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Can a Tummy Tuck Hide my Vertical Scar?
It depends on where your vertical scar sits and how much skin laxity you have. A standard tummy tuck removes skin between the belly button and the pubic area, so scars and stretch marks below the umbilicus are usually excised along with that tissue. A vertical scar that extends above the belly button is trickier. If you have enough excess skin above the umbilicus to allow that segment to be pulled down and removed, it can sometimes be incorporated into the resection. If not, that portion may remain, though it often ends up repositioned lower on the abdomen and less noticeable. Muscle laxity, prior surgeries, and how the scar is oriented all factor into the plan. This is really something that needs hands-on examination rather than a general answer, since the amount of skin you can safely remove without excess tension is individual. A board-certified plastic surgeon can map this out for you at consultation.
Clinical Context
Tummy tuck skin removal works by lifting the lower abdominal skin and fat off the muscle, then pulling it downward before trimming the excess. Skin below the navel moves the most and is usually removed. Skin above the navel is loosened but kept closer to its original position because its blood supply needs to stay intact for healing. That's why scars or marks above the belly button are harder to remove completely than those below it.
