Tattoo over a scar from an arm lift, how long do I have to wait after healing in order to get one?

I'd wait for at least three months to begin the sleeve tattoo process on the arm in general (EXCLUDING the scar!), and start tattooing over the scar at about one year after your operation.  Of course, that's assuming the scar is healing well.  Definitely discuss the matter with your surgeon.  It is very important that you seek the advice of a surgeon who is experienced with the procedure, and a certified by the American Board of plastic surgery.
I wish you the best, 

Dr. Gabbay

Thank you for your question! For my patients, I typically recommend they wait 6 months to a year before tattooing over incisions. I recommend discussing specific post op questions with your plastic surgeon. Best of luck!

Usually is best to wait until scar has faded out to really see how is going to look. It may take 1 year to get there.  At this point you can have a tattoo placed over it. Hope it helps

It is always best to wait until the scar has completely faded. Tattoos are best when the scars are pale and not red/pink. I am sure your surgeon and your tattoo artist would say the same and best to take their advice. If it was me personally I would wait for 12 months min before considering a Tattoo over an arm lift scar as arm lift scars take longer than most to settle.

Hello dear!!

Thanks for the question and provided information as well. 

I recommend my patient complete properly the healing, most of the time is between 6 months and one year.
Good luck :)

Congratulations on having undergone the arm lifting surgery.   Best to run this question by your plastic surgeon; in my practice, I would ask patients to wait about a year. Best wishes for an outcome that you will be very pleased with.

As others have said, you need to wait until the scar has fully matured. The brachioplasty scars are notorious for taking longer than just about any other scar to mature. While the time frame of 6-12 months is a good general guideline, its best to wait for the scar to no longer be red. When it is white and soft, its typically fully healed. 

Thank you for your question.  Ideally your scar should be well healed, flat and faded.  This an often take up to one year.  Double check with your surgeon before proceeding.  Equally important is to be sure that your tattoo artist is well versed with the tattooing of scar tissue.
Best of Luck, 
Dr. K.

Hi, TTAnderson.  Congratulations on your arm lift! Every plastic surgeon has his/her recommended time for tattooing after plastic surgery, so I would defer to him/her.  But generally, I recommend waiting 6 months providing healing has been uneventful and the scar is thin, flat, and stable.Arm lifts often can have more problematic scarring -- taking longer for the scar to "quiet down" and fade, as well as having a higher risk for scar problems: thickening, atrophy, discoloration, widening, stretching, etc.  If there are scar issues, these may need to be addressed before tattooing -- for example, scar thickening may require a repeated course of steroid injections and silicone sheeting.In addition, tattooing directly in scars may be more difficult and the pigments may not take as well.  Risk of skin tearing, ulceration, and/or infection may be higher, especially in an unstable scar.  It is very important to go to a tattoo artist with extensive experience in tattooing within scarring.A tip to consider if you start with partial tattoos before the full sleeve in an effort conceal your arm lift scars:  In my observation, I find tattoos placed along a scar in an effort to conceal the scar may actually look odd and make the scar more conspicuous.  A more random, meandering tattoo design, that goes in and out of the scar, will very nicely camouflage the scar and detract from the scar itself.Best of luck!  Dr. Ghafoori

Thank you for your question. Usually I recommend to wait 9=12 months. Please talk to your PS for recommendation.