fade overtime. However, there are some useful things you can do to make scars less visible. These include:
· Adhere to your plastic surgeon’s postoperative instructions – Your plastic surgeon should have a protocol for wound and scar care. Adhere to these recommendations is one of your best bets for getting the best scar possible.
· External scar support – help your scar while it is maturing by providing additional support.
· Well balanced diet with protein supplementation.
· Tattoo –probably the easiest way to make scars less visible is to get a tattoo, but you will be able to do this once your skin has fully healed (after 12 months).
· No tanning –UV exposure may cause your scars to maintain more pigment and therefore be darker in color. Avoid tanning your scars (i.e. make sure they are covered by bikini bottom, and sun screen around the belly button).
· Avoid irritating tape, clothes and products – products with harsh formulas and clothes made of uncomfortable and irritating fabrics can cause redness and make the scars appear prominent.
· A healthy lifestyle – the best thing to do in the long-run is to make lifestyle changes. For example, you can quit smoking and try to keep weight in a healthy range.
The following are some of the most common signs of a bad tummy tuck:
A great tummy tuck should leave you with smoother, slimmer abdominal contours. However, in a bad tummy tuck, patients may find that their post-surgical silhouette is not what they desired. Uneven shapes and lopsided contours are common complaints. Some patients experience unnatural fullness in the upper abdomen, which typically occurs as the result of an imbalance in skin tension following surgery. In such cases, you may need revision surgery to correct the issues and help you to achieve the smooth, tight contours that you hoped for.
In most instances, a surgeon will need to reposition your navel following your tummy tuck procedure. If this is done poorly, it can have an impact on the overall appearance of your new abdomen. Some of the issues that a patient may experience with their navel include:
– It being positioned too high
– It is positioned too low
– It is lopsided
– The navel is too shallow or misshapen
Fortunately, navel revision can usually be carried out without the need for a secondary abdominoplasty.
The scar is too high
Discretion is everything when it comes to cosmetic surgery. Ideally, tummy tuck incisions should be low enough to be able to be hidden by underwear. Whilst most surgeons will do everything that they can to minimize scarring, a less skilled one may leave you with an incision that is too high and therefore very obvious. If you are unhappy with the placement or appearance of your scar, a tummy tuck revision may be able to address this issue.
There are MANY reasons why this may be happening, only a few of which you will be able to influence directly. The most important advice is to COMMUNICATE with YOUR SURGEON! You both will need to work together to trouble-shoot the problem and identify and implement the changes that may help you heal faster and better.
THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE A SURGEON WITH WHOM YOU CAN EASILY COMMUNICATE!!!! If you never meet your surgeon before surgery, or only see them for 5 minutes during a rushed consultation, then you can bet that getting face time with him/her. AFTER surgery may be impossible. Choose your board-certified plastic surgeon wisely and avoid cosmetic tourism!
The tummy tuck is a popular plastic surgery procedure for a REASON! People choose to get a slimmer profile, look better in and out of a bathing suit, and feel more confident. Scars are NORMAL after this procedure, and most patients who undergo a tummy tuck are very happy with the outcome and would do the surgery AGAIN! Don’t let scars (which are usually easily concealed under normal clothing styles), hold you back from getting the benefits of a Tummy Tuck!
– Follow your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions carefully, including keeping the incision site clean and dry.
– Use scar treatment products recommended by your surgeon, such as silicone sheets or gels, to help flatten and fade the scars.
– Avoid sun exposure to the incision site, as UV rays can cause scars to darken and become more prominent.
– Massage the scar tissue regularly to improve circulation and promote healing.
– Consider undergoing laser treatments or other cosmetic procedures to further improve the appearance of the scars.