If you are planning to undergo a tummy tuck, you should know first that this procedure leaves a scar. Scarring is one of the important concerns of the patients and if you will undergo this procedure, you have to ask your surgeon first regarding how long your scar will be. You should also tell your surgeon about your concerns. You can ask your surgeon about the length and location of the scar. Take note that the location of the scar should be as low as possible so that it will be less noticeable and can be covered by a bikini. Some patients get scars lower than what is expected. This is caused by the following:
- The skin condition and amount of excess skin
- The distance of the belly button to the lower portion of your abdomen where the scar is going to be located
The looser the skin is, the more stretchable it is. When the incision in the abdomen is closed, the top part of the skin and the lower part of the skin are brought together. You will notice there are two vectors in your scar, one going down and one going up. Because of the skin’s elasticity, the scar will lift to some extent when it feels the tension in the closure of the incision. In other words, if your skin is more elastic then there is more skin from the top, it would be possible to position the scar in a lower place.
However, if you have a very tight skin, then the skin is going to resist from being stretched. When this happens, the closure will make your scar higher. Another thing to consider is the distance between your bellybutton and the lower part of your abdomen. The longer the distance is, the higher your scar will be. This is because the tummy tuck involves cutting the skin below the belly button.