Tummy Tuck: Prices, Photos, Reviews, Info, Q&A

The main scar is a waist crease incision whose length varies according to how much excess skin there is. when there is excess skin above the belly button, the procedure can vary in several different ways. The old belly button (which is a scar anyway) can be preserved and brought out through the abdominal skin which is easy to do.

THis will result in a scar around the belly button which is a sometimes a dead giveaway that a tummy tuck was done. Sometimes the belly button can be “floated” so that there is no scar around it, but the belly button is slightly lower than originally, but still looks good. A new belly button can be created from scratch, so that there is no circular scar around it. In some cases, a “reverse upper abdominoplasty” can be performed to take up the slack of the uper abdominal skin and avoid the need to create a scar around the umbilicus. This is best done only when the breasts hand a little so that they cover the scar, which is placed in the lower breast crease.

It is best to have these discussions with your surgeon and have them outline the proposed scars from tummy tuck on yourbody with a skin marker (I use “Crayola washable markers” for this) at the time of consultation.

The goal is to best hide the scars from tummy tuck within your bathing suit, under your breasts (if they hang a little), and avoid a belly button scar when possible. I always have my patients bring in a bathing suit bottom to wear on the day of surgery so I can plan the scars in the proper location, as everyones clothes sit differently on their hips.

Plastic surgeons can not prevent scars from tummy tuck, but we can minimize and hide them. A well placed tummy tuck scar can be concealed in bikinis or low cut clothing. There is some artistry and skill in hiding the belly button scar to make it look natural and hide the tell tale sign of a tummy tuck. Scars fade with time, but the improved contour and tone do not!

One of the goals of a tummy tuck is to hide your scars from tummy tuck by placing them as low as possible, so that when wearing underwear or a bikini, they will not be visible.

In patients with sufficient excess skin, this is easily achieved. Those with less skin excess can still have their scars placed low but it requires more skin undermining and additional steps.
The next step is to make sure the tension on the skin closure is minimal, otherwise the scar will pull apart leading to a widened scar.

After one year, most scars tend to fade well.

If you are talking about a string bikini, you’re unlikely to be able to hide yours scars but if you wear something less revealing, you should be able to hide the scar. If done properly – Yes, you should be able to wear a bikini 1 year after tummy tuck.

There are two distinct scars from a tummy tuck. The first one is a transverse scar that is low in the bikini line. This one should be easily covered by your swimsuit if placed low enough. The more noticeable scar is around the belly button. With good planning and technique, these scars can be hidden extremely well.

It is possible to have the tummy tuck scar at the bikini/underwear line to allow you to wear a bikini. You will however also have a scar around your belly button if you had a full tummy tuck. That scar tends to be well hidden as it usually falls inside the belly button. The TYPE of scar you have, whether it is thick, dark, white, thin completely depends on your skin type and your genetics for scar production.

Discuss where exactly the scars will be with your plastic surgeon and express your concerns and expectations and you will LOVE the results of your tummy tuck to tighten your muscle and smooth your tummy.

I place the tummy tuck scar just above the pubic hairline. While fashions may change – and it is nice to design the scar placement to clothing–a lower scar is much easier to hide in a variety of undergarments.
I generally measure 5-7cm up from the vulvar commissure (labial opening) and that becomes the lowest point of the incision. If there is a C-section present, I go below that scar no matter how low it is placed.

In most cases, all of the skin and fat between the pubic hairline and the belly button can be removed

In rare situations, there is a short vertical scar on the lower abdomen (where the belly button was originally). Most of my patients are wearing bikinis 1 month after tummy tucks, but then again, this is Florida. Hopefully the weather is warm where you are.

Most women can hide their tummy tuck scars with their panties. During your consultation, you might indicate to your surgeon where you would like the scar, or not like the scar. Your surgeon can discuss what can and cannot be done with your scar location. Hopefully, after your tummy tuck, you would feel comfortable again with wearing a bikini.

Yes, that is true. Most times, the tummy tuck scar is within the bikini scar line area and can be well concealed beneath underwear or swimwear.

A consultation with your plastic surgeon is a good starting point in where they will be able to show you where your incision line will be located.

And yes, it sounds very reasonable that someone could wear a bikini one year after a tummy tuck surgery.

Scars from tummy tuck are placed as low as possible and often allow low cut pants or bikinis to be worn without evidence of the surgery. I advise my patients to wear their favorite swimsuit on the day of surgery to guide my incision placement and would suggest you mention this to your surgeon. You will also have an incision around your umbilicus with a full abdominoplasty but this is usually not highly visible. Some individuals develop thick or prominent scars and I would ask your surgeon what options are available to minimize the appearance of your scars.

It is the goal to have the scars very well hidden and consideration is made to the lines for bathing suits, such as a bikini line, and underwear.  Scars do take about 1 year to mature, but the color has generally faded many months before that time.

There are two scars with a typical tummy tuck procedure. One around the belly button and one transverse scar across the lower abdomen. The look, position, length and style of the incision is going to be different for almost all patients. It will also change between PSs, as we all have our own way of doing things.

That being said, the goal is to get our patients bikini ready. To make yourself more confident I would recommend:

1. Look at before and after pictures from your PS without underwear (so you can see the height and length of their scars)
2. Look at zoomed in views of the belly button (most PS pictures are too fuzzy to appreciate the fine detail)
3. Ask your PS to draw the expected incision on you
4. If you have a specific cut of bikini or undergarment you prefer, bring them on the day of surgery so your PS can design the scar around it.