There are likely hundreds of questions you may want to ask your surgeon before undergoing a tummy tuck procedure. One of the key questions patients ask about abdominoplasty surgery relates to what their “tummy tuck scars” will look like after surgery.
As with all cosmetic or reconstructive plastic surgery, you will have a visible scar after surgery. The question then becomes, how much can you help it heal in the best way possible, or reduce your risks of unsightly scarring?
Scars vary in visibility and in how much they fade.
Your healing capabilities, recovery processes, genetics, skin tone/melanin and other factors will influence the visibility of your scar; but you will have a visible scar after abdominoplasty surgery or other large surgery involving excess skin reduction/removal and body contouring (including thigh lift surgery and arm lift surgery).
The best questions to ask your Plastic Surgeon Specialist about your abdominal scars include:
Where will my tummy tuck scar be located?
Your scar(s) after a tummy tuck will typically be located in the lower abdominal area, above the pubic bone and below the navel.
Scars may run horizontally (curved or potentially zigzagged rather than straight) across the lower abdomen, and are usually, but not always, placed below the belt line or waist area.
You may also end up with a vertical scar, potentially from the pubic area to the location of the navel, depending on the type of tummy tuck you require.
There are different types of abdominoplasties, such as full abdominoplasty or mini tummy tuck. For more information, request a consultation and find out which type of abdominoplasty is best suited to your specific needs and skin condition.
What shape will the tummy tuck scar be: straight, curved, zigzag or squiggle?
The shape or dimensions your scar takes as it heals depends NOT ONLY on where the incision line was placed for your procedure, but on how the incision line healed.
Some aspects of healing are controllable and some are not; remember, each patient’s surgery and healing journey is unique.
Also, if you smoke, if you get an infection after surgery, it can stretch your scars or make them worse.
If so, your scars after a tummy tuck procedure may appear more prominent (therefore, carefully follow your surgeon’s instructions and After Surgery Guide, as prescribed by your surgeon, and ASK your surgeon before resuming strenuous activities, such as driving, housework, lifting, and the gym).
The shape, length and width dimensions of tummy tuck scars vary from patient to patient
The tummy tuck scar may look like a long wavy line or an inverted T or anchor shape.
The scars in your abdominal area may also look different on your left size than on your right side (just as your body is typically asymmetrical on each side; for example, if you prefer to use one hand or leg over the other hand or leg, one of them usually becomes more muscular or thinner than the one on the other side, although typically it is a small amount).
For some patients, the incision line necessary to obtain a good tummy tuck result must extend down to the hip area, or even slightly beyond the hip to the lumbar area, as in the case of extended abdominoplasty or circumferential abdominoplasty.
