Post-op Tummy tuck Scarring Questions

·       Do you know that all cosmetic or reconstructive plastic surgery leaves some extent of visible scars and requires scar care management?

·       Do you know that intensity of scars in terms of shape, size, and color will vary with time and may fade if you follow the right post-op measure?

·       Do you know that your skin texture, quality, genetics, healing capacities, the recovery process, and other associated factors to your anatomy will influence scar visibility post-op surgery?

·       Do you know that scars typically lie in the lower abdomen after a tummy tuck surgery?

There are a thousand questions, doubts, and myths about cosmetic or reconstructive plastic surgery you want to ask your plastic surgeon, especially when the procedure is a tummy tuck surgery. Therefore, asking questions and getting expert answers is always a good idea, as it helps decide the procedure to achieve the utmost benefits and avail the advantages of specific post-op care.

Dr. Karishma Kagodu, MS, M CH., a board-certified celebrity plastic surgeon and Managing Director of Kaesthetics, shares her thoughts on post-op tummy tuck scarring to enhance our knowledge about abdominoplasty surgery. Dr. Karishma often asked about post-op care related to tummy tucks. She replied to thousands and thousands of questions during the in-person consultation of her patients at Dr. Karishma Aesthetics and Kinder Women’s Hospital, Whitefield, Bangalore.

If you are considering a tummy tuck/abdominoplasty, it is obvious to think about post-op care, instructions, and the recovery process. Much has been discussed about the healing instructions and how to manage post-op side effects.

Here, Dr. Karishma focuses on the issue of post-op scarring, and if you have any doubts can be cleared by the following points:

1.    What Type of Scarring to Expect After A Tummy Tuck

First, tummy tuck scars may vary in shape, size, and how much they fade over time. Since every patient is different and requires a tailor-made treatment plan, the post-op recovery, especially the concern of scar, would vary from patient to patient. Therefore, your healing capacity, the recovery process, skin texture, genetics, and other associated factors will influence the intensity/visibility of your scar. But, you will have a post-op scar that runs from one hipbone to the other. The plus point of the procedure is that the scar can be perfectly camouflaged below the bikini line or will fade considerably over time. Yes, a tummy tuck leaves scarring, but the benefits of a tight, contoured, and flat abdomen outweigh the post-op effects. Thus, it is inevitable to ask questions with your plastic surgeon about the type, length, and pattern of the incisions to get an idea about post-op scarring and its management. Scar care management with topical solutions is usually recommended after your tummy tuck surgery. Regardless of the type and length, Dr. Karishma will make the incisions low enough to be hidden under a bikini or undergarments.

In some cases, when a full tummy tuck is performed, an incision is made around the belly button to retain its anchor to underlying tissue and blood vessels. This incision allows the plastic surgeon to move tissue around the belly button so the muscle and skin are tighter and flatter. As a result, scars are noticeable when you don’t wear a one-piece or high-rise bikini. Fortunately, this scar fades nicely over time, and most people never notice it.

2.    Where will my tummy tuck scar be located?

The post-op tummy tuck scars may be located in the following areas:

·       Usually, in your lower abdomen area, above your pubis, and below your belly button.

·       The scar may run potentially zigzagged rather than straight across your lower abdomen and positioned below your belt line or waistline.

·       You may also have a vertical scar, from your pubis area to your navel location, depending on the type of tummy tuck surgery you are recommended.

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

A month after your abdominoplasty, your post-op scar will likely appear pink, brown, or dark red, depending on your skin type and texture. The visibility of the scar as it needs to be to fade to achieve a full recovery and optimal outcomes. Of course, the scar healing process would vary from one patient to another based on their anatomical status, genetics, and type of tummy tuck surgery employed. The scar fades gradually over time, followed by post-op measures, and a year after your procedure, the scarring will likely be much less noticeable.

4.    How should you Manage Your Tummy Tuck Scarring?

The scar removal process may take up to a year to fade scarring much less noticeable. As we may know, it is a fundamental process of the skin to produce collagen in response to healing wounds or cut, and surgical injuries/incisions are also counted as a wound. But the extent of wounding here is much greater than the usual cuts. However, skin requires more collages to respond ideally against surgical incisions. Over the first few weeks, the first round of collagen breaks down and is replaced by strands that are much more organized. This is when the scar lightens more significantly, and its texture smooths.

Some key instructions that should be followed post-op to support scar healing are jotted down below:

·       Drink plenty of water to facilitate tissue repair and faster healing.

·       Get plenty of sleep to promote a speedy recovery.

·       Eat healthy, whole foods enriched with proteins, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that help accelerate tissue repair and wound healing.

·       Your plastic surgeon may recommend scar removal creams, silicon sheets, or laser treatments depending on your type of surgery and the intensity of scarring you notice.

Request your consultation and begin your journey to confidence. At Dr. Karishma Aesthetics plastic surgery center, Indiranagar, Bangalore, our patients are fortunate to enjoy high-end, result-centric plastic cosmetic surgery procedures with the expert hand of leading plastic surgeon Dr. Karishma Kagodu. Call +91 8042036382, +91 9108969006, +91 7624809006, and schedule your consultation today.