Should I Avoid Getting a Tan on my Belly Before my Tummy Tuck?

Tanning six weeks prior to a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) should not interfere with your surgery as long as you do not suffer any significant sun damage such as a sunburn.  A severe sunburn could lead to cancellation of your surgery.  It is also important to remember that tanning postoperatively has to be done very carefully.  First, the scars need to be protected from the sun for several months to prevent hyperpigmentation (darkening).  Second, the skin on the abdomen will lose some sensation for several months.  So if you are not careful, you can develop a significant sunburn without even knowing it.  Be careful and be smart!

Hello! Thank you for your question!  Tanning prior to your procedure should not have a significant impact on your result - avoid sunburn, of course. After any surgical procedure, you should be careful with incisions as well as avoidance of direct UVA and UVB rays in order to lessen the chance for hyperpigmentation of the skin and scars, which can take several months to resolve, if it ever does. Sunblock is recommended regardless. The ability of the affected area to heal has been slowed and you should try to avoid additional swelling to the area. The area will likely be numb for several weeks to months and will be difficult to feel when sunburn is coming on. Typical recommendations include wearing a hat and/or sunblock to the affected area for at least 6-12 weeks following the procedure. It takes up to one year for scars to fully mature. You should also avoid trauma to the area for several months to protect the refinements made during the procedure. Also, avoidance of pools/lakes/jacuzzis/etc for 4-6 weeks is usually recommended to allow adequate healing and protection from stagnant water, that could potentially harbor bacteria. Lifting/exercise restrictions are common for at least 7 weeks. Certainly discuss the postoperative instructions with your surgeon, as thoughts differ among surgeons. Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

A nice tan is actually helpful coming into surgery like a tummy tuck or liposuction.  This can help me place your incisions strategically to hide them under your bathing suit.  As mentioned in other posts, do beware of sunburn and the possibility of darker scars if tanning just before or for several months after your surgery.

Tanning before a tummy tuck is reasonable as long as you do not get burned or get an excessive tan beyond your normal range. This can lead to more difficulties wiht animation,

Tanning so many weeks prior to your tummy tuck should not impact anything. Have fun, and wear sun protection.

Reasonable sunbathing without burning should NOT interfere with a subsequent Tummy Tuck.
Unlike one of my colleagues who uses a tan line to guide scar placement, I always use my patients' underwear to guide me in this task. Since most us unfortunately spend much more time in our underwear than in bathing suit bottoms, it makes much more sense to hide Tummy Tuck scars in the confines of my patients' favorite panties than those of their less used favorite bathing suit bottoms (or their tan lines).

Dr. Peter Aldea

Tanning before a tummy tuck if carefully done should not affect your surgery, but avoid burning. Tanning after, however, can cause problems. Exposing a healing scar to sun can cause the scar to pigment and become more noticeable. Also it is typical to have some numbness in the lower abdomen for several months after which can make you more susceptible to a burn. Enjoy the sun now, though get your one-piece ready for the upcoming summer.
Best of luck,
peterejohnsonmd

As the previous expert posters state, "It is OK". Just do not burn and all peeling should be over. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl j. Blinski

Getting a tan prior a surgery will not make any difference on your outcome.  Getting a tan following surgery may (must keep your scar hidden from the sun).

Short answer: NO

Long answer: While I could go on and on about the dangers of sun exposure and cancer risks and how sun damage AGES your skin beyond your years... for the purposes of this question I wont... 

Sun exposure PRE-operatively should not pose any problems

Sun exposure POST-operatively can have negative consequences. Your new incision will be much more sensitive to sun exposure, and it will take far less time in the sun for it to burn compared to the surrounding skin. Here's the kicker: a new incision that gets sunburned will darken... PERMANENTLY, turning a scar that would've been relatively inconspicuous into an unsightly brown scar. Therefore a sunblock (not sunscreen) needs to be applied. Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide. 

Some good news: After the first postoperative year, the incision scar takes on the qualities of normal skin, and the risk of permanent darkening has passed.