Tummy Tuck Scar: Where It Sits and How It Heals
Updated: 13 hours ago
Medical editor: Dr. Semih Yıldız, plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon (FEBOPRAS) · Last updated: October 2026
The main tummy tuck scar runs low across the abdomen, just above the pubic area, so that underwear or a bikini can hide it. A full tummy tuck usually needs a longer scar that reaches towards the hips, plus a small one around the belly button; a mini tummy tuck leaves a shorter scar. Over 12–18 months the scar flattens and fades.
A tummy tuck cannot be done without this scar. What can be planned is where it lies, how long it is and how well it is looked after, and together these decide how much it shows. The techniques themselves are described on our page about abdominoplasty in Istanbul; here the focus is on the scar.
Where the scar is placed
The incision line is drawn before surgery while you stand, low enough to sit within the area covered by most underwear and swimwear. It helps to bring the underwear or bikini style you usually wear to the marking, so the planned line can be checked against it. The line often follows a gentle curve that rises slightly towards the hips, in keeping with the natural shape of the lower abdomen.
Previous scars matter. A caesarean section scar usually lies within the skin that is removed, so it is often taken away or replaced by the new scar. Scars higher on the abdomen, for example after open gallbladder surgery, can affect the blood supply of the skin and may change the plan, which is why they are always assessed beforehand.
How long the scar will be
Scar length follows the amount of loose skin, not the other way round. Removing a large fold of skin through a short incision would leave bunching at the ends, so the scar is made as long as the skin excess requires and no longer.
Mini tummy tuck: a shorter low scar for limited loose skin below the belly button. The belly button is not moved, so there is no scar around it.
Full tummy tuck: a longer low scar, usually reaching towards the hips, plus a scar around the belly button.
Tummy tuck with 360 liposuction: the same scars as a full tummy tuck, with a few tiny liposuction entry marks on the flanks and back.
Fleur-de-lis technique: the low scar plus a vertical scar in the midline, used after major weight loss when there is excess skin in both directions.
Belt lipectomy: a scar that continues around the waist and across the lower back.
Small folds at the ends of the scar, sometimes called dog ears, can appear when the skin at the sides is very loose. Minor ones often flatten over the first months; persistent ones can be corrected with a small procedure later.
What happens to the belly button
In a full tummy tuck the belly button itself stays where it is, attached to the abdominal wall. The skin around it is pulled down, and the belly button is brought out through a new opening in the tightened skin. This leaves a circular scar around its rim, which usually sits in the natural shadow of the belly button and is hard to see once healed.
The opening is shaped to look natural, usually a small vertical oval rather than a large round hole. Occasionally the skin above the belly button is not loose enough to be pulled all the way down. The old opening then has to be closed where it lies, which leaves a short vertical scar in the midline just above the main scar. Whether this is likely can usually be judged at the examination.
How the scar changes over 12–18 months
Many people are worried by their scar at around two or three months, because it often looks more noticeable then than in the first weeks. This is a normal stage of healing.
Weeks 1–3: a thin, closed line, sometimes covered with tape. Depending on how the wound was closed, the stitches dissolve or are removed at a check-up.
Months 1–3: the scar often turns pinker, slightly raised and firmer. The body is laying down new collagen, and this does not mean that something has gone wrong.
Months 3–6: the colour starts to fade, and the scar softens and flattens.
Months 6–12: most of the visible improvement happens, and the scar becomes paler and flatter.
Months 12–18: maturation continues more slowly until the scar reaches its final colour and texture, usually a pale line slightly lighter or darker than the surrounding skin.
The skin between the belly button and the scar may also feel numb for months, because small sensory nerves are divided when the skin is lifted. Feeling usually returns gradually, although a small area can stay less sensitive.
Scar care that makes a difference
Scar care starts once the wound is fully closed, with no scabs or open areas, and continues for several months:
Silicone gel or silicone sheets, used daily for at least 2–3 months, are the most widely recommended home treatment for raised scars.
Gentle massage, once your team allows it, can help a firm scar soften.
Protect the scar from the sun for at least a year, as UV light can darken a young scar permanently.
Avoid tension in the first weeks: no backward stretching or heavy lifting, and wear the compression garment as advised.
Stay away from nicotine, which slows wound healing and can lead to a wider scar.
If a scar becomes thick, raised and itchy, options include silicone, steroid injections into the scar or, once it has matured, a small scar revision. These are discussed during follow-up, which continues through photos and video calls after you return home.
Why some scars heal less well
Tension is the most common reason a scar widens, whether it comes from lifting too early or from a large amount of skin being removed. Delayed wound healing usually starts at the centre of the incision, where the blood supply of the lifted skin is weakest, and smoking makes this more likely. An infection or a fluid collection under the skin (seroma) can also slow healing and leave a wider scar.
Some factors cannot be changed. A tendency to thick (hypertrophic) or keloid scars runs in families and is more common in darker skin types, and diabetes or a high body mass index make wound healing slower. If you already have thick or raised scars elsewhere, mention them at the assessment, because it affects how your scar is managed from the start.
The incision line is marked before surgery, after your face-to-face consultation with Dr. Semih Yıldız, so you can see where the scar will lie. If you are weighing a mini against a full tummy tuck partly because of scar length, our tummy tuck procedure page compares the techniques.
Frequently asked questions
Will my stretch marks disappear after a tummy tuck?
Stretch marks on the skin that is removed, usually most of those below the belly button, go with it. Stretch marks higher up remain, although they are pulled lower and can look somewhat flatter because the skin is tighter. A tummy tuck does not change the texture of the stretch marks that stay.
Can a tummy tuck scar be moved lower later?
Only to a limited extent. A scar revision can improve the quality or shape of a scar once it has matured, usually after 12 months or more, but moving the whole scar lower needs extra loose skin, which is rarely available after a tummy tuck. This is why the position is planned carefully at the marking before surgery.
Can I go in the sun or use a sunbed after a tummy tuck?
Sun on a young scar can leave it permanently darker, so keep it covered or use a high-factor sunscreen on it for at least 12 months, including on the beach. Avoid sunbeds during this time. Swimming in the sea or a pool waits until the wound has fully healed.
If you would like to know where your scar would lie and how long it would need to be, you can send photos of your abdomen for a free online assessment.
This article provides general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Results vary from person to person.
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