QUESTION: I have looked at many “before and after” pictures during my research on the Internet. I have noticed that many of the tummy tuck scars are very noticeable. Do they fade with time?
ANSWER:
You are very right; in previous years these scars were placed under tremendous tension in order to make a nice flat tummy. But it came with a price. Unsightly scars were the rule rather than the exception.
In the last decade there has been tremendous advances in Abdominoplasty. Pioneering surgeons such as Dr Lockwood and others developed methods where the closure is completely different. The description of the “superficial fascial system (SFS)” has revolutionized abdominoplasty surgery. New every attempt is made to complete a tension free closure. Without excessive tension the skin has a chance to heal without the scars that had to be hidden forever.
Please examine the progress of this patient’s scar over time. The first postop picture is just a few weeks after surgery. The last picture shows near complete fading after a few months!
