This week’s ACA Question of the Week is a little more complex than usual. The patient says, “I’m 10 days post-op after a tummy tuck with liposuction. I’ve had five C-sections and had hoped that the healing process would be similar. However, the scar appears to have gotten infected, which I am treating. My concern is that the scar [from the tummy tuck] is bumpy and uneven, while the scar I had from the C-sections was clear and flat. My main concern is that I’d like the scar to either be recovered or gone so I can wear a bikini. I’m looking for any suggestions or advice on what to do next.”
Dr. Pane observed that there are a couple of different parts to this question. 10 days from a tummy tuck, even with lipo, normally the discomfort is significantly less than that associated with a C-section. The problem with the scar being the same is that usually the tummy tuck scar eliminates the C-section scar altogether, although in some rare cases there may be one scar above or below the other. The biggest concern right now is the infection along the tummy tuck area, because that will have a direct impact on how the scar fades out and heals over time.
Because the patient is only 10 days out after having the procedure, it is difficult to predict exactly how the scar will heal. The priority right now is to get the infection addressed, which means being very diligent about keeping in close contact with the surgeon who performed the initial surgery and following the care instructions given as well as keeping a careful eye on the area to prevent the infection from getting worse. If the surgical wound has to be reopened to facilitate drainage of the area, the scar will likely be more noticeable than if the infection is more superficial.
Dr. Pane observed that usually scarring can take several months to resolve itself to a point where a final determination as to how the end result will look can be made. If the infection is severe or deep, the scar will likely look a lot worse than if it is not, but how aggressive the care is for the infection and how the infection responds to treatment can also make a big difference in how the final scar presents itself. As early after surgery as this occurred, it is simply too early to say for certain. Scar management with lotions or creams may help alleviate the overall appearance of the scar, but if the wound must be reopened and dressed, the scar will likely be thicker and more noticeable.
If this happens, the patient may be a candidate for scar revision down the line, after the wound has fully healed. Dr. Pane noted that there is currently no way to completely eliminate scarring, but scar revision procedures can help radically reduce the cosmetic problems associated with scars. Assuming the only remaining scar is the one from the tummy tuck, meaning that there isn’t a parallel scar from the previous procedures the patient has had, it should be hidden beneath the bikini line and largely invisible. However, this will depend on what kind of care the infection requires, how well the patient tolerates the car and adheres to aftercare, and to a certain point the skill of the surgeon who performed the original procedure.
Every surgery carries risks with it, and cosmetic surgery is no different. Infections and other complications can occur even if the patient and surgeon do everything perfectly before, during and after the procedure. Limiting or eliminating environmental and habitual factors that can interfere with the healing process are important steps, but even the most diligent aftercare may not totally eliminate the risks associated with cosmetic or any other kind of surgery. Luckily, this infection was caught early enough that with proper care, it may be possible to reduce the impact it will have on the patient’s surgical scar in the long term.
If you have a question about anything related to cosmetic surgery, recovery or aftercare, Dr. Pane and the staff of ACA ask you to reach out to us at https://acplasticsurg.com, by phone at 514-422-4116 or send in your question via our Facebook page. Your question could be the next ACA Question of the Week, helping us inform and educate other patients who want to know the same things you do! An educated, informed patient is our best ally in making sure all our patients get the right care to look and feel their best.