Scar Treatment: When Is The Best Time To Start After A Tummy Tuck?
Tummy Tuck Surgery
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty is a transformative body contouring procedure designed to tighten abdominal muscles and remove excess skin and fat that have not responded to diet and exercise alone. It is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery treatments available due to its ability to smooth and tone the abdomen, while greatly improving confidence. However, before opting to undergo a tummy tuck, it is important to understand that this is a complex surgical procedure and there are a number of inherent risks and considerations to be aware of. While your choice of Miami plastic surgeon undoubtedly impacts the safety and efficacy of your procedure, it is also important to understand what you can do to prevent infection after a tummy tuck.
Tummy Tuck Surgery & Scars
Scars from a tummy tuck surgery can vary in size depending on the extent of the procedure. Some patients have only a partial or mini-tummy tuck, so their scar may be smaller. Others may be getting the full, traditional tummy tuck and that typically requires an incision that is a bit longer and placed at the bikini line. Regardless of the size of the scar, allowing your body to heal well and being mindful of the incision site during the healing process can reduce its visibility.
As mentioned, taking good care of your incision site is the key to reducing the appearance of your scar, so when is the best time to start scar treatment?
Tummy Tuck Results
To be honest, whether you start a couple of days or a few weeks after your tummy tuck surgery will have minor differences on the final outcome of your scar. For the first few days following the surgery, you will be instructed by your plastic surgeon to keep your incision site clean in order to avoid infection. You will also receive instructions for reducing tension in your abdominal area to keep the scar appearance nice and thin. Lowering tension is incredibly important to prevent your scar from rising and widening, especially in the center of the incision site.
Once the wound is fully sealed and the tapes are removed from surgery, you can begin to apply various skin creams and treatments to help the scar fade. A popular and commonly used treatment is silicone cream, which speeds up scar maturation, and silicone sheeting, which flattens scars. If you see redness or a slightly raised textured at the site of incision, keep in mind that it is completely normal and part of the 3 to 6 months healing process. After all, your body is the best healing treatment there is, despite the broad range of products available on the market.
Recovery
Once your incision site is fully healed and the scar has matured, you can fully enjoy your new body transformation. Like mentioned, due to the low positioning of the incision site by your plastic surgeon, you will very likely be able to hide any visible scar with clothing or a bikini.
If you have any further questions or are simply interested in a Miami tummy tuck, please come on into our office of Dr Phillip Craft at Body By Craft for a private consultation.
Consult with A Body Contouring Specialist in Miami
Contact Dr. Craft and the enhancement team in Miami today, to book your consultation and become one step closer to achieving the look you’ve always wanted!
Use our online contact form or call our office (305) 535-3550