If you’re looking to remove excess skin and fat, tighten your abdominal muscles and have a much smoother and tighter stomach, then a Tummy Tuck is the way to go. You might think that every patient will have tummy tuck scars, but you probably didn’t know that not every scar is the same.
What to do before the procedure?
When you contact the plastic surgeon you picked out for your tummy tuck procedure and schedule a consultation, make sure that you have a list of questions that you deem important. These questions should alleviate some of the doubts and concerns you have about the procedure and should put you at ease.
Make sure that you also ask your surgeon about tummy tuck scars. Since every patient is different, you can’t really rely on the information you find online. Tummy tuck can be a highly individualized procedure and the approach your surgeon takes has a great impact on what type of scar will you have.
Furthermore, you can even take your favorite underwear or bikini bottom with you. This will give a clearer image to the surgeon and yourself on where the scars will be compared to your panty line.
What kind for tummy tuck scars can you expect?
Depending on the placement, technique and surgeon’s skills, there are different types of tummy tuck scars you can expect.
Belly button
Many patients don’t know, but this area of your stomach, is actually the most focal point where tummy tuck scars occur.
But, since that is the area where the abdominal wall is the tightest, traditional tummy tuck scars are usually not visible. The abdominal wall just pulls it in. And if you’re opting in for a mini tummy tuck, where the plastic surgeon has very little fat and excess skin to remove, you might not even have a belly button scar.
Tummy tuck scars in lower abdomen
The area between the navel and pelvic area is the one what is most affected by a tummy tuck procedure.
All tummy tuck procedures will leave you with a horizontal scar that is going across your lower abdomen between the hips. Now, not every scar in this area is the same length. Some can be a couple of inches, while others can spread from one side of your abdomen to the other.
If there is a chance that you’ll have tummy tuck scars that bit, the best course of action would be to pick a less invasive procedure.
Pelvic area
There’s a reason why we recommend that you bring a pair of your favorite underwear or bikini bottom. Some tummy tuck scars can be concealed with clothing since cosmetic surgeons will seek ways to put scars in the pelvic area as low as possible. This where the underwear come handy, because the surgeon can see how low can he go.
What can you do to reduce tummy tuck scars?
As with the majority of cosmetic surgeries, scars are inevitable. But there are things you can do in order to minimize them.
Healthier skin takes less time to heal and it heals better. That’s why we recommend that you practice self-care routines e.g. not smoke, eat healthier etc. These are all things that can improve the quality of your skin and reduce the visibility of tummy tuck scars. Aside from this, you can also do the following
Applying Topical Vitamin E – This could make the scars less visible and keep the skin moisturized during the healing process (which is very important).
Applying Sunscreen – Long sun exposure can damage our skin. And in case of tummy tuck scars, make them more pale and visible. So make sure that you apply sunscreen with at least SPF of 30 or higher.
Infection – Proper healing and lower visibility of scars can also be achieved through regular hygiene and keeping the incision site clean. This will not only minimize the scar but it will also prevent infection.
Alternative options for minimizing tummy tuck scars
It usually takes around 12 weeks for a tummy tuck scar to heal completely. There are additional cosmetic procedures you can have to further minimize them, but you should wait until the scar is completely healed.
In order to improve the size, texture and color of tummy tuck scars, some cosmetic surgeons can also recommend:
- Laser treatments using vascular lasers
- Surgical scar revisions
As you probably already know, a tummy tuck is a highly customizable and tailored procedure which means that we can adjust it so that it fits your body shape and your needs. And if you combine it with other procedures such as liposuction, it could yield even better result. So if you have sagging skin or excess fat that you want to remove, make sure to contact Dr. Kotoske and schedule a consultation.
