Can Tummy Tucks Remove Abdominal Scarring?

Women often wonder if a tummy tuck will rid their abdomens of scarring, either from pregnancy or previous surgeries. This really depends on where the scar is and how severe the scarring appears.

In a full tummy tuck, the belly button is usually detached from the abdominal wall and moved down slightly. This process also moves skin downward and removes any excess skin. The scar, depending on how high up it appears, will either be moved down with the belly button or removed with the excess skin. It is only removed if the scarring is lower in the abdomen.

If the scarring is above the belly button this can sometimes hinder the possibility of a tummy tuck all together. Scarring sometimes cuts off blood supply to the abdominal skin, creating a high risk of wound problems with the new incisions from a tummy tuck. It is extremely important to discuss the risks with multiple Beverly Hills plastic surgeons to get a full scope of what your options are.

If this is a case, plastic surgeons most likely will recommend scar revision surgery, paired with a mini-tummy tuck if possible.

It is also important to keep in mind that with a tummy tuck, more scarring is possible from the incisions made in order to perform a tummy tuck. Most physicians will aim to place a horizontal scar beneath the bikini line; however, if there is a lot of excess skin, sometimes a vertical incision is necessary.

A tummy tuck is a procedure that usually requires about 2 weeks for recovery time. It is important to understand what the procedure entails and how your body may react to the surgery. Dr. Hovsepian will gladly walk you through the procedure and answer any questions you might have at your consultation.