The Centre, P.C. - Plastic Surgery Blog

Will a Tummy Tuck Affect My Choice of Swimsuits? - Thursday, April 30, 2009

With swimsuit season approaching, you may be happy to see that your exercise routine is leading to weight loss, even in that hard-target stomach area. But, even so, your stomach doesn't look as good as you would like. Slack muscles, stretch marks, and loose, hanging skin can all sabotage your hard work to achieve a beach-ready belly. You may be considering a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) because you know it can help with all these problems, but you're afraid the scar might limit your choice of swimwear for the beach.

Yes, a tummy tuck will leave a scar that may prevent you from wearing some of the styles on display at Victoria's Secret swimwear, but it will actually increase your options. The typical scar from an abdominoplasty runs from around the hip bone on one side, dips into the pubic region in the middle, and ends around the hip bone on the other side. It is placed below the waistband of most underwear, and therefore easily concealed by most bikini bottoms.

A good rule of thumb is that if you can see the hip bones of the model in the suit: A) she's too skinny, and B) you won't be able to wear it after your tummy tuck. This means that string bikinis and most low-rise bottoms will be out, unfortunately, unless your incision heals really well, which does happen occasionally. But you probably wouldn't have felt comfortable wearing those before your tummy tuck, anyway.

The good news is that you won't be as limited to control tops, tankinis, and one-pieces. Yes, you can wear them, and look better in them than before, but you can also add the more revealing monokinis, and many types of bikinis. Traditional bikinis, boyshorts, skirted bottoms, many scoop bottoms, most anything with a full or moderate back, and anything with a high rise waist are all good options. In fact, once you start trying things on, you will probably be amazed at what you can get away with that you would never have considered before.

If you are considering a tummy tuck, we invite you to talk about this and any other concerns you may have. Schedule a tummy tuck consultation with The Centre, P.C. at either our Elkhart or Chesterton, Indiana office today.