This section was reviewed by Dr. Catherine Bergeret-Galley , a specialist in plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery, and president of the SNCPRE. The reviewer is responsible for the section's content within her specialty; articles are constantly evolving and not all are individually reviewed.
The scar from an abdominoplasty is usually long and located in the lower abdomen, but its shape depends on the specific procedure performed. Its position, width, color, and texture vary from person to person. No cream, device, or technique can promise to make it invisible.
The priorities are first and foremost proper wound closure, prevention and early detection of complications, and then the progressive assessment of the scar. Silicone, massage, or laser treatment may be considered in certain situations, but the evidence is limited or inconsistent and does not justify a uniform protocol for everyone.
What does an abdominoplasty scar look like?
The incision is most often located below the abdomen and may extend laterally. Another scar may encircle the navel if it has been repositioned. The exact placement depends on the amount of excess skin, the patient's body shape, the surgical technique, and the tension required for closure. The surgeon should explain the expected location before the procedure, but cannot guarantee that it will be completely concealed by all clothing.
Initially, the area may be red, firm, tender, numb, or irregular. These symptoms should be interpreted in conjunction with an examination of the wound and the patient's overall condition. A photograph found online is not a reliable reference: lighting, posture, the time of day the photo was taken, and individual characteristics can significantly alter the appearance.
A gradual and variable evolution
A scar remodels itself over several months, sometimes longer. It may initially become more visible before softening or fading. This process is not linear and does not follow a universal timeline. Superficial closure does not mean that the deeper tissues have fully recovered their properties.
The outcome depends in particular on skin quality, the tension of the closure, smoking, certain medical conditions, a history of pathological scarring, any infection, and adherence to postoperative instructions. A wider or pigmented scar is not necessarily due to poor care; however, it should be shown to the team if it changes or becomes bothersome.
Wound care: follow the team's instructions
Dressings, showering, wearing post-operative clothing, permitted movements, and monitoring are determined by the team familiar with the procedure. Do not apply any cream, oil, herb, adhesive, or device to an open wound without their approval. A product that is safe for use on intact skin may irritate a surgical area or mask an underlying problem.
Wash your hands before any procedure and do not alter the dressing or prescribed treatment yourself. If instructions are unclear, contact the department rather than improvising. The guide to home post-surgery recovery helps prepare contact information and useful documents, but does not replace discharge instructions.
Compression garments: when prescribed, they are part of the postoperative instructions, just like wound care. The specifics of compression garments after cosmetic surgery , including wear duration, adjustment, and limitations, are discussed separately. The duration is determined by the surgeon, not the manufacturer.
What signs should prompt a consultation?
- pain, redness or heat that increases instead of decreasing;
- unusual discharge, foul odor or persistent bleeding;
- fever, chills, malaise or general deterioration of condition;
- opening of the wound or area of skin that becomes dark;
- Sudden, asymmetrical swelling or associated with calf pain;
- shortness of breath, chest pain or loss of consciousness.
These signs do not allow for a diagnosis remotely, but they require prompt contact with the medical team or emergency services depending on their severity. Edema is common after abdominal surgery; however, its significance depends on the context. Our article on postoperative edema distinguishes between general measures and signs that warrant medical attention.
Silicone: a possible option, but with uncertain evidence.
Silicone sheets or gels are sometimes recommended once the skin has completely closed, particularly for raised or high-risk scars. They should not be confused with open wound treatment. The choice of format and timing of application are determined by the surgeon or dermatologist, taking into account skin tolerance.
The available Cochrane review concludes that the studies are small, subject to bias, and of very low certainty. A benefit remains possible for some individuals, but its magnitude is uncertain, and no specific commercial product has been shown to be superior. Presenting silicone as a recognized and consistently effective solution would therefore be beyond the scope of the data. Irritation, maceration, or poor adhesion may warrant reassessment of its use.
Massage: potential benefit, heterogeneous data
Scar massage is sometimes recommended for comfort, tissue mobility, or to relieve tension. It should only begin after complete closure and with the team's approval. A painful, inflamed, fragile, or dehiscing area should not be massaged based on a tutorial.
The literature on postoperative massage presents a wide variety of techniques, durations, and evaluation criteria. The data are heterogeneous and insufficient to define a standard protocol or to assert that it prevents hypertrophic scarring. Furthermore, not all studies focus on abdominoplasty, making their direct application even more uncertain. If the technique is adopted, it must be taught and adapted by a professional.
Scar protection and sun exposure
A recent scar can become pigmented under the influence of ultraviolet rays. The team may recommend covering it and choosing appropriate sun protection once the skin has healed. The strategy depends on the season, skin type, exposure, and individual tolerance. It does not correct an already hypertrophic scar and does not replace follow-up care.
Hypertrophic scar or keloid scar: what's the difference?
A hypertrophic scar becomes thick and raised while remaining within the boundaries of the initial incision. A keloid extends beyond these boundaries. Other problems can cause a red, hard, or painful appearance: prolonged inflammation, protruding sutures, infection, reaction to an adhesive, or local tension. Diagnosis is based on examination and monitoring of the scar's progression, not just a photograph.
A scar that thickens, itches intensely, becomes painful, or spreads warrants a consultation. The specialist will consider your medical history, skin color, location, and impact before discussing monitoring, topical treatments, injections, laser therapy, or surgery. None of these procedures eliminates the risk of recurrence.
Laser treatment, injections or surgical revision: when should you discuss it?
Several lasers and energy-based devices are being studied to improve the color, texture, or elasticity of certain scars. Trials and reviews report potential results, but the studies are heterogeneous and comparisons remain difficult. The Cochrane Review on hypertrophic and keloid scars considers the data insufficient to draw firm conclusions. No device is universally suitable, and none can guarantee individual results.
The choice of a device, its parameters, and the timing of the procedure are the responsibility of a dermatologist or surgeon experienced in the technique. Pigmentation, depigmentation, burns, pain, or worsening of the condition are possible. Injections and surgical revision also have their own specific indications and risks. A combination of treatments can be discussed, but it is not a mandatory sequence of "silicone, massage, then laser."
Before your consultation, gather the surgical report, prescriptions, medical history, and dated photographs taken under comparable conditions. Our guide to abdominoplasty and its management outlines the general administrative framework without specifying whether scar treatment is covered.
Useful questions during follow-up
- Is the wound sufficiently closed to apply a product?
- Does the observed appearance correspond to an expected development or to a complication?
- What realistic objective does the proposed treatment aim for: comfort, color, texture, or flexibility?
- What is the level of uncertainty and what are the possible side effects?
- What changes should prompt a prompt re-contact with the service?
When the area can be exposed, our guide on protecting a scar from the sun after surgery helps distinguish between a still-fragile wound and skin that has fully closed. The surgeon's instructions always take precedence.
Medical sources
- World Health Organization, global recommendations for the prevention of surgical site infections.
- S2k recommendation, management of hypertrophic scars and keloids.
- Cochrane, silicone sheets for hypertrophic scars.
- Scoping review, scar massage after surgery.
- Cochrane, laser treatment of hypertrophic and keloid scars.
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of laser and energy-based devices for surgical scars.
Editorial notice: This general information article was prepared from the listed sources and editorially checked on July 16, 2026. It does not constitute a diagnosis or treatment protocol and does not replace examination by a surgeon or dermatologist.
