Tummy tuck scar

Payam Rasouli The Author of Medical and Health Content
August 14, 2019
2023-09-28 13:03:25

Will tummy tuck scars go away?

Do scars from tummy tuck go away after 5 years?

What helps tummy tuck scars heal?

Is the tummy tuck scar worth it?

Tummy Tuck ( abdominoplasty )offers a glorious promise: after just one procedure, patients can have a youthfully slim, firm, and flat abdominal contour. However, while this pledge is genuine, recapturing this figure is not an easy task, nor without sacrifice. In addition to the time required for recovery, patients will have to trade in their abdominal flab, stubborn fat, sagging skin, and stretch marks for a permanent horizontal scar. This scar, is an inevitable part of tummy tuck surgery, and the scars will never go away completely. They generally fade, however, and there are things you can do to help.

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Types of scars

Depending on the technique(s) used, incisions made, and individual healing factors, tummy tuck scars in several areas—including the pelvic region, around the belly button, and in the lower abdominal area—may be visible.

. Pelvic region

Regardless of the type of tummy tuck you have (full, mini, etc.), you will be left with a scar running horizontally across the lower abdomen between the hips, a couple of inches beneath the belly button. The length of the scar varies from a couple of inches to the entire length of the abdomen, sometimes extending up and over the hips to the back.

. Around the belly button

Some tummy tuck procedures produce a scar around the belly button. This scar will be visible at first but will often fade over time and eventually become unnoticeable. This is not always the case, though, as some scars remain visible even when fully healed.

. Lower abdomen

Certain patients require an incision extending down from the belly button to the horizontal incision.

“If someone has a lot of excess skin, it may not be enough to simply limit the scar to a horizontal scar that runs from hip to hip. In such cases, a person needs a fleur-de-lis scar, in which there is also a vertical component—usually in the midline—to tighten the skin in the Y-axis in addition to the X-axis.”

. Irregular scarring

Although it is rare, some individuals have a tendency to produce irregular scars.

The two most common are hypertrophic and keloid scars, Hypertrophic scars are raised and redder than the affected tissue. Keloid scars form beyond the original wound site. Both scars are due to an excess of collagen.

Different procedure, different scar

The type of scar(s) you end up with after your tummy tuck will depend on the type of tummy tuck you have. This is because different abdominoplasty techniques involve different incisions, and therefore produce different scars.

. Full tummy tuck

A full tummy tuck involves a long scar extending from hip to hip, possibly including the vertical fleur-de-lis component and a scar around the belly button.

. Mini tummy tuck

Many patients are under the false impression that a mini tummy tuck always involves a small incision, but this is generally not the case, the amount of skin removed will dictate how long the scars need to be, and the only big difference is the absence of an umbilical scar with the mini-tummy tuck. However, the procedure does not produce a scar around the belly button.

. Extended or High Lateral Tension Tummy Tuck

For an extended tummy tuck, the horizontal incision can stretch across the lower belly and around the hips, so when the body is viewed posteriorly the tail ends of the scar are visible and a vertical incision may also be required. This allows the surgeon to treat a wider area and remove more surplus tissue.

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Tummy Tuck scars over time

How long will the scar be after a Tummy Tuck procedure?

Scarring can vary significantly from patient to patient based primarily on individual healing abilities. Here is a generalized guideline of what tummy tuck scars may look like at various points:

. Tummy tuck scars after surgery: The scar is generally thin and pink. The body immediately triggers a healing response to close the incision over the next few weeks.

. Tummy tuck scars after one month: With the scar now closed, the increased collagen and blood supply have made the scar darker, thicker, and more noticeable. The appearance of the scar may worsen over the next few months.

Tummy tuck scars after six months: The scar may still be red and raised, but should begin to lighten soon if it has not done so already. Some of the excess collagen will begin to break down, and the increased blood supply will diminish. As a result, the scar will slowly flatten and lighten.

. Tummy tuck scars after one year: The scar may be fully mature and will be noticeably flatter, thinner, lighter, and less noticeable. It will continue to fade.

. Tummy tuck scars after five years: The mature scar will have faded noticeably and may continue to fade somewhat over time.

Like all surgical scars, abdominoplasty scars will never go away completely, but most patients feel they are well worth the benefits of achieving the smooth and flat abdominal contour they desire. Our doctors place the incisions as discreetly as possible to minimize scarring so that you can enjoy the best results. Most tummy tuck scars are easily hidden under panties and swimsuits.

Minimize scarring, speed healing and fading

Some level of scarring from tummy tuck is unavoidable. There is no way to avoid a scar once a full-thickness incision has been made. This is how our skin heals, If our bodies didn’t form scars, we all would be walking around with wounds still open from childhood.”

However, there are steps you and your surgeon can take to reduce scarring and speed the healing and fading process:

. Follow the care instructions from the surgeon

. Monitor the incision for infection

. Start a scar cream and/or silicone scar treatment once the incision no longer has any scabs (but don’t pick the scabs)

. Keep your skin well moisturized

. Don’t suntan your scars

. Avoid irritating products and clothing

Silicone scar treatment is the single most helpful thing you can do to reduce scarring, or at least its appearance.

Various topicals have been shown to be effective for optimizing the long-term appearance of scars.

There are also steps your surgeon can take:

The surgeon can use multiple layers of suture closure to take tension off the wound so that it does not stretch. In addition, the surgeon can use monofilament suture that is less irritating to the tissues. Finally, the surgeon can use devices such as the Prevena Incision Management System to completely take tension off the wound and prevent infection.

To help reduce overall skin tension, our doctor performs a layered complex closure of the incision line. He also uses topical scar-optimizing compounds immediately after surgery and up to the six-month mark.

We also encourage patients to undergo a series of microneedling /PRP treatments to their scars beginning about four–six weeks after their surgery. Studies have shown dramatic improvement in the appearance of not only acute but also chronic scarring when this protocol has been utilized.

Ultimately, the formation and appearance of your tummy tuck scars will depend on multiple factors, from genetics to actions taken by both you and your surgeon.

Scars can heal more quickly with a healthy diet and lifestyle, and when there is no tension or infection on the wound. But at the end of the day, the only thing that allows a scar to heal is the tincture of time.

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Do scars from a tummy tuck go away?

The truth is that scarring is an inevitable part of tummy tuck surgery, and the scars will never go away completely. They generally fade, however, and there are things you can do to help.

How big is a tummy tuck scar?

The horizontal scar can vary in length. It may be just a few centimetres, which is often the case for mini tucks, or extend well over each hip to the sides of your back. The scar may also be placed in relatively the same spot where a C-section was. Full abdominoplasty involves a scar around your belly button.

What is the best cream for tummy tuck scars?

One is silicone ointment and the other is silicone tape. Once everything has completely healed, approximately six to eight weeks after the tummy tuck, I would suggest using a silicone-based cream to the tummy tuck scar. Personally, I recommend a product called Biocorneum.

Can you laser a tummy tuck scar?

Undergo laser treatment to remove the scar from your tummy tuck. The laser treatment process involves using a high-energy light to remove or reform skin damaged by a scar. … The procedure is costly and thick or raised scars need at least two treatments every few months.

How dangerous is a tummy tuck?

As with any surgery, there are risks. You may have an increased risk of complications if you have poor circulation, diabetes, heart, lung, or liver disease, or if you smoke. Complications can include: Scarring.

Is it easier to lose weight after a tummy tuck?

The study showed that those who had more fat removed during their tummy tuck – sometimes via liposuction procedure – continued to lose weight after their surgery. Fat tissue is believed to contain a hormone that can cause increased appetite, so when this fat is removed, patients often feel less hungry than before.

Do tummy tucks last forever?

Tummy tuck results are considered permanent in that the skin and fat cells that Dr. Greenwald removes during the procedure cannot grow back. Likewise, any internal sutures that he places to repair stomach muscles are designed to remain in place indefinitely.

How long after tummy tuck can you see results?

Immediately following a tummy tuck, loose, sagging skin should be gone, although some swelling will continue and gradually decrease over a period of several weeks. Most people can return to desk jobs within two weeks. For more physically demanding jobs, additional recovery time is necessary before returning to work.

How bad are the scars from a tummy tuck?

Tummy tuck scarring In women who have undergone cesarean section, the existing scars may be incorporated into the new scar. The tummy tuck scar may take several months to a year to fade as much as it will. Although good results are expected from your procedure, there is no guarantee.

How do you clean a tummy tuck incision?

Incision care If you have strips of tape on your incision, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off. … Wash the area daily with warm, soapy water, and pat it dry. … Keep the area clean and dry. … You will probably have one or two drain tubes in place to prevent fluid from building up under the skin of your belly.

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