Will my Tummy Tuck Scars be Noticeable?

The abdominal region is a great source of insecurity for many women. And with all the flat stomachs and tiny waists in bikinis on magazine covers, who can blame them? Sometimes all the sit-ups and Weight Watcher’s meals in the world just won’t cut it, leaving women feeling discouraged and defeated. Luckily, Dr. Traci Temmen is highly skilled at using her surgical expertise to give women the body of their dreams! One procedure that does just that is the “tummy tuck”, also known as an abdominoplasty. This post will explain some background on this procedure and what kind of results patients can expect. In addition, it will address one of the most common questions patients ask about this procedure, which is “Will my tummy tuck scars be noticeable?”

While tummy tucks have been around for a long time and many patients are familiar with the idea, most are less familiar with the steps of how the procedure is performed to create that perfect result. The first step in any cosmetic surgery is of course meeting with your board-certified plastic surgeon. During this individual consultation, Dr. Traci Temmen likes to spend quality one-on-one time talking to each patient about their questions, concerns, and goals for the procedure. She also goes over their anatomy in detail to meticulously plan out how the surgery will be performed in order to give them the best possible result. On the day of surgery, Dr. Temmen first performs liposuction of the abdomen, back and sides in order to flatten the stomach and sculpt the abdomen into an attractive hourglass shape by accentuating the patient’s natural curves. This step of the procedure also enables Dr. Temmen to perform the tummy tuck part of the surgery afterwards through a shorter scar. Next, a horizontal incision is made low down on the abdomen in order to perform the tummy tuck part of the procedure. Using this incision, Dr. Temmen removes the excess droopy abdominal skin and tissue to create a tighter, firmer stomach. At the same time, she pulls together the abdominal muscles that are often stretched apart over time due to aging, weight gain, or pregnancy, helping to further cinch in the waist. Lastly, Dr. Temmen creates a new, attractive oval-shaped “innie” belly button to complement the new physique.

Now that we’ve gone over the basics of the tummy tuck procedure, it is time to discuss the question on everyone’s mind: How big will my tummy tuck scar be? In the old days, tummy tuck scars were long, unsightly scars extending from hipbone to hipbone and beyond. Luckily with advanced techniques and Dr. Temmen’s method of performing liposuction first, most tummy tucks today can be performed through a scar that is just a little longer than a typical C-section scar. In addition, Dr. Temmen takes care to make the scar as short as possible and as low as possible on the abdomen so it can easily be concealed by standard underwear or bikini bottoms. Most women are very excited that they can have a such a beautiful result all through a small scar that is easily concealed. Lastly, there is one additional small scar where the new belly button is created. This scar is conveniently located in the indent of the belly button to help conceal it even further, and is barely noticeable with time.

For women considering tummy tuck, the surgery can seem daunting – especially hearing past stories of patients left with long, unsightly scars and unnatural looking results. However, you can take just one look at the Gallery portion of this website to see how far tummy tucks have come today! With Dr. Temmen’s meticulous eye for detail and proven surgical techniques, patients today are amazed by how good they look after surgery, with minimal and easily concealed scars. If you would like to learn more about if you may be a good candidate for this life-changing procedure, simply call 813-771-6393 to schedule your personal consultation with Traci Temmen, MD today!