Will My Tummy Tuck Scar Be Very Low?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in getting a tummy tuck but have a few questions about it. In reviewing the photos of other women whom have had the procedure, I noticed that the scars are up fairly high, is that necessary to achieve proper results? You see, in having two cesarean births, both incisions were very neat along the hairline, I really like the way it had healed. Do you cut through the muscle in this procedure? Oh, and the other thing, in viewing some post-op footage, there were these drainage apparatus, is that something always done? Sorry for all of the questions, I hope you don’t mind. 

A: A full tummy tuck always pulls the incision up higher than a mini- or more limited tummy tuck. Only a min-tummy tuck can keep the incision as low as most women have their c-sections scars at. C-section scars should almost always heal beautifully because they are closed under no tension. (loose stretched out skin) Tummy tuck scars rarely look quite that good because they are close under considerable tension. (tight taut skin) Tension is the enemy of a narrow scar line.

No muscle is ever cut though in a tummy tuck of any form.

The use of a drainage tube is a necessary evil after tummy tuck surgery that stays in for about a week.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana