How do I know when a scar is mature? (photos)

Dear Dayna99322, I tell my patients that scars can take up to a full year or more to be "mature". Generally speaking if a scar is white you may consider the scar mature. Any color (red, purple, pink) in the scar suggests ongoing biological activity. In larger/longer scars you may have varying areas of activity and maturity. There are a variety of factors that cause this including tension, blood supply during initial healing, pressure from garments and clothing, etc. You most likely will have no issues with a tattoo over the white areas and if you are not sure....Ask your surgeon. Good luck. Dr. Gervais 

Redness or pink this in a scar is an indicator of ongoing biologic activity. When maturation is complete this color will totally disappear.

Generally we consider scars to be "mature" at one year, although tension across a scar, such as in the middle of an abdominoplasty scar, can slow complete maturation. When a scar becomes white it could be considered completely healed or mature.

At one year your scar is almost mature after your tummy tuck.  However technically scar healing takes 2 years on average to be complete.  You may find that there is less pink after 1 year.  However I do not think having a tattoo will cause a problem.  However you should check with your plastic surgeon.

Scars mature differently in different individuals and different parts of the same scar often mature at different rates.   This is due to differences in people and differences in stresses a given scar has in different areas of the same wound repair.   I would wait a full year AT LEAST before getting a tattoo in a recent scar.  I think the end result will be more predictable and you will likely be happier.  My Best,  Dr C