What type of post-bariatric surgery incisions are there?
Your incisions will vary based on the procedures you get.
Panniculectomy
The most common plastic surgery after weight loss surgery is panniculectomy. For a panniculectomy procedure, the incision extends from hip to hip and can be hidden in the bikini area.
Lower Body Lift (also known as belt lipectomy)
The incision extends around the circumference of your body in a bikini-line pattern to be hidden in your underwear. See lower body lift for more information
Tummy Tuck (also known as abdominoplasty)
The incisions stretch from hip to hip just above the pubic area. This will leave a scar that falls along the natural crease within the bikini line. Its length and visibility varies. See tummy tuck for more information.
Breast Lift (also known as mastopexy)
Incisions vary because there are different types of breast lifts, each with different scarring patterns. Your surgeon can conceal some incision lines in natural breast contours, but others will be visible on the breast surface. See breast lift for more information.
Upper Arm Lift (also known as brachioplasty)
Incisions are generally inside the arm or on the back of the arm and may extend from the underarm (axilla) to just above the elbow. If you only have a small amount of extra skin, your surgeon may recommend a mini brachioplasty, where the incision is limited to the underarm area. See upper arm lift for more information.
Thigh Lift (also known as thighplasty)
Incisions for an inner thigh lift are in the groin fold. For a vertical thighplasty, a vertical incision starts at the groin crease and extends to the inner knee. An outer thigh lift requires an incision extending from the groin around the hip. For a spiral thighplasty the incision is below the buttock fold and continues over the groin crease at the junction of the thigh and pubic area. See thigh lift for more information.
Liposuction (also known as lipoplasty)
Incisions are very small. See liposuction for more information.
What scars will I have after my post-bariatric surgery?
When undergoing post-bariatric surgery, your surgeon will make every effort to make incisions and scars as small and inconspicuous as possible. Board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons can skillfully hide incisions in body creases whenever possible. Although incision lines are permanent, in most cases they will fade and significantly improve over time.
Your incision healing will depend on the surgical technique, the steps you take to prevent infection (nutrition, not smoking, hydrating), and any underlying medical conditions or genetic tendencies.