The abdominoplasty scar really varies from patient to patient, but the goal is to keep in as low as possible so that it can hide in underwear or a bikini bottom. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, but it is always desirable to have it as hidden as possible.
We try to place the abdominal incision as low as possible. I would agree that bringing in a bathing suit can be helpful in the design of the incision. However, you should realize that if a bikini or any bathing suit is exceptionally small, the scar may not be fully covered by the suit. Suffice it to say, the incision is placed as low as possible, but we can’t work miracles.
Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty scars can definitely be well hidden. I usually have the patient bring a favorite style of bikini or underwear to the pre operative holding area so I can mark where the scar will sit after surgery. Of course there is tension on the scar and it will tend to pull upwards over time. The key is to go low enough to hide the scar, yet not take too much skin so that the surgeon is able to close the incision after the skin resection. Of course there are many other factors that come into play such as the location of prior scars
If you have a style of bikini bottom that you like to wear, you need to wear it for your plastic surgeon at the time of surgery. This will aid your plastic surgeon place the scar as best as possible under the bikini area.
Note that if you change styles of bikini bottoms, the scar may only be partially hidden or not at all. You will also be able to wear a your bikini within a couple of months, but do not forget to protect the scar from the sun.
As previous posters have mentioned, yes, it is certainly possible. If you have your heart set on wearing a certain bikini, bring it with you on the day of tummy tuck surgery, so your surgeon can use it during the pre-operative marking.
Unless the bikini is super skimpy, or very low-cut, then we can usually design an incision that works.
You can usually wear a bikini much earlier than one year – sometimes within the first 2 months. The design of the skin removal and closure is the main determinant of the length and location of your scar. Bringing in examples of the kind of swimwear you wear during your consult and preoperative marking session can be very helpful in guiding the surgeon in the markings. A French-cut style bikini may require a modification of the incision position and trajectory to optimize concealment of the final scar, when compared to other bathing suit designs.
Yes! You can absolutely wear your bikini even sooner. Generally by 4-6 months most of your healing is complete, however your scars will continue to fade for up to one year. We like to hide the tummy tuck scars in the lower abdomen to allow women to wear bikinis comfortably. The belly button scar also fades over time and falls into the natural creases. Patients who continue their good exercise and diet regimen look even better with time.
The position of the scars are generally made as low as possible. That said, the scar still can be visible especially on the sides as it rises a bit.
It is possible to hide a abdominoplasty scar behind a bikini.
This is something you need to plan carefully with your plastic surgeon. There are many different shapes to bikini bottoms – high rise, french cut, low rise, etc. No one technique or scar will hide behind all of these different types of bikini bottoms.
So, if you have a particular type of bikini you prefer to wear, then bring this with you to your plastic surgeon. Then, they can plan for the scar to lay under this area. If you switch bikini bottom styles, the scar will likely not be hidden any longer.
The Bikini Tummy Tuck is designed to do just what you are talking about. Scar placement should fit a neutral bikini, a great looking belly button, so you don’t look like you’ve had a tummy tuck, and superior liposculpture of the waist and the back, create a beautiful flow of your new contour.
Not all tummy tucks are the same, and not all tummy tuck surgeons are great. make sure you do your homework, and find a true artist.
Tummy tuck scars are meant to be hidden beneath the underwear. It is ideal to make them low on the pubic bone and across the hips. If you have a certain bathing suit or specific place you don’t want your scar to show, bring that up at your consultation. Your surgeon should be able to tell you where your incision will be.
Bring a list of questions to your consultation since it is hard to remember everything and sometimes you have limited time with the doctor.
A well designed tummy tuck scar is just above the pubic region extending low in the bikini line onto the hips. If you have a specific type of bikini in mind it would be helpful to bring this to your consultation. I would caution you that styles change. There used to be a trend toward higher cut bikini’s. The trend is currently lower on the hips.
Most women will trade getting ride of a large abdominal area and excess skin for scars. Scars from a tummy tuck will always be present. For most women, the ideal placement of the scar is just above the pubic area. My incisions are so low that you could go out and buy the lowest cut brazilian jeans and not see any scars. After a year your scar should be completely healed and bikini ready.
The scar from a tummy tuck can usually be positioned if you have a particular preference for underwear or swimwear. Styles change over time and so your particular scar placement may not be hidden if styles change.
More recent trends are for swim and underwear lines to be low on the hips which shows more hip, but 15 years ago those lines were higher on the hip which shows more thigh.
If you really have a preference then inform your surgeon and he/she can try to accommodate your preference.
In order to remove the excess skin with a tummy tuck there will be a scar located at the level of the pubic area with variable lengths. Although every effort is made to minimize the scar, there are times when the tummy tuck scar is not favorable and requires silicone sheeting or injections with steroids.
This is in large part caused by the way the person heals. The vast majority of times the scar can be hidden by a bikini because of the low scar placement. It’s important to discuss all these issues with your plastic surgeon.You will always have a scar with a tummy tuck. The trick is how to hide it under your clothing or bathing attire. If you are having a mini-abdominoplasty, this is usually not a problem. The scar is shorter and is usually quite easy to hide.
With full abdominoplasty or tummy tuck, hiding the scar will take a little more work. I have found it most helpful to have my patient wear a bathing suit bottom that they want to be able to wear, when I am marking the incision just before the operation. While this is not perfect, this really helps to keep the scar in the right place to be hidden. Of course, a string bikini is a bit problematic! But for most women, and most styles of bathing suits, this can work well.