Hey everyone!! While I'm not at the point that I'm ready to schedule any lifts, tucks, or other skin-removing surgeries, I am finding myself very concerned about how noticeable the scarring from these procedures will be once I'm prepared to look into them more. I'd eventually be interested in a tummy tuck, lower body lift, breast lift (with possible reduction), and probably arm, back, and thigh procedures.

To anyone who has had any of these surgeries: how noticeable are the scars that are left behind once everything has healed? Do you find yourself more or less preoccupied with how the scars look compared to what you thought about how you looked when you had the excess skin?

For what it's worth in terms of the healing process and visibility of scars, my skin is as pasty white as it can be, lol. Thanks so much for your help, I REALLY appreciate your feedback

I've had two procedures... tummy tuck with almost no noticeable scars and a breast lift with some scar issues that I am still resolving two years later. No regrets at this point... had 3 1/2 pounds of skin removed with tummy tuck.

At four months post tummy tuck the scar is VERY visible and most definitely more problematic than my tummy was (I had the TT for reconstructive purposes and to prevent further herniation after big abdominal surgeries, I had a pretty flat stomach anyway).

But I had an awful twisted keloid scar that needed to be revised and when the colour has left my TT scar, it will not be a real problem. Its hidden in a bikini bottom. I truy dont know how you have a tumy tuck with almost no noticeable scars - its hip to hip! But it is a very flat, neat scar that when it loses it purple/red colouring will not be terribly ugly. And it would certainly be preferable to hanging flesh.

I think if you're pale, you often scar better than olive skins - their scars tend to get that dark brown pigment. Us pale people get the red/purple colour that fades away to white. My lapband scars are totally white now.

Thank you so much! I felt like the benefits would outweigh the scarring but I guess I needed to hear from people who actually went through the procedures. Congrats on making such great progress with your weight loss!!

Hi kbells,

I had a tummy tuck and Brest reduction 2 yrs ago and brachioplasty (arms) just 2 mos ago.

I am also fairly light skinned.

I also had a concern beforehand because the 4 little dots my lapband surgeon made still are brown. So I thought the big operations would be the same way.... Well they aren't. They healed very well. The processes they have for scars get better and better.

TT/breast lift: back then, my doctor gave me Maderma to pain on like nailpolish each day. I also drank alot of papaya juice (in 2002 i had a small eye surgery and that doctor said papaya had alot of healing properties). At about the first year anniversary of the operation, I noticed visible different. The surgery line is flat. Now it is really faint, especially the breast lines. And the missing skin was worth it 1000 times over.

Arms: now they have silicone strips that I think are even better then maderma for the scar healing. Those go on 12 hrs a day and I put them on at night with the compression garments. Last week at my last post op appointment the doctor was even impressed as the results are faster then the last one. Parts of the line are disappearing. He said part of it is genetics but he really believes in these silicone strips.

For the arms... My doctor did a great job of where he cut. You can't see the scars front or back when I have them at my side. Sometimes I would look at other brachioplasty's and am very surprised at how poorly placed the incisions are. It seems simple.

I think key for recovery is following the doctors orders especially in the beginning. I wanted to do a lot more in the beginning but my sister in law is a nurse and she was like nurse ratchet in terms of making me follow doctors orders.....

Anyway... I would do each and every one over as they really help with gaining confidence.

Best of luck in your weight loss and eventually plastics.

Josie

Post op 6 weeks

Oooops sorry kbells. I thought this was the thread I started. I didn't mean to hijack your thread and I can't figure out how to delete.....

Haha no worries!! I actually very much appreciate seeing how great your incisions look

Thanks for your response, too, it was really informative an helpful!!