How Soon Can I Tan After Liposuction?

asked 1 year ago by San Diego5054 in San Diego
Latest answer by Shain A. Cuber, MD
Question viewed 1,060 times
Tags: thighs, female, tanning, timing

I am getting liposuction on my thighs and going on vacation two months later. How soon after the surgery can I return to indoor tanning to prepare for my trip?

7 answers to How Soon Can I Tan After Liposuction?

Tanning after Liposuction...

Healing after liposuction usually doesn't take much time. In general it may take less then a week until you may return to work and other daily activities, depending on the extent of the surgery. As for tanning, even though as a physician I can't advocate it, it's better to wait two weeks after surgery or until all the bruising is gone. Also, you need to cover the incisions from the liposuction for a few weeks while tanning to help with healing and to... more

Shain A. Cuber, MD
Marlboro Plastic Surgeon

www.AssociatesinPlasticSurgery.com

Sun exposure after liposuction

You're asking a dermatologist who deals with skin cancer all day long, when it's OK to tan...Never! Use sunscreen and sun avoidance techniqes. For recent surgical scars, they should be covered with UVA / UVB sunscreens... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

How soon can I tan after liposuction?

Two months after liposuction should be OK to tan. The scars from liposuction are quite small and shouldn't be greatly affected. I would recommend still using sunscreen and keep reapplying every hour or so. Your skin where you had the liposuction done may be more sensitive to sunlight, so start tanning carefully and less that what you would normally do.

Stanley Castor, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

Tanning after liposuction

There really is no specific time limit to avoid tanning. In general tanning is not good for the skin, but if you so choose to do it, I would cover the incision sites or at least use a sun block to avoid hyperpigmentation.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

How soon can I tan after liposuction? That's about like asking "How soon can I drive fast and take chances?"

Don't get me wrong, I also like the "golden goddess" look of bronzed skin, and am envious of my naturally darker-pigmented friends and patients. But ultraviolet radiation, in any form, is harmful and damaging to skin! I know that 15 minutes of ultraviolet exposure per day is considered "OK" in order for your body to produce Vitamin D, but that can also be obtained from vitamins, fortified milk, or everyday outdoor activity. Tanning, even the "indoor" variety... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Tanning And New Scars

Sun exposure and UV radiation can cause sun burns on normal skin. Scars are immature and don't have the level of protection that normal skin has from birth. Thus you need to be careful with any scar for a full year from the procedure. Early sun exposure can result in pigmentation of the scar making it darker and more noticeable. Thus, you must cover the scar or use liberal amounts of sunscreen to help limit the UV effect. Fortunately, liposuction leaves very small scars and this... more

Vincent P. Marin, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Tanning after liposuction, with caution

Your response to the sun after liposuction will depend on the resolution of bruising, and any skin irritation or pinkness, which we sometimes see in thin skin such as the inner thighs. After two months you should be good to go, however it is not unusual to be more sun sensitive for up to a year after, so watch your skin and start slowly. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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