Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, involves the removal of excess fat around the abdomen through an incision that reaches from one hip to the other. The procedure leaves patients with a scar the length of the incision that may slightly fade with time but may never disappear completely. While you may not be able to eliminate the scar, several techniques help heal skin at the site of the incision while improving your scar's appearance.
Step 1
Give it time. It may take up to six months for your tummy tuck scar to fade or flatten, according to the National Institutes of Health. Depending on the severity of your scar, most scars will fade over time.
Step 2
Massage the skin on and around your scar once the incision has properly healed. Moving your hand in a circular motion, gently massage the scar for approximately 20 seconds to break up bands of collagen that connect to tissue under the scar, suggests "Fitness" magazine. This method may be repeated several times a day.
Step 3
Keep your scar out of the sun. Wear SPF 15 or higher when you spend time outdoors and cover your scar with a swimsuit or other clothing. Direct exposure to sunlight can slow healing and darken skin around the scar making it more difficult for it to fade, warns "Fitness" magazine.
Step 4
Apply pressure to your incision with silicone sheeting pads. These pads, along with silicone gel ointment, reduce swelling and flatten tummy tuck scars, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Step 5
Talk to your surgeon about laser treatment for your scar. Laser treatments help flatten and eliminate redness surrounding the scar. Laser procedures can be costly and time consuming, but may effectively vaporize the scar depending on the severity and age of the scar.
Things You'll Need
- SPF 15 sunscreen or sunblock
- Silicone sheeting pads or silicone gel ointment
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