Pre-surgery you can take nutritional supplements and watch your diet to aid the body in preparing for surgery. Continuing the intake of these nutrients for several weeks after the surgery is also recommended. After your tummy tuck surgery, wound care should be of number one concern. It is important to realize that all scars fade over time and its possible that your tummy tuck scar may be at its worst at about 12 weeks after your surgery.The belly button scar that remains after surgery will therefore be determined by your surgeon’s technique. If he makes a round scar around the belly button, it will look as if there is a bull’s eye or donut right in the center of your belly. Likewise an “inverted Y” scar will make it look like an arrowhead.
In traditional abdominoplasty, incision will be made at the same level as C section surgery but it will be much longer. This incision will be made from hip to hip while other will be a vertical incision made for reformation of navel. A horizontal scar between belly button and pubic mound will appear after this type of surgery. If your surgeon uses W technique in which a w shaped incision is made rather than a horizontal one then the scarring caused by the procedure will also be W shaped.
These also help fade the scar after healing with continued use. Scar minimizing creams that contain minerals and vitamins which result in a lightening of the scar tissue are also available. These creams are recommended for use only after complete healing has taken place. Lifestyle choices to consider which will help reduce the appearance of your tummy tuck scar are to wear loose clothing, avoid smoking, and most importantly use SPF, keeping the scar out of the sun. After healing, if a prominent tummy tuck scar still exists, there are surgical solutions for scar removal.
This way you get your taut, flat tummy, but there’s not too much tension to widen your scar or cause serious wound healing problems. Sutures: I have suturing techniques for each of my surgical procedures that are specifically designed to bring the skin together securely and properly. This helps to heal well, limiting the tummy tuck scars.
Over time, the reddish/purple discoloration fades and the scar should flatten. This is a process that takes the body an average of 12 months to complete as long as there are no complications or hitches in the healing process. This timeline can also vary depending on color of the skin of the patient and their genetic background. If tummy tuck scars are still severe after an extended period of time and after trials of the above mentioned remedies, patients can elect to have them treated with additional medical procedures.
A top concern among tummy tuck patients-to-be is where their scars will be and what they will look like. This info will clear that up. During a full or standard tummy tuck, Dr. Clark makes one incision around the belly button and one thin, linear horizontal incision just above the pubic bone, running from hip bone to hip bone. Through these sites, she can tighten muscles, remove excess skin, and relocate your belly button into a natural position.
Ask your doctor about the techniques that he plans to use;you can request that draws the area on you where he plans to cut. You should even request a partial tummy tuck procedure, if possible. Prepare for the surgery. Begin your healthy diet, multivitamins, and vitamin E at least two months prior to the operation.
One of the most important ways to minimize the appearance of your scar starts before your surgery ever takes place. You should stop smoking for several weeks before your surgery (most doctors advise at least 4-6 weeks), and refrain from smoking for at least 6 weeks after the procedure to maximize oxygen flow to the area and encourage healthy healing. Another way you can help prevent excessive scarring is by avoiding infection after your surgery.
Patients who follow these instructions have the best outcome; it is a matter of consistency. The compression garment must be worn as instructed to reduce swelling and to help the incision heal. Straining or pulling the scar can result in wider and raised scars. The use of a scar cream is permitted after the incisions heal.
