Tummy Tuck allowed for vitiligo patients? (Photo)

Patients with vitiligo have had all types of surgery, including tummy tucks. For most patient, surgery in the area of noninvolved skin does not develop more pigment loss.

Hello Bones333,
Thank you for your question regarding the safety of tummy tuck or breast lift procedures for patients with vitiligo.

Yes, a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is allowed for patients with vitiligo. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that attacks your melanin cells, the cells responsible for creating pigment. Many plastic surgeons have patients with vitiligo in their practice.

Surgery, specifically a tummy tuck, does not worsen existing vitiligo patches. The surgical trauma does not cause new white patches to appear at the wound site or aggravate existing white patches elsewhere. Therefore, vitiligo is not a contraindication to surgery, including tummy tuck, body lift, or breast lift procedures.

Before any surgery, labs, an EKG, and a chest X-ray will be ordered to assess your overall general health. However, vitiligo typically does not show up in bloodwork. If you are medically healthy, even with vitiligo, you can still undergo a tummy tuck.

Good luck. I hope I’ve answered your question regarding the safety of tummy tuck and breast lift procedures for vitiligo patients.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS

Thanks so much for your question,

Yes, a tummy tuck procedure is generally allowed for patients with vitiligo, but there are some considerations to keep in mind.

Scarring after a tummy tuck can be more noticeable in individuals with vitiligo, especially if the surrounding skin has reduced pigmentation. Your surgeon will take care to minimize scarring and may recommend scar management techniques to help improve the appearance of scars over time.

Overall, while tummy tuck surgery can be performed in individuals with vitiligo, it's essential to work closely with a qualified plastic surgeon and dermatologist to ensure that appropriate precautions are taken to minimize any potential risks and optimize the outcome of the procedure

Sincerely,
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol