How Big Will My Scars Be After Bariatric Surgery?

Dr. Jacobs’ Five Key Points

1. Scarring is a fact of any surgical procedure.
2. Laparoscopic surgery has dramatically reduced the visibility of surgical scarring.
3. Do not use scar ointments or treatment without prior approval from your doctor.
4. The largest scar (12 mm) is often placed within the belly button, where it is not visible.
5. Most incisions are 5mm, typically disappearing entirely in a short time.

While a plethora of benefits are associated with bariatric surgery, one of the most common concerns our patients worry about is scarring. How big will the incisions be? Will there be scars? Is it going to be evident that I had a surgical procedure on my abdomen? This article will give you the information you need to make an informed decision for your health and wellbeing.

Modern laparoscopy has allowed us to minimize the size of the incisions and, thus, address patients’ aesthetic concerns. The largest incision, for example, during a gastric sleeve, is typically placed within the belly button, so it’s not even visible. However, the visibility of abdominal scars will depend on a patient’s skin and whether they tend to keloid.

Considerations Of Scarring

Scarring is a natural part of the healing process after the skin is punctured, whether from a surgical procedure or even a simple paper cut. Scarring is inevitable after your bariatric procedure. That said, advances in laparoscopic surgery have minimized scarring to the point where most patients, within a year or so, may have difficulty finding the scars from their procedure. Of course, the visibility of the wounds largely depends on the patient’s healing process.

Minimizing scarring also plays an important additional role. The laparoscopic approach means less chance of an incisional hernia, which occurs due to puncturing the skin and abdominal musculature and fascia during surgery, and a lower risk of infection. Ultimately, the minimally invasive approach makes sense for a multitude of reasons.

So, What Will My Scars Look Like?

Your scars will be “angry looking” for a week after surgery, though they should improve daily. After this point, and as they close and start to normalize, we will eventually see a flat but still discolored area of healed skin. At that point, you must let your body take over. Eventually, scars will change and blend into your standard skin color or something close. Scars will become less and less prominent with time. We strongly suggest always wearing or reapplying sunscreen on your scars.

Should I Use Scar Creams?

After the first few weeks after surgery, patients may use creams if they so desire, even though they may not be necessary

Remember, however, that reducing the appearance of scars also largely depends on your lifestyle changes. Eating well, staying hydrated, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption can all help the skin stay plump and vibrant as it heals. Taking care of your general health is crucial to good-looking skin and recovery, both internally and skin-deep.

The Bottom Line

Scarring is a part of any surgery and virtually anything involving breaking the skin. Fortunately, laparoscopic techniques have reduced the visibility of scars dramatically, and most patients do not find the need to address them in a significant way after surgery. Of course, we encourage you to discuss this or any postoperative concerns with Dr. Jacobs and our postop team.