Dog ear after tummy tuck
Bulges at the end of an abdominoplasty scar at affectionally named dog ears. They can be minimized by defatting or liposuctioning at the end of the incision.
The hip bone underneath is unforgiving so it shows more there. It is due to the width of the ellipse of skin removed vs the lenght of the scar. We try to keep the scar as short as we can, but sometimes the dog ear results.
Touch up in the office after a number of months allowing it to get smaller can quickly correct the bulge but it requires leghtening the scar. (Rick Rosen, MD, Norwalk Plastic Surgeon)
Dog ears after tummy tuck
Dog ear after tummy tuck operation
These are commonly called “dog ears.” When you remove tissue in an elliptical pattern (football shape) and then close the incision as a line as is done during a tummy tuck, there is a chance you will get a dog ear at the end of the incision on either side. If the incision as made longer, the dog ears can usually be prevented, but this will result in a longer scar. If you already have dog ears, they can be removed, but the scar will need to be lengthened. (Laurence Weider, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)
These are commonly called dog ears. It has to do with excess tissue and the length of a scar. As plastic surgeons, we try to minimize the length of scars as much as possible.
Dog ear after tummy tuck surgery
On occasion if the scars are made too short, skin puckers at the ends like pleats in a skirt or pants. These can be corrected but require lengthening the scar. (Albert Dabbah, MD, Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon)
Dog ears after tummy tuck
What you are describing is a term known as dog ears. Dog ears are formed when there is a mismatch in the amount of excess skin and fat removed as it relates to the length of the scar. If the surgeon tries to close an incision and doesn’t excise enough skin, then, the edges on both sides of the scar to pucker creating unnatural results.
Dog ear after tummy tuck photo
The good news is that it can be fixed easily by just excising the excess skin and fat. (Wilberto Cortes, MD, Houston Plastic Surgeon)
Dog ears after abdominoplasty
As the other surgeons have pointed out, these are best dealt with at the time of the tummy tuck. I hardly ever leave a dogear because it means another procedure, a touchup, at the office and I would rather take care of it when I see it. The removal of a bit more skin and the fat underneath it are what is needed to prevent this in the first place. (Victor Au, MD, Chapel Hill Plastic Surgeon)
The skin protrusions you describe are refered to as”dog ears”. These are not rare and can be easily corrected by an excisional procedure, usually in the office setting. These may occur when an attempt is made to keep the final scar too short which can result in a bunching of the skin at the ends of the incisions.
The dog ear after tummy tuck
A longer scar, well placed, with smooth lateral contours is usually preferable. (David A. Bottger, MD, Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon)
Explanation of “dog ears” or bulging at the ends of a scar
The protrusions at both ends of the abdominoplasty scar are better known as “dog ears”. Without explaining the geometrical underpinnings, they occur as a result of the surgeon trying to limit the incision length hoping that with wound maturation, this bulging will resolve.
Dog ear after tummy tuck photos after surgery
Sometimes this strategy is effective enough to be successful resulting in a shorter scar than otherwise would have been the case. When it is not, these “dog ears” are the result. These can virtually always be addressed in the office under local anesthesia with essentially no down time. For my patients no matter the procedure, there never is a charge. It is also my impression that even with this approach, the ultimate total length of the scar is still less than it would have been if fully addressed during the initial procedure. (Steven Turkeltaub, MD, Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon)
Tell your friends they are called “dog ears”. Minor attention to detail during the operation can resolve these issues by extending the lateral excision of skin another 1 or 2 inches. If after the operation a minor local and excision can be done. (Darryl J. Blinski, MD, Miami Plastic Surgeon)
Revising dog ears after your abdominoplasty
Excessive lateral abdominal skin after your abdominoplasty is termed dog ears. It results either inadquate skin removal during your procedure. However, not all patients desire to have their scar lengthened during their initial surgery, and thus are left with these undesireable results. Depending upon their size, these can removed by lengthening your scar either in the office, or in the operating room. The recovery period is significantly shorter than your tummy tuck procedure. Usually a combination of both liposuction and skin removal is required. (Jeffrey D. Hoefflin, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)
