Let’s Talk about Tummy Tuck Scars

Having cosmetic surgery of any kind is a big decision. Just about every procedure that a surgeon performs, they do so through incisions that can be well hidden with clothing. The tummy tuck is no exception. Dr. Lombardo is well aware of the nature of healing and how scar tissue forms to repair any kind of injury to the skin and other tissue. She takes care to place abdominoplasty incisions below the hip line, near the border of pubic hair growth. In this way, the resulting scar should remain hidden beneath a bikini, shorts, or another garment even when the body is in motion. If you are considering tummy tuck surgery, though, it’s only natural that you will think about your recovery. Wound healing is a big part of the process and one that we’ll discuss here.

What Impacts Post Tummy Tuck Scarring?

The body has an innate ability to heal itself. That said, the efficacy of tissue recovery is based on several factors. Age is one of them. The older body has less natural collagen production, and collagen is the primary protein involved in healing and scar formation. This may not mean that an older patient will have awful scars, but that their incisions may take longer to heal completely than a younger patient. Genetics is also a factor in scarring. This is one that we can’t do anything about. Patients who are aware of poor tissue healing in their family can offset this factor by controlling all others that they can.

Optimal Scar Formation after a Tummy Tuck

It isn’t difficult to promote good scar formation after surgery. You don’t have to wait it out until you can begin some type of formal scar treatment using serums, creams, or even laser treatments. Your scar-treatment journey begins right after surgery. When you return home after your tummy tuck, your first step in getting the best-looking scar is to follow the post-operative care instructions provided to you. If you have any questions, contact the office. You’re not on your own to muddle through your healing phase! The better you follow your post-op instructions, the better your tissue repair will go. Some of the most important instructions include resting as much as the body needs and avoiding the temptation to do too much too soon. These might sound like the very same thing. They’re not. You may rest 10 hours a day after surgery but, when awake, try to play with the children or lift objects that are too heavy for you at the moment. These types of activities have a direct effect on the tissue healing process.

Another important factor in post-surgical tissue repair is nutrition. The skin relies on healthy doses of vital chemicals including collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, and more to restructure the area where a cut has been made. Eating fresh, whole foods supplies the body with hydration, antioxidants, and the various vitamins and minerals that are put to use for optimal healing. Eat a variety of foods and also consider taking a multivitamin and a probiotic to help you through your tummy tuck recovery.

Tummy tuck surgery is a popular procedure that offers outstanding results. To schedule your consultation for tummy tuck surgery with Dr. Maria Lombardo, contact our Rancho Mirage office at (760) 610-8990.