It’s safe to say that it’s impossible to perform a tummy tuck without scarring. This operation trades stretch marks, loose skin, and weakened muscles for a scar that is hopefully well positioned. The patient’s particular anatomy will have a profound impact on scar placement. Factors such as the transverse width of the abdomen, the distance from the pubis to the rib cage, the position of the umbilicus, and the patient’s stretch marks are all extremely important variables.Each patient is unique and it’s important to have good communication between the patient and surgeon. We find that it’s very helpful to perform pre-operative markings with the patient wearing her swimsuit. By utilizing this maneuver, confusion regarding incision placement is minimized.
Even when extreme care is undertaken to avoid wound-healing problems, they still may occur. It’s important to realize that wound healing is a dynamic process, which varies from patient to patient. For those reasons, scars may take over a year to reach maturity. When scars are less than optimal, scar revision may be necessary and this usually results in a satisfied patient. With normal wound healing and a well-placed incision, most patients are back in their bikini twelve months after surgery.
