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

The best friend of a tummy tuck scar is time as long as the patient is healthy, doesn’t smoke and follows direction. They tend to clean up rather well after six months to a year in my practice.

I have not needed to do much scar revision work at least in my own tummy tuck clients. (John P. Di Saia, MD, Orange Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck scars treatment

The best way to get the best scars is to choose your surgeon carefully. Although any surgeon can experience less than ideal scars, some surgeons will regularly leave patients with a scar that ultimately heals to a fine white line, with placement below the swimsuit or underwear line.

Tummy tuck scar treatment photo

There are tummy tuck scar treatments available to correct scars that are unsightly. Finding a plastic surgeon who will carefully monitor your results will help to minimize significant problems. Tummy tuck scar treatment options include, but are not limited to, laser treatment, topical silicone gel products, steroid injection, and surgical revision. (Michael Law, MD)

Scars are permanent, but usually heal quite well

Anytime an incision is made on the skin, it creates a scar. Most cosmetic surgery incisions, if performed properly, will heal quite nicely, and there are several things that can be done to help minimize the chance at a bad scar. It’s important to understand however that there is no guarantee that you will have a good final scar, and you may require follow up tummy tuck scar treatments in order to improve their appearance.

All for tummy tuck scar treatment

A few things that can help a tummy tuck scar heal well:  First, you need to have a smooth postop course – what that means is listen to your surgeon and what he asks you to do in terms of activity modification, keeping the incision clean, antibiotics, etc. Once you have gotten through the initial week or two, then I often have patients begin scar massage as well as silicone sheet therapy.

Both are easy, inexpensive, and painless, and can help soften and flatten the scars as they heal. Sun avoidance is also critical in this stage, as the sun can make the scars darken as they are maturing. Finally, it’s important to know that these scars can take several months or longer to settle down, and after this time, laser treatments may be helpful, in particular if there is some residual redness along the scar line. In the end, the question to ask yourself is if you are willing to accept a scar for an improved abdominal shape and contour. If the answer is no, then I would not proceed with the surgery. If however it’s yes, then a tummy tuck can be a great option and can really rejuvenate the abdomen quite nicely. (Shahram Salemy, MD, FACS, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

I’ve never heard “I shouldn’t have done this because of the scar”

Tummy tuck scar treatment scar gel

Scars are an unfortunate, but necessary trade off in cosmetic surgery. There are ways to help minimize the effects of scarring, which your board certified plastic surgeon may recommend during the healing process. Laser may be one of the modalities that is used by your surgeon, but is by no means used in every surgeon’s practice and has no strong evidence in the medical literature that it makes a significant difference.

So, don’t base your decision on whether or not to have surgery on the availability of laser treatments afterward. Your plastic surgeon can discuss the probability of your scar turning red more adequately after examining you. I don’t know of anyone using laser during surgery to minimize scar reddening after surgery. (Kenneth R. Francis, MD, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)