I'm scheduled for an abdominoplasy so with great advise here I went to real self to look at pics. Now I'm even more stressed because I scrolled through a bunch of pics and don't see anyone with a scar vertically down the center of their stomach. Is it atypical to have that scar in addition to the one horizontally? Seems so. Does anyone here know the answer?

Here's two pics of myself...

Not long after surgery in 2010...

And very recently... My scar stretched a little - If I had the op again today I would keep the paper tape on for three months (yes three) to support it as it heals and stop the scar stretching, my other scars are much better than this one cos I kept the tape on for longer...

See that hip to hip scar is much much lighter and finer? That's cos I had a butt / outer thigh lift a couple of years after the TT and by then I knew to keep the tape on longer - So I did and I got a very very fine scar by doing that...

Edited October 23, 201510 yr by Scamp

Scamp your so great to answer and share it is much appreciated. Wow the scar that you used the tape on looks great! Where do you get the tape? If you had to do it again would you wish you didn't have the vertical scar?

This is the paper tape - Bought it in the chemist store

http://www.bonanzamarket.co.uk/listings/3M-Micropore-Brown-Surgical-Paper-Tape-1-X-10-yd-1533-7-EBS12/279214797?gpid=18283950120&gpkwd=&goog_pla=1&gclid=CLne0qn72MgCFQUewwod4zMMlg

I am happy with vertical scar as without it I would not have a defined waist etcMy Plastic Surgeon said I would look 'boxy' without the Inverted T incision - My family said to me that it wouldn't hurt any more to just get it all done and we talked and I thought about it and thought if I had done it the other way - I would have wanted it re-done with this incision as I would have had excess skin still there upsetting me..... I think it is better to just get rid of as much redundant skin as possible...... I have a load of scars now - They are all part of what makes me 'Me' and I am not unhappy with any of them... They are like a road map of where I have been and the Journey I have taken to get where I am - And kinda to who I am - Today (If that makes sense)

So I would do it all again....

Edited October 23, 201510 yr by Scamp

Hello Scamp I've been writing to you under the other thread too ????

Thank you for the link to the tape.

I am more confused than ever. The doc I originally chose is not who I really want to go with but it's affordable. Whereas the other doc is not even possible. ???? The doc today said I don't need the T. He also told me I would have to have implants if and when I do breasts but this other doc said he could use the excess skin and no implants are needed. I got a much better feel with the doc today but the price is out of sight. I'm literally sick to my stomach. I already paid for the surgery I'm scheduled for on Nov. 11th.

I can feel your confusion - I guess you hafta weigh up the pros and cons etc

If your surgery is scheduled - You can always postpone it or cancel can't you ? Until you feel comfortable with your decision?

I'd like to see another doc at the same place but worry that would be awkward.

Awkward or not - YOU are the important one - This is YOUR body.

And in all essence they are working for you and you are the BOSS

As without you they might hafta sign on unemployment

LOL

@Scamp. I just had my tt consult on 10/19. Fearing the pain from the vertical scar I decided to not go for it, even if the surgeon did inform me that the results wouldn't be optimal. Can I ask, how was the pain and recovery for you? I've had three c sections, so I'm very familiar with having my stomach cut open. Your results look amazing.

Hello Scamp I've been writing to you under the other thread too ????

Thank you for the link to the tape.

I am more confused than ever. The doc I originally chose is not who I really want to go with but it's affordable. Whereas the other doc is not even possible. ???? The doc today said I don't need the T. He also told me I would have to have implants if and when I do breasts but this other doc said he could use the excess skin and no implants are needed. I got a much better feel with the doc today but the price is out of sight. I'm literally sick to my stomach. I already paid for the surgery I'm scheduled for on Nov. 11th.

Either you misunderstood or your doctor is misleading you, you can't use the extra skin to fill up the breasts. Some doctors do use a fat transfer from another body part, but only a percentage is "adopted" by the body (for want of a better word) so it's very hard to predict what you will end up with.

I really advise you to have enough consults to get a consensus. Two opinions isn't really enough. At least get a tie breaker.

I didn't have the vertical incision and while not perfect it's definitely good enough for me, especially at my age! I have a better midsection than most 46 year olds.

Can I ask, how was the pain and recovery for you? You asked me......

I did not have the stomach muscles done due to a previous hernia surgery - The only pain (not even pain really) I had was not being able to stand up straight for about 5 or 6 days. I think most of the pain comes from the muscle stitching which you would probably have no matter what incision you have - And that has nothing to do with the Inverted T incision.... My waist would be smaller with that - But - That is no biggie as I reckon it's pretty OK as it is lol

If I went back and made the choice 10000 times - I would have the Inverted T - I am 47yrs old and even at age 17 I did not have a belly like this! - Hell I have never had this! lol But the trade off is the scar which might bother alot of people - Personally the 6 inch scar from the hernia surgery I had was unsightly and this one is a hell of alot better looking than that one was (even with the belly button that resembles a cats butt, lol)

I guess everyone has to make their choice as to whether they can live with the scars or not - If I could go back knowing what I know now - I would keep that paper tape on the scar for at least ten weeks and my scar would be as fine as the hip to hip one is - But - You live and learn eh....

Edited October 24, 201510 yr by Scamp

Scamp for the tape. How did you use it? Along the length of the scar of across it to hold it together

Just in a straight line along the scar. If you go in a circle round your waist, a little tighter leaves a finer scar but obviously on the T part of some TT scars you just do the straight line.

I believe this just supports the skin either side of the scar whilst it heals together again.

I noticed in my first Op - Where I took this tape off after a couple of weeks those scars are not as fine, and are a little raised, my second op (TT) the scar stretched a bit and it is not as fine, though it is flat... My third Op - When I knew of this trick - Is much much finer and in comparison to the previous two lots of scars - It is amazzzzzzzzing... So - For the final Ops, I always kept the tape on for ten to twelve weeks and the scars are much better for it - Once the tape was of I massaged the scars, and that became a habit I did for years - Then as suddenly as I started the masage with E45 type cream - 5 years (yes 5) from Op1 - I started to forget, lol That was approx 3yrs after Op5 so all the scars had a good deal of massaging over those years :-)

Sometimes you might hafta secure the end of the tape with a crossways bit, but the one that went around my waist I could just stick one end to the other end and it stayed put till changeover time

The reason the hip end of the TT scars are great and fine is because - When I had Op4 - Butt Lift - The end of the scar removed the first TT scar - By then I knew to keep the tape on and thus the middle of it is not as fine as the hip ends which are fabulously fine...

:-) Hope that helps

Edited November 6, 201510 yr by Scamp

Such a HUGE help as always!!!!! Thank you so much Scamp!!!!!! You are awesome ????

I was very much helped by people on this site before my surgeries and - Paying it forward I am happy to share what I have learned with others :-)

I'm scheduled for an abdominoplasy so with great advise here I went to real self to look at pics. Now I'm even more stressed because I scrolled through a bunch of pics and don't see anyone with a scar vertically down the center of their stomach. Is it atypical to have that scar in addition to the one horizontally? Seems so. Does anyone here know the answer?

My scar is hip-to-hip.