It’s important to keep your incision area clean, dry and free of infection. You’ll notice a red, raised scar at first. This will soften and flatten over time. The new skin will feel tight and firm for several months after surgery. This is normal, but you may have some numbness that lasts for several weeks or months.
Your scar will look pink or purple for up to 6 months after the surgery. It will then begin to fade to white or silver with time. The full results of your procedure won’t be visible until about 6 months after surgery when the swelling subsides and the scars become less noticeable. In general, it takes about 9-12 months for a tummy tuck scar to fully heal and look natural.
Read on to learn more How Long For Tummy Tuck Scar To Heal, How to Reduce the Appearance of Your Tummy Tuck Scar and How to Avoid Complications After Tummy Tuck
How Long For Tummy Tuck Scar To Heal
Regardless of whether you had a mini or full tummy tuck, you’re bound to have some scarring. This can be frustrating, considering you want to show off your newly sculpted body. So if you’ve been asking yourself, “do tummy tuck scars go away?” and how to make them less noticeable, you’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, we’ll take a close look at what to expect from tummy tuck scars, when they could be a cause for concern, and tummy tuck scar removal techniques. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about tummy tuck scars, or use the links below to skip to the sections you’re most interested in.
Tummy Tuck Scar Stages
After a tummy tuck, a scar will form wherever the plastic surgeon makes an incision. While they may not be visually appealings, scars play a vital role in your healing, especially after a major surgical procedure like a tummy tuck. In fact, scars are your body’s natural way of helping you replace and repair lost or damaged skin. Once the healing process begins, incisions will typically follow a similar cycle that involves the following scar stages:
1st Stage: Closure
The first stage occurs when the skin is broken or where an incision is made. As a result, your body will release collagen fibers in an effort to close the wound and fill in the gaps. This stage takes about three to four weeks and is one of the most vulnerable phases.
2nd Stage: Establishment
The collagen fibers your body produces will continue to build, becoming stronger with time. To protect and strengthen the wound further, blood supply around scarred areas will increase. This will cause the scar to darken and become thicker. This stage can take approximately three to six months to complete.
Final stage: Maturity
Once your tummy tuck scar is at its final stage, it has reached maturity. This is when enough collagen fibers have been formed at the scar and the blood supply around it will decrease. As a result, the scar will become thinner, lighter, and less noticeable. A scar may take one to two years to mature.
Types of Tummy Tuck Scars
The tummy tuck scar you end up with can vary depending whether you get a traditional or mini abdominoplasty procedure. However, tummy tuck scars can occur in three main areas, including the belly button, lower abdomen, and pelvic area. Let’s take a closer look at what tummy tuck scars may look like in these locations below.
Belly Button
The belly button area may experience quite a bit of scarring when a traditional tummy tuck takes place. This is because the belly button will still be attached to the abdominal wall during the tummy tuck procedure. So, the scar will form a circle around the belly button. Sometimes, the skin will be pulled or tucked enough that scarring won’t be that visible. You can also avoid full tummy tuck scars in this area by opting to have a mini tummy tuck instead.
Lower Abdomen
Lower abdomen tummy tuck scars are located in between your belly button and pelvic area. Depending on the type of tummy tuck, this can produce short or longer incisions that run from hip to hip. Scarring in this area will be quite visible, so you may want to consider having the incisions placed lower.
Pelvic Area
Some plastic surgeons will give patients the chance to determine how low their incision is. This way, patients can easily hide their tummy tuck scars under the bikini line. Discussing scarring with your plastic surgeon before the procedure is one of the easiest ways to reduce the visibility of tummy tuck scars. At your consultation, your plastic surgeon may guide you on where scarring will occur, so you can adequately prepare.
When to be Concerned About Your Tummy Tuck Scar
Not all tummy tuck scars are going to look and feel the same on your body. Some will be flat and others will be raised or lumpy. What it comes down to is your skin type, the direction of the wound, your age, and diet. After your tummy tuck, your skin is expected to scar, and may not look the best the first couple of weeks. Don’t worry, tummy tuck scars will fade and eventually get better. That said, here are a few red flags to look out for that could be signs of infection:
- Excessive redness and bleeding
- Increased swelling and bruising
- Yellow or greenish discharge from the incision site
- Unpleasant smelling drainage
If you have any of the symptoms above, along with a fever over 100.4°F (38°C) and chills, contact your doctor or seek medical attention right away. Untreated infections could be life-threatening and can result in permanent scarring, making it more difficult to minimize their appearance.
You can prevent infections and other related issues from making the scar worse by following the tummy tuck surgery aftercare guidelines outlined by your plastic surgeon, such as:
- Not smoking or drinking alcohol
- Avoiding activities, such as heavy lifting and exercising
- Taking antibiotics and anticoagulants as recommended
Abnormal Tummy Tuck Scars
Hypertrophic and Keloid scars are two types of abnormal scars that can develop after a tummy tuck. Hypertrophic scars are raised, thickened scars that are usually no more than 4 millimeters above the skin. These scars are a result of an overproduction of collagen during the incision healing process due to a person’s skin type or body or infections. On the other hand, keloid scars are bulky, large, and can get bigger over time. This can occur due to an individual’s specific skin type and genetics.
Despite their appearance, there’s nothing to be concerned about either of these scars. There are various treatments that can be used to reduce the way these scars look on your skin, including home remedies, laser treatment, and surgery.
How to Reduce the Appearance of Your Tummy Tuck Scar
You may have gotten a tummy tuck so you can show off your wonderful body, but scars after a tummy tuck can make it difficult to enjoy your new look. Fortunately, there are various ways to reduce the appearance of tummy tuck scars and finally enjoy your skin.
Proper care
With proper care, you can make tummy tuck scars on your skin less noticeable. Make sure to closely follow the aftercare instructions your plastic surgeon recommends for the best results. A good plastic surgeon should provide detailed instructions on how to take care of the wound. Keeping the area as clean as possible and dressing the wound correctly can help incision scarring heal faster, reduce the chances of infection, and prevent overly noticeable scarring.
Ointments
Once there aren’t any more scabs on the incision site, you can begin using topical treatments. Ideally, treat the area with ointments that contain silicone, vitamin E, or both, as it can hydrate the scar tissue and keep it moisturized. Make sure to not use ointments or moisturizers until the incisions have closed. Doing so before the site is ready can increase the probability of infection and hinder healing.
Patches
One easy way to hinder the appearance of tummy tuck scars is by using patches. Generally, patches are simple to use and are made with silicone to significantly reduce the appearance of dark and raised scars. If choosing to move forward with patches, make sure the patches you use are water resistant so that you can shower and exercise without worry. One option is our silicone scar sheets that are easy to apply and can stay on regardless of the activity.
Laser therapy
Dermatologists will focus a high-energy laser on your tummy tuck scars to make them less noticeable. Light therapy works by stimulating the production of collagen at the site of the incision scar, allowing for it to blend in with the surrounding skin tissue. However, depending on the size and depth of your scar, this may take multiple sessions, which can be costly. In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of laser treatment can range anywhere between $1,445 to $2,509. Plus, because it’s considered a cosmetic procedure, most health insurance companies won’t cover it.
All tummy tucks will lead to scarring. However, the visibility and healing process ultimately depends on the scar’s placement, your body, and how it’s taken care of. Trust the process, remain patient, follow your surgeon’s post-op care guidelines, and closely monitor the scar for infections. Make sure to also start treatment right away, so you don’t have to worry about tummy tuck scars after a year has passed.
Tummy tuck surgery side effects
Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) can help address stretchmarks and sagging of the stomach, making it and ideal procedure for people who have experienced major weight loss following pregnancy or bariatric procedures. Dr. Kimberly Henry has helped countless patients in and around the greater San Francisco area achieve a trimmer and slimmer frame thanks to tummy tuck surgery, and it can really do wonders for you.
Of course, all surgeries cause certain side effects to occur. With that in mind, we’d like to go over some of the basic side effects of tummy tuck surgery so patients can have realistic expectations about what to expect from the treatment process.
About Tummy Tuck Surgery
Tummy tuck surgery typically involves three incisions in an anchor shape around the lower abdominal area:
- One lateral incision below the belly button that spans from hipbone to hipbone
- A circular incision around the belly button
- A vertical incision that connects the previous two incisions
Working through these incisions, a cosmetic surgeon is able to remove excess skin, adjust underlying tissues, tighten the remaining skin, and improve a patient’s overall body contour in the process.
The Effects of General Anesthesia
One of the most common side effects experienced after tummy tuck is related to general anesthesia. When coming out of general anesthetic, patients are likely to experience grogginess, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. This is all normal, and it’s why patients should avoid driving and operating machinery in the first 24 hours after their tummy tuck.
Soreness and Discomfort After Tummy Tuck
After any kind of surgery, patients are bound to note soreness and discomfort as they recover. This is especially pronounced in the abdominal region where the work was performed. The pain and discomfort is more pronounced in the first days after surgery, though patients should notice improvements in pain and discomfort as they continue to recover.
How to Avoid Complications After Tummy Tuck
To avoid potential complications following a tummy tuck, it’s best for patients to follow all post-op instructions to the letter. This offers optimal conditions for post-surgical healing and proper recovery. We can go over these post-op instructions during the consultation process.
Mini tummy tuck
A mini tummy tuck process removes excess skin and fat in the abdomen region. As a result, a youthful-looking contour is restored in the upper body.
What is a Mini Tummy Tuck?
This operation removes excess fat and skin that has formed in the abdominal area of the body. Removal of loose tissue during the surgery helps to improve the aesthetic appearance of the abdomen. If you have gone through childbirth, experienced a significant decrease in weight loss, or had a negative encounter with previous abdominal surgery, this can be a preferred surgical procedure for patients.
Your Mini Tummy Tuck Consultation
As the mini tummy tuck surgery involves the removal of excess skin, the operation will be tailored to each individual’s needs. For example, when large deposits of stubborn fat are present, the procedure can be combined with liposuction to provide better results. Your desired results can be achieved so long as you remain open and honest about expectations during the consultation.
Questions will also be asked about your health and lifestyle to help cater the surgery to your needs and avoid any potential risks. This will also help to confirm whether or not an alternative form of surgery may be more suitable.
Mini Tummy Tuck Preparation
To prepare you in the best way possible for your mini tummy tuck surgery, we’ll discuss the best preparation methods prior to your procedure. There are a range of precautions that we advise you to follow.
If you smoke excessively, we recommend you to stop approximately six weeks before your mini tummy tuck surgery as this will help to avoid any complications with your recovery.
To ensure the best results, we strongly advise you to lose any excess weight prior to surgery.
It’s also important to avoid taking aspirin, some herbal supplements and any anti-inflammatory medication which we can discuss in more detail during your consultation.
Around six hours before the surgery avoid drinking or eating as a general anaesthetic will be used during the surgery to help numb any pain. It is expected for you to feel some soreness shortly after the surgery as your anaesthetic wears off but we can relieve this through other forms of health supplements if required.
Although each individual recovers differently from the surgery, we still advise that you give yourself at least two weeks off from your job to fully recover.
What to Expect During the Mini Tummy Tuck Surgery
How long your procedure lasts is dependable on how much excess skin requires to be removed. As only a small amount of skin is required to be removed during a mini tummy tuck surgery, we can expect this to take around one and a half hours.
At the beginning of the surgery, we create an incision around the pubic region just below your naval and how much tissue needs to be removed will ultimately determine the length of this.
A benefit of a mini tummy tuck surgery compared with a full tummy tuck or the Fleur De Lis Abdominoplasty is that it leaves a much smaller scar because the others require removing much more skin.
After Care
Due to the position of the surgery on your body, we’ll take you to the ward which gives you the ability to regain movement following the procedure. Once the anaesthesia has worn off you will be able to eat and drink again.
Pain relief will also be provided shortly after the surgery to help numb any pain you feel which will arise from the expected swelling. After the surgery it’s worth following these steps in order to ensure a speedy recovery:
- Arranging for a pick up from the hospital will help to avoid the area from becoming strained whilst you drive.
- Having someone available to care for you whilst you’re at home will prevent the struggle of manoeuvring which you’re likely to feel for about a week or so.
- So we can support you through your recovery, have someone available to help you attend appointments back at the hospital which we’ll schedule after your surgery.
- You can avoid any unnecessary straining in the first week of your recovery.
- A support garment will be provided after the surgery and you should wear this for around 4-6 weeks after the surgery to aid your recovery.
- Light exercise after a week or two, such as walking, can resume.
- You can be encouraged to start normal exercise around three to four weeks after your mini tummy tuck surgery.
- Once your scar has healed, begin to regularly massage it in order to improve it’s long-term appearance.