The tummy tuck is one of the most popular body contouring procedures due to its ability to create or restore a flat stomach and slimmer waistline. If you’ve been considering a tummy tuck, like many patients do, you may have concerns about scars—what do they look like? Do they ever fully go away? This blog will cover the different types of tummy tuck scars, healing timelines, and how you can help scars fade after your recovery is complete.
5 Min Read:
Table of Contents
- Understanding the Tummy Tuck
- Types of Tummy Tuck Scars
- Tummy Tuck Scars Over Time
- Tips for Fading Tummy Tuck Scars
- Learn More About Tummy Tuck Surgery in Cleveland, OH
Understanding the Tummy Tuck
Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure designed to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen. Often, this procedure also involves repairing separated abdominal muscles to treat diastasis recti. This results in a stronger, tighter core, a flat stomach, and a smoother, firmer abdominal contour overall.
For some patients who had a C-section, the incision for the tummy tuck can be placed in the same location as the existing C-section scar. Additionally, a tummy tuck can sometimes remove stretch marks if they are located below the belly button.
Types of Tummy Tuck Scars
The way your tummy tuck scar looks ultimately depends on the technique used, as incisions vary among the different tummy tuck techniques. Dr. Matt Goldschmidt, a cosmetic surgeon serving Cleveland, OH, and the surrounding areas, utilizes advanced incision techniques to encourage optimal healing and scar formation.
Full Tummy Tuck
A full tummy tuck involves a horizontal incision located very low on the abdomen, spanning from hip to hip, as well as an incision made around the belly button. The horizontal incision is usually easy to conceal under swimsuits and underwear, and the incision encircling the navel usually fades quite well for most patients, blending in with the surrounding skin and becoming less noticeable over time.
Mini Tummy Tuck
There’s usually just one incision for a mini tummy tuck, which is also a horizontal incision made low on the abdomen. The difference is that this incision is much shorter than the incision for a full tummy tuck. That means the mini tummy tuck scar is that much easier to disguise under clothing.
Tummy Tuck Scars Over Time
Each patient is unique, so recovery timelines vary. That said, a general tummy tuck scar healing timeline might go like this:
Right After Surgery
The incision is fresh, will often appear red, and sometimes features ridges or pleats. Swelling, inflammation, and even some oozing are expected at this stage.
First Few Weeks and Months
The incision is steadily healing. It may still look dark due to the blood supply in the wound. The incision may be flattening, or pleats may still be visible. There may be a “dog ear” or prominence at the end of the incision. This will usually contract and soften as the scar continues to mature. To encourage proper scar fading, it’s important to follow your postoperative instructions and take very good care of your incisions.
Six Months Later
Although your incision will be closed by now, the scar will usually still be noticeable. While no longer red, many scars at this point are soft brown or pink. From here on out, your scar should slowly start to lose its pigmentation.
One Year Later
Scars take about eight to twelve months to fully mature. By this point, internal scar tissue and blood vessels have been largely broken down, swelling is gone, and scars have faded considerably. Around this point is when many patients might consider nonsurgical treatments to fade scars if desired.
Tips for Fading Tummy Tuck Scars
Several factors affect the way your scars will heal, from age and genetics to nutrition, smoking, and how well you follow postoperative care instructions. Right after surgery, follow these tips to encourage smooth incision healing and the best possible scar formation.
- Follow postoperative instructions. Poor scar formation or prominent scars are often the result of noncompliance with aftercare instructions.
- Use silicone strips or gel recommended by your surgeon. This is an excellent way to protect your incision, keep it hydrated, and help it fade optimally.
- Maintain a balanced diet and ample hydration to give your body the nutrients it needs to heal properly.
- Avoid the sun and use sun protection. UV rays can make your scar darker.
- Avoid irritation. Friction from certain fabrics or products with harsh formulas can increase redness retention in the scar.
Can nonsurgical treatments fade tummy tuck scars?
In many cases, yes! After you’ve fully recovered from your tummy tuck, if you’d like to encourage further fading of your scar, certain nonsurgical treatments can help. At The Cosmetic Surgery Center, we may recommend the following treatments to fade scars:
- Microneedling: This treatment creates tiny punctures in the skin to stimulate the production of collagen and encourage cell turnover. Many patients have used microneedling to successfully improve the texture of scars and reduce their visibility. Microneedling is an excellent option for patients of all skin tones and types.
- Laser Resurfacing: This therapy removes the top layer of damaged skin and stimulates the growth of fresh, healthy skin cells to improve scar texture and color. Laser treatments can often treat hypertrophic scars because they break down scar tissue and flatten scars.
Learn More About Tummy Tuck Surgery in Cleveland, OH
If you’re considering tummy tuck surgery but are concerned about scars, the best way to get your questions answered is to schedule a consultation with a highly skilled, experienced surgeon. Dr. Matt Goldschmidt is a double board-certified cosmetic surgeon with years of experience helping patients achieve their body contouring goals. He and his friendly team will be happy to help you learn more about how a tummy tuck can help you reach your aesthetic goals.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Goldschmidt and learn more about your options, call The Cosmetic Surgery Center at (216) 264-8100 or use our online contact form.