Single Incision Scars vs. Multi-port Scars from Surgery

[LAXGirl 6]

So after doing lots of research I believe I found a great doctor to do my VSG. Only problem is that he doesn't do single incision surgery. When I asked him about it, he stated the scars are tiny- and with single sleeve incisions you have one big scar at the belly button vs. 5 small ones so it's better to have the 5 small ones. The thing is that I have dark skin so I'm pretty sure I will have these scars for life and they won't fade well. I would really love to show off my body in a bikini after surgery but I'm thinking I won't want to with the scars. So I'm thinking about find a new surgeon who does a single incision-which I'm not happy about as I really like my surgeon. So my questions for you all are:

1) For those that got the single incision- do you really have "one giant scar" on your belly button- or is is not even noticeable?

2) For those that did the traditional multi-port- do you feel they are noticeable if you are in a swimsuit that shows off your stomach?

If anyone has photos they can share like 2+ years out that would be great. When I see photos from a year or less, especially for multi-port it scares me because they are definitely noticeable.

-Rachel

[Lynda486 784]

I have had both and would take the Laparoscopic surgery over a one scar surgery. For one, the scar is about a foot and a half long. It is also more painful. I just had my bypass surgery and some of my scars are almost gone.

[FLHappyGirl 171]

I'm approaching three years out. I have light skin, you cannot see any of my scars (5). None! I don't recall how long it took for them to completely fade away but it wasn't that long, maybe 9-12 months. I have a friend who had surgery over 10 years ago, she is more of an olive complexion; you cannot see any of her scars either.

[ms.sss 15,262]

I had multi-incision VSG a year ago...my scars are still very visible and raised, as I have a tendency towards hyper-pigmentation.

I wear bikinis, no prob.

Edited November 8, 2019 by ms.sss

[AJ Tylo 1,399]

1 hour ago, LAXGirl said:

1) For those that got the single incision- do you really have "one giant scar" on your belly button- or is is not even noticeable?

2) For those that did the traditional multi-port- do you feel they are noticeable if you are in a swimsuit that shows off your stomach?

If anyone has photos they can share like 2+ years out that would be great. When I see photos from a year or less, especially for multi-port it scares me because they are definitely noticeable.

-Rachel

2. I have no real marks or scars just little dark spot - A little tan action and you would never see them. three marks at 12 9 and 3 and the naval cut so i had the exact thing - The old Naval is cut down inside and No marks - The other 3 look like cigarette burns little dark but not noticeable. Now when i put on a thong or my favorite bikini the suit often distracts from the tiny little marks.

[VSGDavid 185]

I am light skinned, had multi-port surgery. I am 11 months out, and the scars are so small you can't really see them. One exception is the larger scar above my navel where they removed the stomach. It's larger and a bit thicker than where the trocars went in.

[LAXGirl 6]

2 hours ago, Lynda486 said:

I have had both and would take the Laparoscopic surgery over a one scar surgery. For one, the scar is about a foot and a half long. It is also more painful. I just had my bypass surgery and some of my scars are almost gone.

For the single scar incision I was meant about Single incision Laparoscopic surgery- so there's only one smallish cut near or in your belly button. 🙂

[elcee 3,341]

It's not the scars you will be trying to hide when you wear a bikini, it is more likely to be the loose skin.

[VSGDavid 185]

21 minutes ago, elcee said:

it is more likely to be the loose skin.

True story. lol

[catwoman7 11,178]

yep - the loose skin is going to be WAY more noticeable than the scars. I had RNY, but I didn't notice the scars at all after a few months. They were TINY.

[LAXGirl 6]

40 minutes ago, elcee said:

It's not the scars you will be trying to hide when you wear a bikini, it is more likely to be the loose skin.

I'm not concerned about the loose skin- I plan on getting a Tummy Tuck eventually after I have kids down the line- I believe I can hide that scar under the top part of the bikini. So just concerned with the stomach scars right now.

[catwoman7 11,178]

Just now, LAXGirl said:

I'm not concerned about the loose skin- I plan on getting a Tummy Tuck eventually after I have kids down the line- I believe I can hide that scar under the top part of the bikini. So just concerned with the stomach scars right now.

whatever tiny scars I had from my RNY where "pulled out" when I had my Tummy Tuck. They just flat out don't exist anymore. I wouldn't even be able to tell you where they once were.

[NancyLF 234]

I had an old 3" scar from a hernia repair years ago. With the sleeve surgery, my dr put one incision on the old scar. That one virtually disappeared. The others are so small, they're difficult to find. They were only about half inch long.

[GreenTealael 25,164]

I scar 2x darker than my normal skin tone (Fitzpatrick IV skin scarring to a VI)

As everyone said (and it's going to be hard to get just now) you *may* care less and less about the small stuff like 5-6 tiny scars.

What you *may* really begin to care about down the line of research is how proficient or skilled your surgeon is at any surgery done to have the best possible post surgical outcomes (that is within your control)

Or you *may* still care...

My bikini pics are in my gallery with all of my unfaded scars for the world to behold and Zero ***** given 😍

[LAXGirl 6]

15 minutes ago, GreenTealael said:

I scar 2x darker than my normal skin tone (Fitzpatrick IV skin scarring to a VI)

As everyone said (and it's going to be hard to get just now) you *may* care less and less about the small stuff like 5-6 tiny scars.

What you *may* really begin to care about down the line of research is how proficient or skilled your surgeon is at any surgery done to have the best possible post surgical outcomes (that is within your control)

Or you *may* still care...

My bikini pics are in my gallery with all of my unfaded scars for the world to behold and Zero ***** given 😍

Thanks for sharing! I have the exact same skin type so I think I'll have similar results.