Question:
I want to have a tummy tuck but I am sooooo scared of the horid scar!!

Ive seem some pretty scary pictures. I so want to have it, but yet i dont want to have the huge scar. I had lap rny so i barely have any scars now. Anyone have any input they can share? Do you have regrets from having the TT? Also any referrals in the Cleveland Ohio area would be great!    — Summersect (posted on September 16, 2002)

September 16, 2002
Hi! It's normal to be scared of the surgery and the scar involved in getting a tummy tuck or panniculectomy. I had one 4 months ago and have a hip to hip scar. For me personally, let me tell you, I would take that big old scar ANY DAY over the big apron of fat that I had. I figure I look o.k. in clothes but like alot of WLS patients I'm a train wreck underneath - ha ha. The scar seemed like the lesser of two evils when it came to choosing between keeping the apron and having the scar. I have absolutely no regrets at all and would do it again in a heartbeat. Best wishes to you whatever you decide.
   — ronascott

September 16, 2002
I agree with Rona, I'd take the scar (that will fade with time) over the hanging skin any day...I haven't had a tummy tuck yet, but am actually going for my first consultation with a plastic surgeon tomorrow morning....I'm hoping to be able to have it done by christmas time. I had an open rny, so I have a long scar right down the middle of my stomache already. After a TT.....I'll have a scar that looks like an anchor.....but I don't mind, I'll have a flat stomache for the first time in my life! Good luck to you!
   — Jennifer M.

September 16, 2002
I agree in saying that I would rather have a scar than hanging skin. They make to incision in a place that is not very noticable, so even if you are wearing a skimpy bikini or something, it still will not e noticable. I don't think you have anything to worry about.
   — sammygirlwpc

September 16, 2002
I'm in the Columbus area but I would HIGHLY recommend my plastic surgeon, Robert Heck. I checked out a couple of doctors and they wanted to do the anchor cut incision. Since I had lap rny, I didn't want those huge scars either. Dr. Heck told me I didn't need the anchor. He did a hip to hip with muscle tightening and it looks great and it's only been 6 weeks. Yes, it's a long scar, but it's fading fast and it looks a MILLION times better then the excess skin. My panties hide the scar completely. I'm thrilled with the way I look and am much more self confident then I've been in 20 years. It also took off 2 pants sizes from a size 10 to a size 6!!
   — Patty H.

September 16, 2002
The type of incision that you have with your tummy tuck will large depend on your body structure. My plastic surgeon explained that "pear-shaped" folks who carry most of their excess fat and skin below the waist do very well will the classic TT incision from hip-to-hip. The more "apple-shaped" individuals who have always carried a lot of weight above the waistline will benefit more from the "anchor incision" which combines a long vertical incision from breastbone to pubic area along with the hip-to-hip incision. I was an "apple", and after my 150 lb. weight loss was very unhappy with the handfuls of excess skin that I could grab under my ribcage. I also had had a lap RNY and was tickled that I couldn't even find those little incisions anymore, but I did have a long, traditional gallbladder incision as well as lower abdominal incisions from previous C-sections and a hysterectomy....so in the big picture, I wasn't too disturbed about the idea of the anchor incision. I will say that I couldn't be happier with the results of my surgery....one fine vertical line that is already fading to pink, and the horizontal incision is practically invisible at 10 months post-op. My surgeon didn't use any external sutures or staples, so no "railroad tracks", and the anchor incision enabled him to pull excess fat and skin in from both sides toward the center which left me with a wonderfully sleek back and ribcage area with no more "overhangs" around the bra line. In addition, all the old, thicker and wider scars from previous surgeries (including the diagonal gall bladder scar) were removed in the process. I have had stretch marks more noticeable than these scars, and even though I am past the age for a bikini, I have no doubt that I could be comfortable in one by next summer when this incision has faded to a fine white line. Look for a board-certified plastic surgeon and explain your concerns in detail, then come to an agreement on a plan that meets both your needs. I wish you the same great experience....good luck!
   — Diana T.