Most surgeons design the tummy tuck incision so that it can be hidden by underwear. This should be the goal of all tummy tucks as high scars are visible and undesirable. But the height of the scar on the abdomen can be affected by how much skin is removed with the procedure.
If a lot of skin is removed, the tension of the upper skin can pull the scar up, and cause it to be visible above the underwear. So therefore removing too much skin can have negative consequences. Any scar takes about one year too mature and fade. So you can wear a bikini one year after your procedure or probably sooner.
Although it depends on how much tissue can be removed, and how low your underpants/bikini sit. The best thing to do is see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area, and take your skimpiest underpants/bikini with you. The surgeon should be able to give you an idea of where he/she can place the scar relative to your undergarments.
You should expect to see some migration of these scars with time. They usually ride up a bit over the years.
I alway ask: did you wear a bikini BEFORE your tummy tuck?? and it not, why?
Ladies usually answer: no!
Tips to keep in mind:
1. everything is a compromise- the upside is that you gain the shape and contour with a tummy tuck. The potential downside is that you acquire a tummy tuck scar tissue along your low belly/pelvic/bikini region. We need to discover what compromises can be made to best achieve your goal.
2. I like to understand your goals and discuss with you a realistic expectation so that you learn how to make an informed decision about the placment of the incisions.
3. the placement of the lower incision is based on many factors including – clothing choices, body shape, preference, how much “tightening” is desirable and what it would take to achieve that. Every patient’s goals are unique and the decison making requires our mutual collaboration.
4. after a year, the scar should be completely or nearly completely healed. It takes patience to see the end result.
5. bring a bathing suit to your surgeon and get her opinion on how it will work out with the surgery you are discussing.
Your choice to wear vs not wear a bikini after the tummy tuck will be largely based on your confidence in your appearance and satisfaction with your result. Asking all the right question in advance will be a big help to you!
Tummy tuck scar tissue can migrate after surgery and are prone to the forces of tension and healing.
It is a good idea at preop consultation to bring different garments so that you and the Plastic Surgeon can decide on where to place your incision.
Try to look at tummy tuck surgery as a trade: You get significant improvement in abdominal contour and tightened waistline, but a low lying scar is the trade. Yes, these scars heal well and usually remain low so clothing including a bikini will almost always cover it.
The belly button is also stitched, but the resulting scar is often kept on the inside so it is not obvious.
This question is one of the most common I hear, and for good reason. A surgeon should always be able to show you images of their results indicating the position of all scars.
Tummy tuck scars are usually well hidden by most bikinis and all one piece bathing suits. The scars are usually pretty low. If your bikini bottom is very thin or very low it will/may be hard to conceal.
Tummy tuck scarring depends on a lot of factors. How you heal is the most important of these. As surgeons we try to control the tension on the scar allowing the scar to heal with a thinner line. Pigmentation of the scar is difficult to control.
The scarring around the belly button and its shape is also important. The aesthetically pleasing belly button has “hooding” or a rim of overhanging skin on the top.
In my practice I try my best so you have the most aesthetically pleasing scar and result!
Although all efforts are made to keep the scar where it is initially located sometimes tension and healing will cause the scar to migrate from its original position. Tension sutures will sometimes alleviate this problem by keeping the abdominal wall from shifting. It is a good idea to decide where you would like the scar to be located in your preoperative evaluation and possibly bring in some clothes that you will wear post op. Usually the scar is hidden by most types of clothing.
The most important part of getting a tummy tuck scar tissue below your panty line, is to talk to your surgeon about the scar during your pre-operative appointment. Ask your surgeon WHERE the scar will be. Ask him to outline the scar location on your belly.
The scar will not end up being any lower than where he draws it because tummy tuck scars do migrate slightly upward following surgery. The morning of surgery you should have another chance to review the scar location.
In summary, the reasons why patients get a thick and noticeable tummy tuck scars are:
- Too much tension put on the skin during the closure of your skin during surgery
- ‘Skin edges’ have too little blood supply
- The surgical markings are not put below the bikini line
The first two points relate to the type of procedure performed by the surgeon. The last point should be observed regardless of technique used. As another surgeon on this thread has noted, the tummy tuck scar does migrate upward. For this reason, the surgical markings should be made well below the panty line.
In terms of tummy tuck surgical techniques, I believe that the Lockwood technique puts the least amount of tension on the skin and results in thinner scars. When the skin is under high tension, the scar tends to be thicker. Please read my blog post below to learn more about the Lockwood technique used in the Tummy Tuck Procedure.