If it were hidden under the underwear that you are wearing, the scar would be too low for most other things, such s a bikini or any bathing suit for that matter.
First, remember that a all surgical procedures are a trade-off in some way. With the tummy tuck, the trade-off are the scars left behind – the transverse scar at the bottom of the abdomen and the umbilical scar.
If properly planned, the tummy tuck scars after 2 years can be relatively imperceptible, however. First and foremost, find a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. By the time a PS has made it through the necessary number of years required for general sugary and plastic surgery to become a plastic surgeon, he/she has been exposed to enough surgery to know how to do a TT.
Remember that any time tissue is removed, a scar results. The idea is to place it in the proper location for the patient’s needs and to do a multiple layer closure so the scar itself is minimized. With a TT, the sutures must also be attached to the abdominal wall fascia, which is stronger, so the scar doesn’t migrate upward. However, even with precautions, it still migrates somewhat.
Wear the bathing suit style that you like for your plastic surgeon, so he can fashion the incisions and thus scar according to your preference. Remember that it still may migrate upward, and, most importantly, your opinion for fashion will change as you get older. This is why some of the patients request high scars to fit their bikinis when they are fairly young, but have had children. I generally discourage very high scars laterally because of people’s changing ideas of fashion as he grow older.
For the umbilical (belly button) scar, it too should be attached to the underlying fascia to pull it inward toward the fascia. Also, some of the underlying fat under the abdominal wall skin must be removed from the site of where the new umbilicus will be located. Belly buttons have a contour that smoothly contours inwards into the belly button. These maneuvers assure the proper contours and hide the scar within the belly button
All in all, these patients are very happy because the “trade-off” with tummy tuck surgery is a good one.
A successful abdominoplasty surgery must take into account the patient’s lifestyle and preferences. The scar placement will take into account the type and style of clothing including swimsuit/bikini the patient prefers.
Plastic surgeons and their patients are at the mercy of undergarment fashion and patient lingerie selection when it comes to hiding a Tummy tuck scars after 2 years. Women who wear Jockey or Olga full size underpants have an easier task of hiding their surgical scar. I actually will check the surgical markings with these garment on the patient. Women who wear string or thong type undergarments make hiding the scar difficult or impossible. The usual abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) scar we employ is actually no more than a reasonably lengthened c-section scar. Always discuss scar length and position with your surgeon prior to your operation.
I tell patients that after a tummy tuck my goal is to have you wear a low cut bikini and have no visible evidence that a tummy tuck was performed, scar hidden in the underwear/bikini line and belly button scar well hidden on the inside, while these are not always achievable these are the goals and occur 95% of the time in the right hands.
Yes, whenever possible scars will be made low by the pubic hairline so as to be covered by many bikini designs. Judging from the photos you provided you should be ready for the beach as soon as 6 wks following your procedure if all goes well.
Tummy tuck scars after 2 years are ideally placed low and beneath a “bikini” line. Although there can be some slight unpredictability to where it ends up, this is usually minor if the markings are made carefully and with a strong “pulling up” of the possibly loose pubic and groin areas to minimize the “migration” of the scar upwards during healing. If the scars do well, they can be hidden beneath a bikini line, BUT with a very narrow “string” bikini it may be difficult to place the strings “just so” to hide the scars, so you must be realistic.
Some surgeons raise the scar higher if there is not enough loose skin above the belly button to be able to advance and get rid of the old belly button hole and thus void a short vertical scar from closing this hole in the lower tummy. In this case, the scar would be higher and NOT well hidden beneath a bikini line, so be sure to discuss this with your surgeon.
The length and position of tummy tuck scars after 2 years is directly related to how much extra skin you have and how tight you want the result. The more extra skin and/or the tighter you want the result, the longer the scar. Most surgeons try to get the scar beneath the waistline of jeans, and bathing suits. Take your bathing suit with you to your consultation. Put it on and discuss it with your surgeon.
It is often possible to wear a bikini after a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). It is beneficial to wear one of your bikinis on the day of your surgery so that its position can be marked prior to the procedure. These marks will help your surgeon determine the best position in which to place the scar.
Remember, however, that the quality of the scar can vary greatly from person to person. The length of the scar is also variable, depending on each person’s individual anatomy. Very small or string type bikinis are unlikely to cover all of the scar.
The placement of a tummy tuck incision is different for all patients. At the time of a consultation, your surgeon should be able to provide you with a good idea of scar placement. Of course when the skin is removed the upper skin is pulled down and the body adjusts by the lower skin moving upward which causes natural variability in final scar position. Depending on the type of bikini and your body will determine whether you can wear a one or not.
I always ask my patients to bring in their favorite bikini bottoms on the morning of surgery so that I can place the tummy tuck scar where it can be readily concealed. Because fashion is highly individualized, I believe it is critical to tailor each incision to accommodate each patient’s bikini contour.
Practicing in South Florida, I find that most of my patients prefer to wear small, low-rise bikinis rather than a high-rise French cut that accentuates the hips.
No matter your preference, the tummy tuck scar can usually be placed in the confines of your bikini so you can privately enjoy in public your gorgeous new figure!
Depending on the skin laxity, which will be determined pre-operatively, a surgeon can determine if the scar will be low enought for you to be able to wear a two piece bikini. The one piece, French style bikini, which tends to expose the lateral part of the pelvic bone will not hide a tranditional abdominoplasty scar.
With appropriate sun protection , you should be able to wear a biniki within a year after your operation.