Scar Care in the Sun Following Full Tt

asked 1 year ago by ttengland in Hartlepool, F5
Latest answer by Ricardo A. Meade, MD
Question viewed 786 times
Tags: female, sun protection

I'm going on holiday in a couple of months, my belly button and scar will only be 5 months old ( following a full tt) , how best can I cover / protect them from burning in the sun?

11 answers to Scar Care in the Sun Following Full Tt

5 month after TT tanning Q

5 mos after a TT you should still be covering your TT scars (not only the umbilical one). Use a strong sunblock of at least 30 and do so until your scars look totally normal and well healed. This will happen at about 9 months in your case I believe.

Ricardo A. Meade, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

www.DoctorMeade.com

How can I best protect 5 month old Tummy Tuck scars from burning in the sun?

Regarding: "Scar Care in the Sun Following Full Tt I'm going on holiday in a couple of months, my belly button and scar will only be 5 months old ( following a full tt) , how best can I cover / protect them from burning in the sun?" The BEST way is complete sun and UV light avoidance for up to 1 year after the surgery. That would assure you a white, faint scar without hypertrophy or pigmentation. The second best is the use of the HIGHEST sunblock on the market with... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Scar care / sun protection after tummy tuck

It's essential that you protect the scar from the sun, with a strong sunblock. Tanning of the scar is likely to cause difficult-to-treat hyperpigmentation (brown discoloration) - this problem is better avoided than anything. If you want the tanned look, I'd suggest a spray-tan!

Thomas Fiala, MD
Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon

Sun exposure on new scars

As I’m sure you will want to ‘show off’ your new belly button – it is imperative that you apply a sunblock to your new scars. Tanning or burning those scars will cause them to darken and result in a more prominent scar. Have fun on your holiday and enjoy your new found confidence!

George John Alexander, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Scar management and Sun avoidance after a tummy tuck

A tummy tuck is a safe and effective procedure to contour the abdomen, create a tight waist, and remove extra skin, fat, and stretch marks. In our practice, we inform all patients of the significant recovery process after a tummy tuck. Every patient receives two garments after their surgery. The first garment is the traditional abdominal binder that most patients receive after a tummy tuck. The second garments is a compression garment that we have designed and have constructed here... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.miamiaesthetic.com

Protect the scars even under your swinwear...

You will need to protect the scar with some sort of opaque covering even under your swim wear. UV light penetrates swimwear more than you might think and can increase the scar color.

Victor Au, MD
Chapel Hill Plastic Surgeon

Use sunscreen or sunblock as long as scars remain red.

As long as the scars remain red you should use of high SPF sunscreen or preferably a sunblock with micronized zinc oxide or titanium oxide. A typical t-shirt only has an SPF of 8.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Sun protection after tummy tuck

I would agree that you need to use sunblock/sunscreen and at least 30 spf. If you are going to the beach or pool then be aware that many sunscreens are not really water proof and have to be reapplied. At 5 months after a tummy tuck, I also strongly recommend still using a silicone product, either a silicone gel product such as Dermatix or silicone sheets to the scars at night. Silicone helps tremendously. I hope this helps and have a great vacation! Sincerely... more

James F. Boynton, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.BoyntonPlasticSurgery.com

Scar protection from the sun

I usually tell patients to protect new scars from the sun for at least a year. The scars are very sensitive and may hyperpigment. Use good sun screen

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Sun Protection after Tummy Tuck

You should protect your belly button if it is exposed to the sun while on holiday 5 months after your tummy tuck. You should use a sunscreen which protects from both UVA/B and has an SPF of 30 or higher. This is true with a surgical scar in any area which has not had its redness fade.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Scar management after tummy tuck

Simple answer - suns screen/sun block. UV rays can have a negative impact on your healing process (scar maturation and fading). Regardless of your tummy tuck, sunscreen is good for your skin health. Enjoy your vacation.