How much of my tattoos would be cut off if I have a tummy tuck? (Photos)

The amount of skin removal in tummy tuck depends upon the surgeon's technique and the patient's tissue characteristics. For a short scar TT, the PS will make a single short horizontal incision very low on the abdomen, so that it can be easily concealed by bikinis and other clothing.
Once the incision is made, excess fat and drooping skin are removed and the abdominal muscles are tightened to enhance the patient’s body. Liposuction might be combined with this procedure, if required. A new and more proportional bellybutton is also created. After the procedure is complete, the surgeon uses sutures to close the short incision.Because you are planning to have the tattoo removed, I would not be concerned by the disruption of the tattoo but in selecting the board certified PS who will give you the results you are seeking in a TT.Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

As a Plastic Surgeon who performs a good number of these procedures each year, I hear this question a lot.  I would suggest that you wait to do anything to the tattoo until after your surgery to see how much is actually left and then go from there.  Many of my patients actually go on to add to the residual tattoos once healing is complete but you are certainly welcome to do whatever you feel is necessary.'I hope that helps and wish you the very best!Warmest regards,-Gregory A Buford MD FACS PCEOBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author

Any time a patient has tattoos on the abdomen in the region that will be affected by a tummy tuck, I give the patient an idea of how much I think they may lose, and if it will leave a partial tattoo behind. I think a beautiful contour is more important that adjusting the incisions for a lesser result in an attempt to save a tattoo, and patients tend to agree. Since you are planning tattoo removal anyway, this does not pose a problem. Typically the skin between the belly button and pubic area is removed (in some cases less, if you don't have as much loose skin) and the skin removed is widest at the center and tapers off on both ends. This means the lowest star, and the lowest part of the other tattoo will definitely be affected, and the second star and higher up on the other tattoo may also be affected depending on how much laxity you have.

I have many patients that have had abdominoplasty and they have tattoos in the same area. I tell them that if you draw a  horizontal line at the level of your belly button and then one just above the pubic area, then this would roughly correlate to the amount of tissue removed. On our website for patient number two, you can see that she has a large scar that was removed between these two areas and this may give you an idea about how much tissue can be excised. I tell my patients that they can see a tattoo artist afterward to do touch ups or see if the remaining tattoo can be altered to make it look interesting again. The last option would be laser tattoo removal.  Best of luck to you.

Traditionally, the aim of abdominoplasty is to excise lax or excess skin of the abdomen. The skin below the umbilicus/belly button constitutes the majority of the planned skin removal.With regards to your specific question, the pigmented skin below the level of the belly button is more likely to be excised than not. Based upon your photos alone, this would likely include the lower 2 stars. However, a more accurate prediction could be made via in-person exam.As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).Donovan Rosas MD
Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic
Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
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If you think about drawing a football shape from your belly button down to your hips that would be approximately the skin that is removed from a tummy tuck.. Using the stars going bottom to top, the lower two would be most impacted. Your surgeon will be able to give you a more specific estimate during your consultation.

Great question, thanks for asking. The amount of excess skin to be removed depends upon different factors. The typical tummy tuck scar rests low on the abdomen, beneath your belly button.
Your plastic surgeon should be able to give you a rough idea of where this line may be and how much of your existing tattoos may be removed.

Hello, thanks for your question and provided information with pictures. Not all your tattoos will be gone during the procedure, the amount of skin that will be removed. will be known on surgery room, at the moment of the procedure, because it depends on how much elasticity you have, and what look/results you want to achieve. Good luck with your procedure, you are a very good candidate! 

Congratulations on your decision to proceed with tummy tuck surgery.  Hopefully you have chosen your plastic surgeon carefully; make sure that he/she is a board-certified plastic surgeon who can demonstrate lots of experience achieving the types of outcomes you will be pleased with.  It will also be important that you communicate your goals carefully;  working together you will come up with a good plan to achieve an outcome that you will be pleased with.   
  Generally speaking, tummy tuck operations  involve removing skin from the pubic area up to the level or slightly above the umbilicus.    Your plastic surgeon will be able to demonstrate the area of planned excision to you.
 Best wishes  for an outcome that you will be very pleased with.

Many thanks for your pictures and questions.
The honest answer is that without and in-person examination it would not be an accurate answer. That said, it would be fair to say that the bottom two stars would be removed with a standard abdominoplasty. 
What I would advise is that you have your abdominoplasty first and then get any tattoos you want removing worked on - this would be the only accurate way of tackling this for you.
I wish you luck.
Marcus