Regular vs. Extended Tummy Tuck Scars: What to Expect
In this video, we explore the differences between regular and extended tummy tuck scars. If you’re considering a tummy tuck, understanding what to expect in terms of incision placement and the resulting scar is crucial. Watch as Dr. Rodriguez explains scar placement and the techniques he uses to minimize scars and achieve the best possible results.
Regular tummy tuck scar length and location: anterior iliac crest to anterior iliac crest
Extended tummy tuck scar length and location: Variation in length depends on the amount of skin to be tightened, and extends to a point between the midaxillary to posterior axillary line.
A regular tummy tuck scar typically extends from one anterior iliac crest to the other, addressing excess skin and fat in the abdominal area. This method is effective for many patients but may not be sufficient for those with more extensive skin laxity.
Extending the regular tummy tuck incision (and resulting scar) allows for combining additional liposuction and additional skin removal for optimal hourglass-figure results.
To minimize scarring, advanced techniques are employed, such as using small cannulas with tiny holes for liposuction. This approach helps preserve the tissue’s vasculature (blood supply), which is crucial for proper healing. By combining this with careful and superficial skin removal, the resulting scars heal finely and with minimal tension, making them less noticeable.
Interested in learning more about tummy tuck scars and how to minimize them? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Rodriguez to discuss your specific needs and options. We’re committed to helping you look and feel your best. Start your journey today!
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Transcript
Hi I’m Doctor Ricardo Rodriguez from CosmeticSurg.
Today we’re talking about tummy tuck scars. Whether we go with a regular, the extended, or the lateral thigh lift.
When we look at a patient like this, OK, she has far more to deal with than would be dealt with where the regular scar. The regular tummy tuck scar goes from the anterior iliac crest to the anterior iliac crest, but this would have left all of this to be dealt with.
So what do we?
We usually will extend the scar. So we extend it, we extend it laterally.
Now the term, “extended,” it’s not exact. It all depends on how much skin we want to tighten up here laterally. And so we will extend the scar. On some patients it will go to what we call the midaxillary line here, on some patients it can go to the posterior axillary line. Again, depending on how much around here we want to tighten.
But when we get this right, we get a really nice definition of the waist and hip, which goes into that creation of the hourglass, and you can compare with how much fat she used to have here – how we have dealt with. So, it was an excess of both fat and skin. And so we did both. We did a lot of liposuction here and then extended the scar.
On this patient, now she has so much bad back here in the back that we also have to deal with both that excessive skin and fat, but she’s not saggy enough to need like an entire body lift. We just have to deal with this area here.
So what we did is, we did a lot of liposuction up in this area. And so there was now both an excess of skin and the fat. And so we just extended the scar up to here. Not quite all the way across, but it still gives us the advantage of creating a nice line throughout the hips.
I’m going to add to this that this technique is really possible with the use of a very small cannula with very small holes. And what is that? When we’re liposuctioning in a lot in these areas. If you are liposuctioning a lot of fat, you’re also devascularizing your tissue. Therefore, when you sew the scar together, there’s a danger that it won’t heal. However, when you’re liposuction with a very thin cannula, with very little holes, you then take off the top layer of skin only here and you sew it back together.
Now notice how good that scar is? OK, it’s a very fine scar, but you can see it here, okay, and the reason is that the patient has very good intact vasculature to heal it finely and with minimal amount of tension on the scar. Tension and lack of blood supply are what makes these scars ugly and broad. However, when you do like this combination of small cannula liposuction with small holes and then a very superficial removal of skin, you get very good results that include both contouring as well as getting rid of excess skin.
So if you have any questions, just give us a call. We’ll be more than happy to discuss what your options are. And it really depends how much skin you want tightened versus how much fat you want taken off. Thank you.