A tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is designed to remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen. When performing the procedure, your plastic surgeon will likely sculpt the waistline and give you a tighter hourglass figure without the burden of excess skin and fat on the lower abdomen. The downside of the procedure is that you will likely have a scar on the lower abdomen that requires some postoperative management to reduce visible scarring. Here is a list of five of the best tips to lighten and fade tummy tuck scars.
- #1 Postoperative Care: Your plastic surgeon will likely provide you with a managed postoperative plan that minimizes the burden of wound healing on your incision site. It is best to always keep the incisions clean; and free from any abrasive rubbing on clothes or undergarments. Keep the incision site clean by washing it with gentle soap and water when you shower or bathe. Incision sites should be covered with Steri-Strips or similar adhesive tape in the postoperative wound healing phase for at least five days after your procedure. The tape will help reduce tension on the wound and keep it clean and fresh.
- #2 Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen when the incision is exposed to direct sunlight. The process of scar discoloration begins immediately during the wound healing phase after your surgery. It is important to avoid direct sunlight, or any other inflammatory conditions that may predispose to hyperpigmentation once the wound has epithelialized and healed. You should apply a lightening sunscreen to the area , in order to mitigate the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and sun-induced hyperpigmentation. Choose a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 (Spectrase) that is designed for sensitive skin in order to minimize irritation and inflammation of the wound.
- #3 Plato's Scar Serum: The initial phase of wound healing begins with topical scar serums that can modulate the activity of fibroblasts and reduce the propensity for thick scarring. Provided that the wound is free of contamination and is optimized for healing, application of a polysiloxane scar cream is advised. Dr. Karamanoukian, a board-certified, plastic surgeon and a world renowned expert on scar management, recommends that his patients use Platos Scar Serum at least twice daily on their incision sites within 5 to 7 days after their procedure . We recommend that you avoid applying scar serum on an open wound. Areas that are epithelialized and healed can benefit from scar modulation with Plato's Scar Serum massaged into the scar at least twice daily.
- #4 Brightening Creams: Apply brightening creams in the early phase of wound healing. It is important to apply a lightening cream to the area in order to reduce the activity of melanocytes adjacent to your wound. Not all lightening creams work the same. Our recommendation is that you enhance the activity of your lightening topical cream with an exfoliant such as Exfolase. Dr. Karamanoukian, a double board-certified plastic surgeon recommends that patients begin with a combination of Exfolase and Luminase creams, mixed together and applied to the area at least twice daily after their surgery. Exfolase cream contains a mild exfoliant which accelerates the activity of skin boosting topical lighteners such as Luminase. The use of both Luminase and Exfolase should continue for at least 6 to 8 weeks after your surgery. For a typical abdominoplasty scar, you will likely need approximately three full bottles of Luminae and Exfolase. During the first 6 to 8 weeks, the process should be corrective and also preventative in terms of lightening and improving your tummy tuck scar. Apply Exfolase and Luminase to Brighten Discoloration
- #5 Laser Therapy: If you are more interested in correcting an old scar from an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck, you may require laser therapy to mitigate the visibility of your incision. The purpose of a tummy tuck is to feel more confident in your body and we would recommend several different types of laser therapy to lighten and fade in abdominoplasty scar. This begins with application of Plato's Scar Serum on the wound at least twice daily for a period period of at least one to two weeks; followed by application of both Luminase and Exfolase on the wound in order to prep for laser. These two scar protocols will help in the pre-treatment phase of laser therapy in order to reduce scar visibility and reduce the need for aggressive lasers. We employ several different types of lasers to fade abdominoplasty scars. Red scars, and hypervascular scars benefit from IPL, Vbeam, pulsed dye laser, and microfractional radio frequency. Discolored and hyperpigmented dark scars from an abdominoplasty can benefit from fractional erbium, fractional CO2, fractional, radio, frequency, rapid, exfoliation protocols, microfractional laser, exfoliation, clear and brilliant laser, Fraxel laser, Titan laser, and Lutronic lasers.
Lightening and fading tummy tuck scars begins with a thorough understanding of the process of hyperpigmentation. It is important to employ a preventative and corrective plan in order to mitigate the visibility of dark scars. Communication with your plastic surgeon is important and , the advice of a renowned plastic surgeon and scar expert can help you achieve your goals.
