A Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty can help remove excess tummy skin after pregnancy or weight loss. Choosing the right plastic surgeon can help minimise your scars after a Tummy Tuck as scar placement is key. Good preparation and following recovery instructions closely can help get better scar results. Your scars will fade over time, but a great scar result takes effort
Smoking, stress and straining can impact your healing and scar formation to give a suboptimal scar result. Some patients form of keloid, rough or hypertrophic scars, which require special treatments.
Post-surgical scar treatments can also help get a better-looking scar including lasers, microneedling silicon tapes & Gels. Remember that a tummy tuck is considered major surgery and choosing the best tummy tuck surgeon is just as important as choosing the right surgical scar treatments.
URGENT UPDATE – Australian Government has reinstated a Medicare Item Number for a Tummy Tuck for some post-pregnancy patients with Diastasis Recti (Split Tummy Muscles) if you are eligible and meet the new criteria. This new Medicare item number -30175 – will be effective 1st July 2022. Read the 30175 factsheet
CLICK to Download Dr Turner’s Tummy Tuck Abdominoplasty Surgery Guide
What is a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a cosmetic procedure used to make your abdomen thinner and more firm. The surgery entails the removal of excess skin, tissue, and fat from the middle and lower abdomen in order to tighten the muscle and fascia. Once your surgical incisions have completely healed, your abdomen becomes flatter, firmer, and well-defined.
Do you have pockets of fats around your abdomen? Have you tried a variety of diets and exercises but feel like you are not losing abdominal fat? If so, you may be an ideal candidate for tummy tuck surgery. This procedure removes excess fat in your abdomen and reshapes the area to make it aesthetically pleasing.
How to Minimise Scars after a Tummy Tuck
While a tummy tuck may be very effective in achieving a tighter and better-looking tummy, the surgery requires downtime and may leave you with permanent scars. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to minimize your surgical scars.
Where do you develop scars after a Tummy Tuck?
Typically, tummy tuck scars are located in the following areas: – Belly button, Lower abdomen and Pelvic area.
A skilled plastic surgeon like Dr Turner can hide your tummy tuck scar around your bikini line to make it less visible. Less skillful doctors have incorrectly positioned, higher and wider scars or excess skin or ‘dog ears’, making the incision more obvious to others.
What should you do before your surgery to minimise scars after a Tummy Tuck ?
The following are some essential tips to do prior to your tummy tuck procedure that can help reduce scarring:
- Look at the past results of your plastic surgeon: This will give you a point of view of their skills and experience. This also allows you to bring up your concerns to your surgeon about the scarring associated with the procedure. You can ask what the scar is expected to look like as well as normal and abnormal findings during your recovery period. A surgeon with vast experience in the field of cosmetic surgery will be able to answer all your questions.
- Bring underwear or bikini bottoms to your surgical planning appointment: This will help you to get a clear idea of where your scars will be. Your surgeon will suggest different types of surgical incisions that can be concealed with your underwear.
- Refrain from smoking for at least six weeks before and after your surgery: This will help reduce complications of your tummy tuck procedure. Nicotine in cigarettes and vapes is a potent vasoconstrictor, which means that it narrows the blood vessels and impairs blood supply. This in turn delays the wound healing process. Can also cause necrosis or tissue death – Don’t smoke!
- Tell your surgeon and anaesthetist about ALL your current medications: Some antibiotics, anticonvulsants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and steroids can impair the wound healing process and lead to a poor cosmetic result. Talking to your health care provider helps identify medications that can possibly affect the outcome of your tummy tuck surgery.
- Be in good physical health before surgery – eat healthily and take fluids.
- Washing all your incision sites the night before surgery with antibacterial solution can help to reduce the chances of an infection.
What should you do after your surgery to minimise scars?
During your recovery period, adhere to your surgeon’s instructions and the following tips to achieve your desired cosmetic result and lower your risk of complications:
- Move and Walk gently as soon as possible: This will help reduce swelling and blood clot formation which can lead to longer recovery time and prominent scars.
- Clean the surgical wound as prescribed by your doctor: Before discharge, your doctor will teach you the proper wound cleansing technique. Make sure to follow discharge instructions to prevent infection of your surgical wound and minimize scarring.
- Avoid wound contamination – Don’t pick at or poke your incision. Always change dressings in a sterile environment and using clean disposable gloves. A wound infection can cause serious wound breakdown, tissue death and poor quality scar results.
- Avoid lifting heavy items for at least six weeks: Avoid doing activities that stretch, bend, or cause you to put pressure on your abdomen. This can put additional tension on your suture line, resulting in wound dehiscence (reopening of the surgical wound).
- Avoid sexual activities for three weeks: Resuming your sexual activity immediately can also put additional tension on your suture line, which can lead to further injury and scarring.
- Avoid prolonged sun exposure and tanning beds: Prolonged sun exposure and tanning beds can alter the appearance of your surgical scar by inducing hyperpigmentation, a condition characterized by the darkening of the skin. This can make your scar more noticeable.
- Don’t Smoke or Vape!
What Scar Treatments can help minimise scars after Tummy Tuck?
- Using Silicone Gels – Stratapharma makes two products to help minimise scars – Stratamed (for open wounds) and Strataderm for (healed incisions). These can help get a better result and can be applied after surgery or weeks later..
- Using Silicone Strips : These are over-the-counter ultra-thin sheets of silicone that are applied to scars. It significantly reduces the appearance of surgical scars by keeping the surgical wound hydrated, reduces the activity of inflammatory cytokines and fibroblasts (cells involved in scar formation), reduces wound tension, decreases blood flow to the scar site, and aids in the proper alignment of structural proteins.
- Talk to your surgeon regarding topical steroids: Topical steroids reduce surgical scars by protecting against programmed cell death (apoptosis) and improving blood circulation in the dermis (skin layer between the epidermis and fat tissue). These are particularly useful if you are prone to hypertrophic scarring.
- Consider laser therapy: Laser therapy is a minimally invasive scar revision procedure that reduces the appearance of surgical scars by destroying small blood vessels in immature scars which in turn prevents scar formation. This procedure also has an additional effect of stimulating the treated skin area to replace old, damaged skin cells with new, healthy cells, resulting in younger-looking skin.
- Dermal treatments like skinpen and microneedling can also help minimise your scars after Tummy Tuck
Are you considering a tummy tuck for your abdominal fat? Want to know more about the procedure and surgical scar treatments that will best suit your body type?
Schedule a consultation with Dr Turner now or send in an enquiry form below.
Medical References about minimising scars after Tummy Tuck:
- Suetak T, Sasai S, Zhen YX, Tagami H. Effects of silicone gel sheet on the stratum corneum hydration. Br J Plast Surg. 2000;53(6):503-507. doi:10.1054/bjps.2000.3388. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine PubMed.gov.
- Kelemen O, Hegedűs G, Kollár L, Menyhei G, Seress L. Morphological analysis of the connective tissue reaction in linear hypertrophic scars treated with intralesional steroid or silicone-gel sheeting. A light and electron microscopic study. Acta Biol Hung 2008;59:129–145. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine PubMed.gov.
- Akaishi S, Akimoto M, Hyakusoku H, Ogawa R. 142B: the relationship between keloid growth pattern and stretching tension-visual analysis using the finite element method. Plast Reconstr Surg 2010;125:96. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine PubMed.gov.
- Rabello FB, Souza CD, Farina Júnior JA. Update on hypertrophic scar treatment. Clinics 2014;69:565–573. Retrieved from US National Library of Medicine PMC.
- Borgognoni L. Biological effects of silicone gel sheeting. Wound Repair Regen 2002;10:118–121. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine PubMed.gov.
- Robson MC, Kucan JO, Paik KI, Eriksson E. Prevention of dermal ischemia after thermal injury. Arch Surg. 1978;113:621. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine PubMed.gov.
- Kull FC, Jr. Reduction in tumor necrosis factor receptor affinity and cytotoxicity by glucocorticoids. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1988;153:402–9. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine PubMed.gov.
- Alster TS, Nanni CA. Pulsed dye laser treatment of hypertrophic burn scars. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1998;102:2190–5. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine PubMed.gov.
- Heidari Beigvand H, Razzaghi M, Rostami-Nejad M, et al. Assessment of Laser Effects on Skin Rejuvenation. J Lasers Med Sci. 2020;11(2):212-219. doi:10.34172/jlms.2020.35. Retrieved from US National Library of Medicine PMC.
About Dr Scott Turner FRACS (Plas) – Specialist Plastic Surgeon
Dr Scott J Turner has spent a lifetime acquiring the qualifications, education, training, and hands-on surgical experience to perform superior cosmetic plastic surgery to give you natural, beautiful results and the improved sense of well-being you want. He is one of the top Specialist Plastic Surgeons with a Breast and Body Surgery focus in New South Wales.
Achieving this personal goal requires not only in-depth knowledge of human anatomy and refined surgical techniques but an ongoing commitment to learning the latest procedures around the world. This is why Dr Turner regularly attends both local and international surgeon meetings – discussing these advances with the leaders around the world in order to offer you the most natural, effective and safest surgical procedures. He is a committed board member of ASAPS – Australia Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Dr Turner and his highly trained staff will do everything to ensure that you are fully informed, while providing exceptional, world-class cosmetic plastic surgery, in a personal and caring environment.
Next Steps
Always Do Your Research
- Download a Procedure Guides to find out more about your surgery
- Please read our website to learn more about your intended procedure
Do you need a Medical Referral to see Dr Turner?
- A medical referral is helpful but NOT essential for purely cosmetic consultations.
- Please obtain a referral from your GP or Specialist if you want a consultation for an MBS item number surgery.
- Please note that your Medicare Rebates will NOT be claimable without a valid recent Medical Referral
Making The Most Of Your Consultation
- Please arrive slightly early for your in-person consultation with Dr Scott
- You are welcome to bring a friend or relative to help consider the information and discuss your options
- Please be aware you may need to undress for a physical exam so wear simple clothes
- Ensure you also take a lot of notes during the consultation and thoroughly examine all the documents provided
Want more information before scheduling your consultation?
- Find out more about pricing, medical payment plans and paying for your surgery
- Request more information about the procedure – call or contact us
How to Book Your Consultation with Dr Turner
- You can book your initial consultation with Dr Turner by paying the $350 cosmetic consultation fee in advance – when you make your appointment
BOOK A PHONE CALL FOR MORE INFO
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Contact us or call on 1300 641 199 to arrange your surgeon consultation in Sydney or Newcastle.
Email us for more information: [email protected]