April 2023

Getting A
Tummy Tuck Revision

Tummy Tuck Revision

What is A Tummy Tuck Revision?

Abdominoplasty Revision Results by Dr. John Burns

Reasons You Might Be Unhappy With Your
Tummy Tuck 

*Lack of an hourglass shape

*Continued excess loose abdominal skin

*Left behind unwanted fat

*Poor waist contour

*Bulge in the upper abdomen

*Poor-looking tummy tuck scars

*Abdominoplasty scar line rests visibly above the panty line

*Unattractive belly button

*You've got "dog ears" (areas of excess skin at the hip bones).

First Things First. Make Sure You're Fully Healed & Follow Up

If you find yourself unhappy with the results of your tummy tuck, don’t lose hope. After giving yourself a FULL 6 months to heal, be sure to keep your final follow-up appointment with your board-certified plastic surgeon to review your results with before-and-after photos.

Reflecting on where you started will help lend perspective for a number of reasons:

-You're likely to see a more dramatic transformation in your pre- and post-surgical photos. It's common to forget what you looked like before surgery and during the progressive healing process.

-Reviewing post-surgical pictures with your plastic surgeon provides time for dialogue about where you're seeing positive improvement versus where you hoped you'd see more.

Your plastic surgeon is committed to providing you with results that you will enjoy for years to come. It's during this conversation that you flesh out if a tummy tuck revision plan is necessary.Tummy tucks are one of my favorite procedures and patients come from all over the world to see me for this procedure. I do a lot of REVISION tummy tucks where I try and fix what might have not been performed or gone wrong in the initial procedure.

Tummy Tuck Revision Results by Dr. John Burns

Recommendations For Improving Your Tummy Tuck Result

Like all other plastic surgery procedures, abdominoplasty is not a one-size-fits-all procedure. Depending on your unique concern around your initial procedure your revision may consist of a single correction or a combo of corrective techniques to get a beautiful result. That said, here are some recommendations.

Lack Of An Hourglass Shape

This is generally due to a lack of liposuction of BOTH the abdomen and waist, love handles, and back. I use VASER® liposuction which is an ultrasound technology that melts fat and allows for smoother and more aggressive extraction of fat. It also produces gentle heat that tightens the skin.

The hourglass shape is also produced by tight abdominal wall muscles. I almost always will re-tighten the rectus muscles in the midline. Next, I use a 3 vector or corset technique where I tighten the side or oblique muscles to bring the waist in further, giving better contour.

Continued Excess Skin & Fat In The Lower Abdomen

In cases where loose skin was left behind, I typically lower the scar and remove the excess skin. We can get patients a more dramatic result once liposuction has been performed over the area first because it allows me to maximize excess skin removal that wasn't taken in the initial abdominoplasty. The overall effect is a flatter and leaner midsection.

Poor Waistline Contour

One of the common complaints is the lack of an hourglass shape which some patients see as a rectangular or male shape. To narrow the waist and accentuate the hips, VASER liposuction is used paying special attention to the sides of the waist and lower back/flank area just above the butt.

Also, a corset plication where the oblique muscles are also tightened will draw in the waist, giving more contour.

Bulging Skin & Fat In Upper Abdomen

This is due to either a lack of liposuction and removing fat deposits or a failure to tighten the upper abdominal muscles or both. Correcting an upper abdominal bulge can be accomplished with more aggressive VASER liposuction in the upper abdomen and re-tightening the upper rectus abdominal muscles.

Poor Scarring In General

Old scars can be removed, lowered, and re-sutured. During the healing process, optimal scar care is utilized including silicone sheeting, scar cream such as BioCorneum or Skin Medica Scar Recovery Gel, and laser therapy.

Your Scar Is Above Your Panty & Swimsuit Line

he scar can be located as low as 6 cm. above the vaginal cleft. Scars that are placed too high are visible in bathing suits or panties. Lowering the scar below the panty line helps with both abdominal contour and scar visibility.

You Don't Like Your Belly Button

Poor belly button scars, large belly buttons, or misshapen belly buttons are highly visible and can be a dead giveaway that you've had plastic surgery. In these types of cases, I'll re-suture the belly button to improve both scars, size, and shape.

Revision Recovery Time

The recovery period after a tummy tuck revision is typically shorter than that of an initial procedure. When considering the length of your recovery process for a tummy tuck revision, there are many factors to consider. These include the degree of correction, your age, general health and fitness, and the type of incisions made. As with any elective surgery, it is important to follow the post-procedure instructions from your plastic surgeon so that your final revision result is as aesthetically pleasing as possible once fully healed.

Abdominoplasty Revision Consult

If any of these concerns resonate with you, you should explore your secondary abdominoplasty options so that you get a result you can be proud of.ALWAYS REMEMBER: When revising a tummy tuck it is critical to communicate effectively with your plastic surgeon to express your optimal goals and expectations. With the right planning, it is possible to achieve your goal result with a revision.

For consults with Dr. John Burns, click here.

Stay In Touch

Follow us for news and information on plastic surgery procedures