First the disclaimer: none of us can give you a complete recommendation without personally examining you.
In general, the tissue below the belly button is removed so your scars will be gone, but you do have a high belly button which can be a bit of a problem in terms of getting the new scar as low as one might want.
There is the possibility that an upside down “T” would be best, because of where the belly button was.
In any case you should expect a very nice result and any lipo that is needed would be done at the same time so there shouldn’t be any reason to do that later. (Richard Baxter, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)
A tummy tuck will remove all the excess skin, fat, stretch marks from the level of your belly button down to your waist (bikini) line (crease above your pubic area). In addition, a tighten of your muscles (rectus plication) will improve the bulging that you are experiencing.
I will consider focal liposucting at the time of a tummy tuck usually limited to the waist or hips region depending on the patients preoperative anatomy. (C. Bob Basu, MD, FACS, Houston Plastic Surgeon)
A full tummy tuck surgery will leave a permanent scar around the umbilicus and along the lower abomen in a transverse fashion. So, the vertical scar along your lower abdomen and stretch marks from the umbilicus to the lower incision for the most part will be removed.
It will also give access to tighten the muscles as well. Liposuction can be done in some areas at the same time or staged as a secondary procedure. (Steven Wallach, MD, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy tuck can indeed remove lower abdominal scars
We frequently see patients for tummy tuck who have had other abdominal surgery such as C-sections and appendectomy. The tummy tuck procedure will indeed remove any scar on the abdomen below the belly button, and leave the single low transverse scar line just below the pantie line.
This can be quite an advantage to those with a low mid-line, or up and down incision. Scars above the belly button don’t fare as well. An old gallbladder incision will move down significantly, though a full mid-line incision may appear much the same as before. (Peter E. Johnson, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy tuck and scar removal
You appear to have many scars on your abdomen and you provide no history, and I don’t have benefit from exam. That said, I will render my opinion on your scar question only, based on your front view photo only.
Based on your short waist and high navel position, I think that you shoule be able toget rid of most of the scars between the navel and pubic bone, but I believe that you will have a residual vertical scar connected to the transverse scar from where the navel was cut out.
You may want tummy tuck and larger breasts, but you certainly don’t “need” them. (Scott E. Kasden, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)
A full abdominoplasty or tummy tuck will remove all scars below your belly button. You will have new scars around the belly button and along the lower aspect of your abdomen, in the same place that a C-section scar is usually placed. The bulging you notice when you bend is from your rectus muscles (which form the “six-pack” in men), and these will be tightened during the surgery.
Based on your photograph, you look as though you would need minimal to no liposuction at that time of the procedure. The cost is tough to estimate, and varies from region to region. In NYC the total cost would be around $9-10K for a tummy tuck alone, but this would probably be a little bit lower in Indiana. (Nina S. Naidu, MD, FACS, New York Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy tuck will remove your stomach scars
A full tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty) would remove the excess skin and fatty tissue from the umbilicus to the pubic area, and this would include the vertical scar and stretch marks below the umbilicus. The new scars would be around the belly button and across the lower abdomen, extending from hip to hip. I prefer to keep the tummy tuck scar low (usually in the mid to upper pubic area) so you can wear a two piece bathing suit!
For most women, liposuction for the hips, waist and back areas, and upper abdomen enhances the overall result and is best accomplished with ultrasonic or laser lipo. Rarely is secondary liposuction needed. The abdominal muscles are tightened, and this would probably address the bulge you note in your upper abdomen. Breast augmentation and tummy tuck are a great combination, and can generally be safely performed together.
If you have ptosis (our polite term for sagging) of your breasts, you might wish to consider a breast lift at the same time. Good luck with your “mommy makeover”. Cost: Tummy tuck ( includes lipo noted above) – about $11500 (surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, overnight stay, etc) Breast augmentation – about $4000 for saline and about $5000 for silicone. (Michael D. Yates, MD, Huntsville Plastic Surgeon)
Scar Removal with Tummy Tuck
A full tummy tuck would remove most of your scars. All of the skin and fat below your navel would be excised. Secondary lipo probably would not be needed unless you wished to have some fat removed from your upper abdomen post-op.
My total cost would be about $6,000. This includes my fee, anesthesia, hospital costs, follow-up, etc. i cannot comment on your muscle question without an exam. (John Whitt, MD, Louisville Plastic Surgeon)
It depends on the results you want to achieve. In your situation, you would get the best results from a full tummy tuck. This will address the areas above and below the belly button. It will get rid of most of the loose skin and tighten your abdomen. You may still need a little bit of lipo in a certain area.
A fully tummy tuck should also get rid of my of your scarring. However, you will have to deal with a new scar from hip to hip. The costs will vary from surgeon to surgeon. The procedures can be combined providing that you are in good health. This will lower the costs a little bit. You should definitely consult with your plastic surgeon to see if this is an option for you and which procedures exactly would be best for you. (Sam Speron, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)