Tummy Tuck - Case 17

This close-up of a patient's before and after tummy tuck highlights a couple of essential elements to successful results in tummy tuck surgery. First, the incision must be sutured in a way that allows it to heal as discreetly as possible. Dr. Cross uses a technique called "edge eversion" to take tension off of the incision, allowing it to heal as thin as possible. Second, the incision must be placed in a location where no one will see it. Whether the patient is in a bathing suit or pair of underpants, the incisions should never be visible, as evident by the fact that the incision in this picture is nearly invisible despite the patient being in disposable string underpants. Finally, the belly button must look natural. Since the belly button incision will be the only visible evidence of my tummy tuck procedures, Dr. Cross obsesses over the belly button appearance. The belly button should have nice shadowing going into a soft depression, the incision should be hidden, and it should look like an overall natural feature on the abdomen.