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Redo Tummy Tuck After Beverly Hills Abdominoplasty by Dr. Kao
Redo Tummy Tuck After Beverly Hills Abdominoplasty: Scar Revision, Muscle Tightening, and Waistline Refinement
This patient previously had a tummy tuck in Beverly Hills, but she still felt loose, had a high visible scar, and did not feel her abdominal muscles were tightened enough. Dr. Kao performed a complex redo tummy tuck to improve the scar, flatten the abdomen, tighten the core, and refine the waistline.
Video: Redo tummy tuck after prior abdominoplasty by another surgeon
“It’s hard to believe that you’ve had a tummy tuck already.”
Table of Contents
Case Overview
This patient came to Dr. Chia Chi Kao after previously undergoing a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, with another plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. Although she had already had surgery, she still felt that her abdomen was loose and that she had to “suck in” to feel flatter.
She also had concerns about the appearance and position of her scar. The previous tummy tuck scar was high, visible, and not positioned where Dr. Kao typically prefers to place an abdominoplasty incision.
What Needed to Be Corrected
The main concerns were abdominal looseness, inadequate muscle tightening, a high scar, stretch marks, and a waistline that did not look as narrow or refined as the patient wanted.
Revision tummy tuck surgery is more difficult than a first-time tummy tuck because the surgeon is limited by the previous operation. In this case, Dr. Kao explained that he could not simply place the new scar as low as he would in a primary tummy tuck because there was not enough remaining skin to pull downward.
The goal was to improve as much as possible within the limitations of the prior surgery: tighten the abdomen, flatten the muscle layer, narrow the waistline, and revise the scar.
Dr. Kao’s Redo Tummy Tuck Plan
Dr. Kao planned a redo tummy tuck designed to tighten the abdominal wall more completely and create a flatter, firmer result. The plan included working upward through the abdomen to release and redrape the tissue, tightening the abdominal muscles, and improving the waistline contour.
Because the prior scar was high, Dr. Kao also worked to revise and improve the scar while acknowledging that the previous surgery limited how low the final incision could be placed.
During the revision, Dr. Kao also addressed a local hernia and used fat grafting to improve thin, damaged skin and scar quality. This helped create a smoother, healthier-looking abdominal surface over time.
Three-Year Post-Op Result
At three years after the redo tummy tuck, the patient showed significant improvement in abdominal tightness, scar appearance, and skin quality. Dr. Kao noted that the fat grafting helped rejuvenate the thin skin and improve the appearance of the revised scar.
The abdomen appeared flatter, the waistline looked more refined, and the scar was improved compared with the previous tummy tuck result. This case demonstrates how revision abdominoplasty can correct many problems from prior surgery, but also why the first tummy tuck must be planned carefully.
A poorly placed scar, inadequate muscle tightening, or insufficient waistline shaping can make future revision more difficult. Dr. Kao’s approach focused on restoring the abdomen as much as possible while respecting the limits created by the original operation.
Considering Redo Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Dr. Chia Chi Kao specializes in complex aesthetic revision surgery designed to improve scar placement, abdominal tightness, waistline contour, and confidence after previous procedures.
Questions & Answers
Why did this patient need a redo tummy tuck?
She had already undergone a tummy tuck elsewhere, but she still felt loose, had to suck in her abdomen, and was unhappy with the high scar and lack of abdominal tightening.
Can a high tummy tuck scar always be lowered?
Not always. A high tummy tuck scar can sometimes be improved, but revision depends on how much skin remains, where the old scar was placed, and how much tissue can safely be recruited during surgery.
What did Dr. Kao correct during this redo tummy tuck?
Dr. Kao tightened the abdominal wall, refined the waistline, revised the scar, addressed a local hernia, and used fat grafting to improve thin skin and scar quality.
Why is revision tummy tuck surgery more difficult?
Revision tummy tuck surgery is more difficult because the surgeon must work around scar tissue, altered anatomy, limited remaining skin, and decisions made during the original surgery.
How long after surgery was this result shown?
This redo tummy tuck result was shown three years after surgery.
About Dr. Chia Chi Kao
Dr. Chia Chi Kao is a board-certified plastic surgeon and the founder of Kao Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica, California. He is known for complex revision plastic surgery, body contouring, scar refinement, facial rejuvenation, and natural-looking results designed to restore confidence.
Individual results vary. This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace a personal consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon. Revision tummy tuck surgery is complex, and not every patient is a candidate for the same approach.
