What Will Happen to my Tattoos After a Tummy Tuck?

I've posted here before and was told a full tummy tuck will probably be most beneficial to me. But what would happen to my feather tattoos? If my belly button is moved down in a traditional tummy tuck, won't that mean my feathers will stretch all the way down almost to my hips!? How stretched out will they be? I'm still losing weight so am not planning on having surgery done any time soon, but could I get away with a mini or hybrid tummy tuck?

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13 Doctor Answers | Asked by levismama in North Charleston, SC

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Impact of Tummy Tuck on Tattoos

Most likely an abdominoplasty will affect your tattoos. However, the degree can be altered by altering the skin excision. You probably would want to have a full abdominoplasty to meet your objectives. Consult in person with 2 - 3 experienced and expert board certified plastic surgeons to explore your options. see video

What Will Happen to my Tattoos After a Tummy Tuck?

The tattoos in the upper tummy and the flanks will probably not be affected, the tattoos in the groin may be removed or left behind depending on the level of scar placement that you and your surgeon agree upon. There may be the possibility that the tattoos in the upper tummy might be just slightly stretched a bit wider as the skin is pulled down, but probably not to a significant degree.

Tummy Tuck with Tattoos

It all depends, in your situation, on how important it is to you to have no change to your tattoos. It certainly would be possible to have a full tummy tuck with no alteration in your tattoo. A full tummy tuck does not necessarily move your umbilicus to a lower location. I think you can have a nice result with a tummy tuck with no effect on your tattoo if it is important to you.

Full tummy tuck

Lets answer the last question first, you will need a full tummy tuck , not mini or hybrid. As for the tattoos, the ones in lower abdomen will be gone, the feather tattoos will be pulled down, but will stay above the umbilicus. The more weight you loose the more likely the feather tattoos will drop. Good luck

Tattoo Movement with Tummy Tuck Surgery

IF I understand your question properly, you seem more concerned with the integrity of your tattoo art than in how much flatter your tummy can be made and how much of the stretch marks damaged skin can be removed. That is different than what most women are concerned with but judging how much you have invested in these tattoos it is vERY important that your surgeon fully understand your concerns and plan your surgery according to your wishes. You would MOST benefit from a FULL Tummy Tuck... more

What Will Happen to my Tattoos After a Tummy Tuck?

From your photos ALL the expert posters agree on results. What concerns me is why your chosen sugeon has not explained this to you?

Moving tattoos and a tummy tuck too!

I agree that a full tummy tuck is your best option to improve the contour of your abdomen. The feather tattoos will be pulled down quite a bit and may stretch slightly. To lessen this, you could compromise skin excision to prevent tattoo distortion. As for the tattoos in the groin, the incision may be placed above them. This could lead to an elevation of those tattoos, however it would likely be minimal. As for the spiderweb tattoo? Probably minimal change. Your best choice is to consult... more

David Bogue, MD

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Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

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Abdominal tattoos after tummy tuck

There will be shifting of abdominal tattoos after tummy tuck, and tattoos in the central or lower abdomen are affected the most. The tattoos up high by your rib cage will draw down about an inch, no more, and the tattoos over the hip will probably be removed by tummy tuck. Those over the flank shouldn't be affected. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Tattoo changes with tummy tuck.

I would expect the ones by your ribs to drift down, and parts of the ones on the groin area to be removed. The ones on your flanks will probably be unscathed but depending upon the pull, you may notice some changes as well. You have to decide which you want more - to keep the tattoos intact or have a very flat abdomen. Good luck.

Tattoos and tummy tuck

I suspect the feathers will end up near your upper waist but you should discuss your tattoos with your surgeon and customize your procedure to what you want as an end result. Whether you end up with a full, mini-, or modified tummy tuck will depend on what you want and what you are trying to avoid. Robin T.W. Yuan, M.D.