Tummy Tuck Q&A
94%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
2,301 Reviews
Tummy Tuckbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Tummy Tuck Cost: $7,925

Learn about Tummy Tuck

7,734 people and 863 doctors are talking about Tummy Tuck

Get Free Email Updates

Will Full Tummy Tuck Affect my Tattoos?

asked 1 year ago by dav 8676 in Akron, OH
Latest answer by C. Bob Basu, MD
Question viewed 469 times
Tags: tattoo

I have a tattoo on my ribs right under my chest and one on the right side of my lower back that ends on my right hip. I have lost a lot of weight recently and have been doing very intense cardio and core strengthening workouts.. I can not tighten up my middle any more so I have decided on a tummy tuck but I'm concerned about how it will affect my body art.

15 answers to Will Full Tummy Tuck Affect my Tattoos?

+1

Tummy Tuck and Tattoos

A tummy tuck procedure will likely not affect the tattoo under your ribcage.  It may slightly reposition it lower or stretch is.   The tattoo in your hip area could be affected depending on its exact location.  Please visit with a board certified plastic surgeon to learn more about your options.
C. Bob Basu, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.basuplasticsurgery.com

+1

Potential Tattoo Shifting with Tummy Tuck

Regarding: "Will Full Tummy Tuck Affect my Tattoos? I have a tattoo on my ribs right under my chest and one on the right side of my lower back that ends on my right hip. I have lost a lot of weight recently and have been doing very intense cardio and core strengthening workouts.. I can not tighten up my middle any more so I have decided on a tummy tuck but I'm concerned about how it will affect my body art." The closer the tattoos are to the belly button, the more... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck and tattosos

If it  is located onyour rib cage then it is not likely to move much other than to be slighlty lowered on your abdomen.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck and tattoos

It is unlikely that a full tummy tuck will impact your upper abdominal tattoo except for perhaps stretching it out.  On the other hand, the one on the hip depending upon its exact location may be partially or completely removed. It can always be touched up.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck

Without seeing any photos, it is difficult to say.  If the tattoos are in the area of the tummy tuck, then it would be affected.  
Shahin Javaheri, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck and Tattoos

Thank you for the question. Without having the luxury of seeing your pre-operative photos, it is difficult to predict. In general, you can expect you tattoos to move, or be partially-to-completely lost if they are located in the infra-umbilical (under the belly button) region during a tummy tuck.  Best of luck ! Glenn Vallecillos, MD, FACS
Glenn Vallecillos, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Surgery and Body Art

Congratulations on your weight loss!!.  Tummy tuck will improve your skin  and it may affect your body art.  This depends on the placement of your incision and how much lax skin in removed.  The body art on your chest will likely be unaffected.  Discuss this with your plastic surgeon. Dr. ES
Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tattoos and tummy tuck

Yes, the tummy tuck will change them somewhat. If you are more concerned about the tattoos than the new shape the tummy tuck will give you, then don't have the surgery. There is no way to predict or guarantee how tattoos will look after any surgery.
Francisco Canales, MD

Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon
+1

Will Full Tummy Tuck Affect my Tattoos?

Without a posted photo my GUESS is YES!, But you can see your chosen Plastic Surgeon to discuss in detail. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl J. Blinski
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tattoos and Tummy Tucks

Whether or not a tattoo will be altered due to surgery depends on the size and location of the tattoo, the degree of skin laxity, and the amount and direction of pull needed to achieve your results. If your chest tattoo is very large or your skin is very loose it may be altered, otherwise you should be ok. Ultimately, you may need to make a decision between the tattoos and surgical results.
Lawrence Iteld, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Body Art and Tummy Tucks

If you have a tattoo in the loose lower abdominal or hip skin, it will likely be removed with the loose skin. If the tattoo is adjacent to removed skin, the tattoo will be stretched. Tattoos over the upper abdomen or ribs are not likely to be affected, nor are those on the sides or back unless an extended tummy tuck or lower body lift is performed. Tattoo on the lower abdomen or around the belly button are most likely to be affected. You plastic surgeon can tell you in more detail at the... more
Joseph Mele, MD

Walnut Creek Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tucks can affect tattoos

I have operated on several ladies with body art. How much the tummy tuck affects your tattoo depends on how far away it is from the lower part of the tummy. Sometimes the tattoo is elongated, other times all or part of the tattoo is removed. If the art is far enough away from the abdomen, it might not be affected at all. Even if it is affected, you might be able to get additional tattoo work done to cover the changes up or disguise the effects. Your surgeon can go over how much of a change... more
Victor Au, MD

Chapel Hill Plastic Surgeon
+1

Body art changes

I agree with Dr. Shuster in that it will depend upon exactly where the tattoo is located. Some patients can modify tattoos following the tummy tuck in some very interesting ways.
Timothy Fee, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

www.coastalcosmetic.com

+1

Tatoos and tummy tuck

We cannot answer the question without seeing a picture. A general answer would be yes but the extent of the change will depend on the looseness of the skin and where the tatoos are.
John P. Stratis, MD

Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck may affect body art.

I think you will have to make the decision.  There may be some changes in your body art due to the pull from a tummy tuck or the incisions depending upon where your tattoos are located.  You have to decide whether the surgical result or the tattoos are more important to you.
Steven Schuster, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question