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When Can I Go on a Sunbed After a Breast Implant?

asked 8 months ago by chelsea1 in west midlands
Latest answer by Mary Lee Peters, MD
Question viewed 540 times
Tags: scar tissue, tanning

i have recently had a inner thigh lift and breast enlargement im going on holiday in november but i want to go on a sunbed

4 answers to When Can I Go on a Sunbed After a Breast Implant?

+1

Tanning After Breast Augmentation

There are few things that a group of plastic surgeons will agree on completely, but tanning is one of them.Ultraviolet light, either natural or electrical is really bad for your skin. Not only is there risk of skin cancer, it destroys elastic fibers in your skin and ages it prematurely. Your skin will be more likely to sag and have a dry possibly leathery quality. The few days of pink to brown colour quicly change to yellow and green. Try some of the new spray on tans... more
Mary Lee Peters, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.maryleepetersmd.com

+1

Sunbed or real sun--ultraviolet energy (regardless of source) is bad in general, and can make your scars turn brown permanently!

Until your scars have fully matured (6-12 months), any form of ultraviolet energy can turn scars brown (and unlike tanned skin, this brown scar discoloration does NOT fade over time). I know you don't want to burn on holiday, but tanning before you go is a bit like taking small doses of rat poison daily so when you take a big dose of rat poison it won't kill you! Ultraviolet energy causes skin cancer, wrinkles, and causes the pigmentation issues with "not-yet-mature"... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

+1

Sunbed After Plastic Surgery

Thank you for the question. I doubt you will like my answer but asking when you can expose yourself to potentially skin cancer causing ultraviolet light is like asking a physician when you can resume smoking. The answer to both in my opinion would be: never. Otherwise, you may have to run the question by your plastic surgeon who may feel otherwise. Best wishes.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Sunbed after breast augmentation

As a plastic surgeon who treats skin cancer on a daily basis, my answer is that no exposure, whether artificial or natural sun, is a good thing. If you are inquiring as to when a surgical scar can be exposed to sun in the postop period, i caution for use of sunscreen during the entire year after any surgery.
Robert L. Kraft, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

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