I have seen a few abdominoplasty "tummy tuck" scars where they are completely hidden under tattoos. Possible or camera trick?

Question

If you heal well is it possible to make the scar entirely essentially invisible under a tattoo? With a few people it seems like this is possible

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,
Proper placement of a scar in the thigh-abdominal border, extending it low through the pubic mound, and placement of progressive tension sutures to minimize skin tension at the incision, your scar will be virtually invisible with time. Go visit a few ABPS certified/ASAPS member surgeons who make these issues a priority when performing tummy tucks. Best of luck!

William Bruno, MD · Answer

It is certainly possible to camouflage a scar with properly placed tattoo. Provided the scar is flat and not raised, this can be done by a professional tattoo artist once you are fully healed.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno

Steve Laverson, MD, FACS · Answer

The best scar treatment is prevention.  For abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), that means SHORT, LOW, and HIGH QUALITY CLOSURE.  Some scars however, inevitably go on to become dark or hypertrophic (thick, ropy, raised).  Tattoo will not camouflage a hypertrophic scar as well as a flat scar, and improvement of the scar is possible usually as a minor office procedure.  Some tattoo their scar, and others tattoo elsewhere, which diverts attention from the scar.  Case 34 in our gallery is one example, and our butt augmentation gallery shows another.  Over time though, it's amazing how well most tummy tuck scars fade into obscurity.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

I have occasional performs tummy tucks and lined up existing tattoos.  More often, women get a tattoo after a tummy tuck and more likely that is what happened in the cases you are talking about .

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

You should ask the PS who performs your TT the appropriate time to have a tattoo following the surgery.  In general, scarring is a produce of genetics. Some people are good scar formers and others are poorer scar formers. The scar will fade over a year’s time.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Christian Subbio, MD · Answer

Assuming you heal ideally, with no hypertrophic or keloid scar, and minimal rippling, then yes, a scar can be hidden under a tattoo.Best of luck!
Dr. SubbioBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonNewtown Square/Philadelphia, PA

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  Once fully healed the scar of a tummy tuck can be tattooed to leave a nearly imperceptible result.  It will depend on the quality of your scar as to how camouflaged it will be, however.  Hope this helps.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear muoldbidy,a meticulous wound closing technique and wound care should provide good looking scar which can be camouflaged using a tattoo. But even then there will be some difference in texture between the normal skin and scar. If you are looking to get less visible scar, your best choice is to get your surgery done by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Joseph A. Franco, MD · Answer

Usually, tattoos and up being exercised or removed during a Tommy talk. Some of these are removed completely some of them are route removed a partial day. Tattoos can also be placed over scars once they have healed in order to conceal them if the  patient wishes.

Tim Sayed, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Usually these are patients who had a tattoo placed OVER their tummy tuck scar to try to conceal it, as opposed to the scar being able to be placed into an existing tattoo. When a tattoo is already present in the lower abdomen of a patient, it is common that portions of the tattoo end up getting removed in the operation if the tattoo overlaps the skin that is being taken out. The danger in having the scar "concealed" by a tattoo is that you are trading one potentially visible issue - a usually faint scar - for another (a highly noticeable tattoo). My opinion is you should only get a tattoo if you expressly want a tattoo, not because you are wanting it to conceal a scar on the abdomen. Mastectomy scars are sometimes tattooed as a form of badge of pride of survivorship but that is a different situation. If you DO choose to tattoo over a tummy tuck scar, you will want to wait at least 6 months in order for the scar to be maturing before tattooing is performed.

I have seen a few abdominoplasty "tummy tuck" scars where they are completely hidden under tattoos. Possible or camera trick?

Answers (17)

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