Why is it recommend to wait a year to get a tattoo after getting breast Implants?

Question

Hello. My friend just got breast implants and was told to wait a year to get a tattoo. I am a pharmacy student studying infectious disease, and I was wondering is that because of risk of infection? Or does it have something to deal with the scar healing process from the implantation?

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

After breast implant surgery, the body needs time to heal and for the tissues to settle into their final position. Tattooing involves the insertion of pigments into the skin, which could potentially disrupt the healing process or cause complications, such as infection or delayed wound healing.

I hope this helps,
best of luck !

I hope this helps,
best of luck !

Joe Gryskiewicz, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,
Every surgeon may have a different protocol for tattoos after surgery. It is due to the risk of an infection. I encourage my patients to wait 3 months after a breast augmentation before getting a tattoo. 
All the best,
Dr. Joe

Gianfranco Frojo, MD · Answer

This has to do with introducing skin bacteria into the bloodstream as a potential source for bacteremia. This is mostly theoretical and has not been proven with high level evidence studies.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Intelligent690658,
every plastic surgeon has his own postoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

George Volpe, MD · Answer

There is no agreed-upon official recommendation as to when one could get a tattoo following breast implant surgery. One risk with tattoos is to develop a skin infection. A severe infection could theoretically affect your implants causing either capsular contracture or even an infection but this would be quite rare. This could happen at any time in your life although most likely it would occur early on, probably in the first three months or so. Obviously, many people get tattoos who have breast implants and many times they are getting them much sooner than one year. I usually recommend a weight of about three months to my patients to allow complete formation of a scar capsule. I do not think there is a general recommendation as to whether one should take antibiotics when getting a tattoo for this reason.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question. Typically it takes about 1 year for scar to mature and pigment to lighten. This may potentially throw off the pigment and saturation of the tattoo whether it be a design or a scar camo tattoo. Also keep in mind that anytime breaking the skin you are at risk of infection. I would speak to your plastic surgeon about your options.

Ted Eisenberg, DO, FACOS, FAACS · Answer

Incisions are mostly healed by 6 weeks. They continue to heal and start to "mature" or soften at 6 months. And, it can take one to two years before you know if the scar will end up being the same, lighter, or darker than the surrounding tissues. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

I suppose theoretically the tattoo could seed the blood with bacteria which could cause capsular contracture. There is no science to back this up. But if you do get a tattoo and capsular contracture ( which is common enough) your surgeon will tell you “I told you so”. Better safe than sorry

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Though opinions can vary it is not typically necessary to wait a full year before getting a tattoo after breast augmentation.  Initially yes, the concern is infection risk.  I encourage your friend to ask the surgeon the reasoning for the year waiting period.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

First, the raw tattoo is a great source of infection and could contaminate the capsule and implant. Second, the ink used in the US is full of harmful metals that will remain in your system and cause inflammation. With inflammation, you do not heal well.  Don't get any more tattoos, especially with any red ink.

Why is it recommend to wait a year to get a tattoo after getting breast Implants?

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