Tummy tucks are among the most common plastic surgery procedures in the U.S. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, approximately 200,000 are performed yearly.
The procedure involves removing excess fat and loose skin and tightening muscles surrounding the abdomen. The result is a contoured, defined waistline and flatter stomach area.
The most common area for this procedure is around the lower abdomen, below the belly button. Still, some patients may also choose to do it on their upper abdomen if they have a full abdominoplasty and liposuction of the lower abdomen.
Abdominoplasty with liposuction can be combined with other procedures such as breast augmentation, breast reduction, or a mommy makeover. An abdominoplasty alone can also be combined with liposuction of other areas, such as love handles or flanks (love handle lipo).
Tummy tuck scars can vary greatly depending on how much scarring you want to hide and how deep your incision needs to be to achieve good results.
Where are tummy tuck scars located?
The incision is designed to make the scar as inconspicuous as possible while allowing access to all areas that need to be worked on during surgery, such as your abdomen and lower back.
Several incisions can be used: low vertical, midline (center), or horizontal (side). The choice depends on many factors, including your anatomy, how much work needs to be done during surgery, and other factors. Here are the types of tummy tuck scars:
1. Belly Button
The belly button is the most visible part of the scar, but it’s also the easiest to hide. This area is always covered by clothing and jewelry, so your belly button scar will always be hidden.
Your belly button scar should fade over time and become barely noticeable.
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2. Lower abdomen
The lower abdomen is where most tummy tuck scars are located. If you plan on having a tummy tuck, consider wearing pants with an elastic waistband or skirts that cover your lower abdomen when you’re out in public after surgery.
You can also wear long shirts covering your lower abdomen at night to protect against bumps and bruises caused by bed sheets or blankets rubbing against your incision site as you sleep.
3. Pelvic Area
The tummy tuck scar runs from the pubic area to just under the belly button. Some surgeons will go higher than this, but there are no benefits to having a longer scar.
Most patients are happy with their results when they have this tummy tuck scar.
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Tummy Tuck Surgery: Healing Process
The healing process after a tummy tuck depends on several factors, including age and how healthy you are for surgery. If you’re in good health, you can return to work after surgery within a week or two.
However, if you have some medical issues or are elderly, it may take longer for your stomach to heal completely after a tummy tuck.
1. Right after surgery
Your doctor will use stitches and staples to close your incision. You’ll need to wear a surgical bra for up to two weeks afterward. You may also be asked to wear a compression garment to help reduce swelling and speed healing.
You will be taken to a recovery room, where you will be monitored until you are alert and ready to go home. You may have drains in your body that will be removed after surgery, but this is not always necessary.
You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first couple of days since you will probably feel nauseous and weak.
2. First few Weeks to Months
You’ll feel soreness, bruising, and swelling around your incision site for several weeks after the procedure. Most patients experience intense pain for about a week after surgery.
Your doctor will prescribe pain medication you can take to manage discomfort during recovery.
It’s normal to have some swelling in your abdomen and legs for about two months after surgery due to fluid build-up caused by postoperative drainage from your incisions.
As long as you’re not experiencing pain or discomfort, it’s okay if the swelling persists longer than expected because it should naturally go away over time.
Read More: Tummy Tuck explained.
3. Six months later
Six months after the tummy tuck surgery is complete, and you can expect to see the final results of your surgery. Now, you can wear more fitted and form-fitting clothing than possible. You may also notice that you have lost some weight because of your improved diet and exercise routine.
4. One year later
You should see even better results one year after your tummy tuck surgery is complete. Your scars should be softened and less noticeable than they were before. In addition, you will have more confidence in wearing fitted clothing, swimsuits, and bathing suits because there are no excess skin folds or sagging skin on your stomach area anymore!
Read More: bra line back lift.
Best Tummy Tuck in Turkey prices
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Plastic surgeons are members of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). They have years of surgical experience.
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HayatMed always strives to provide the best services at affordable prices; HayatMed provides all-inclusive packages from operation to hotels and transportation at the best prices.
Tummy Tuck Scar Stages
Tummy tuck surgery can greatly improve your body contour and make you more confident in your clothing. But the procedure is not without risk, including scarring.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to reduce scarring from tummy tuck surgery.
1st Stage: Closure
The closure stage is the first stage and occurs immediately after surgery. The incision is closed and placed in a closed suction drain during this stage.
The drain helps to remove excess fluid from the surgical site and allows for early detection of postoperative complications such as hematoma or seroma (abnormal collection of blood or fluid).
2nd Stage: Establishment
This stage is known as “skin closure” or “healing by secondary intention.” This phase begins when all bleeding has stopped and ends when all staples are removed. During this phase, your body will begin recovering from surgery and healing itself.
This process may take several weeks, depending on how much damage was done during surgery and how well your body responds. At times there may be some swelling or discoloration around the incision site for up to two months after surgery, but this is usually temporary and does not affect the outcome of your surgery.
Final stage: Maturity
The final stage occurs approximately one month after surgery when scars have matured and healed sufficiently to withstand regular activity without undue tension on the incisions.
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How to Treat and Reduce Scarring
If you have a scar, you may wonder how to treat and reduce it. Many methods can help reduce scars, from natural treatments to more advanced treatments like laser therapy.
Here we’ll go over the most effective ways of treating and reducing scars.
1. Try a Weekly Dressing Change
The most important thing you can do for your scar is to change your dressing daily, and you must keep the area clean and dry to remove your scar as quickly as possible.
Also, avoid picking at the scab or touching it too much — this can cause more inflammation and prolong healing time.
2. Try Laser Therapy
Laser therapy may be right for you if you’re looking for an excellent way to treat scarring. Laser therapy is a non-surgical treatment that uses light energy to accelerate the body’s natural healing process by stimulating new collagen growth in the skin tissue around an injury site or wound.
That helps reduce scarring and improve appearance while speeding up recovery after surgery.
3. Wear Silicone Strips
Scars can be unsightly and hard to treat, but they mustn’t be permanent. A new trend called silicone strips can help reduce their appearance. These are small, clear strips that are applied directly to the scar.
They contain silicone gel, which helps boost collagen production, making scars softer and less noticeable. These are typically worn for six weeks but can be worn longer if necessary.
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4. Apply a Silicone Scar Gel
Another option is silicone scar gel, which contains hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is naturally found in the body that helps keep skin moisturized and plump by attracting water from the air around us into the skin’s deeper layers.
When applied topically, it can help speed up the healing process by helping your skin retain moisture better than without it. It may also help with inflammation caused by damaged tissue and stimulate collagen production so that scars become less noticeable over time.
Read Also: Should I get lipo or tummy tuck after C-section?
5. Steroid Injections
Steroid injections are often used to treat scars by reducing inflammation and redness. However, it is important to note that steroid injections only temporarily reduce inflammation and do not help prevent scarring.
However, they can be beneficial for cosmetic concerns such as discoloration or indentations in the skin. Steroids can also benefit certain keloids (raised scars) and hypertrophic scars (raised bumps).
6. Try Morpheus8 by InMode
Morpheus8 is a non-invasive treatment designed to reduce the appearance of scars using radiofrequency technology. The device creates heat in the skin, stimulating collagen production and skin tightening, reducing redness and discoloration associated with scarring.
7. Wear sunscreen
The best thing you can do for your skin is to wear sunscreen daily, which will help prevent hyperpigmentation, redness, and scarring. In addition to applying sunscreen before going into the sun, it’s also important to reapply every 2 hours — especially if you are sweating or swimming.
8. Consider Scar Revision
If you have a scar that bothers you, it might be worth getting a consultation with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon to see if your scar can be treated with laser resurfacing or other methods.
The goal of treating scars is a cosmetic and functional improvement (i.e., reducing pain).
Read Also: how soon can you shower after a tummy tuck?
Best Tummy Tuck in Turkey prices
Packages include medical fees, accommodation, airport transfers, and personal host.
Things You Should Know About A Tummy Tuck
1. A tummy tuck won’t make you drop weight.
A tummy tuck is a procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdominal area, and it also tightens up the abdominal wall muscles and helps remove stretch marks that have formed over time.
Although some people may lose weight after a tummy tuck, it is not a weight-loss procedure.
The surgery does not remove fat or help you lose weight, but it does help to tighten up your abdomen so that once you start losing weight, your stomach will look better than ever!
2. There are a few different types of scars.
The type of scarring will depend on how much skin needs to be removed during the procedure, where the incisions are made, and what closure technique is used.
If too much skin needs to be removed, there may be scars around your waistline (from side to side) visible when wearing clothes that fit tightly around your waist (i.e., jeans and bathing suits).
If less skin needs to be removed, there may be only one vertical scar below your belly button or even two horizontal scars just above or below your belly button.
3. It’s essential to do your research before choosing a surgeon.
A good surgeon will have experience performing hundreds of tummy tucks, so they know what works and doesn’t work in different situations. It would help to ask how many procedures your surgeon has performed and how long they have been performing. This information is available on most surgeons’ or your insurance provider’s websites.
4. It is costly, and insurance likely won’t cover it.
The cost of a tummy tuck varies widely, from $3,000 to $15,000 or more. If you have insurance, check to see if it covers cosmetic surgery. Most plans won’t cover a tummy tuck since it’s not medically necessary — but some might cover part of the surgery.
If you don’t have insurance, consider paying for the surgery with a credit card or getting help from family members. The good news is that most plastic surgeons offer financing options for their patients.
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5. You’ll need help at home for the first week.
It’s essential to have someone at home to help you with your daily chores and other activities until you fully recover from your surgery.
Your doctor will provide specific instructions on how much activity you can do and when you should return to work, but you’ll likely need assistance for a few days after your procedure.
6. Expect benefits beyond the cosmetic.
Many people who undergo this procedure are looking for a way to improve their overall appearance, but there are other reasons why a tummy tuck may be an ideal choice for some individuals.
For example, suppose you’ve suffered chronic back pain due to loose skin hanging over your abdominal muscles or an umbilical hernia. In that case, this procedure could help ease those symptoms while improving your self-esteem and body image.
In addition, if you’re suffering from diastasis recti — a separation of the left and right sides of your abdominal muscle — this surgery can help repair that and relieve discomfort caused by tightness in that area.
Conclusion
Most tummy tuck scars heal well due to the aseptic technique, appropriate surgery lines, and patient compliance with the surgeon’s instructions. If you follow your plastic surgeon’s advice and healing protocol, you should be able to live with a smooth and natural-looking tummy tuck scar for the rest of your life.
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This article was Medically reviewed by Dr. Ali Cem OKTAY
