How Soon Can I Tan After Liposuction?

Don't get me wrong, I also like the "golden goddess" look of bronzed skin, and am envious of my naturally darker-pigmented friends and patients. But ultraviolet radiation, in any form, is harmful and damaging to skin! I know that 15 minutes of ultraviolet exposure per day is considered "OK" in order for your body to produce Vitamin D, but that can also be obtained from vitamins, fortified milk, or everyday outdoor activity. Tanning, even the "indoor" variety of electric beach tanning booths, causes wrinkles, skin growths, and skin cancers. There is no "good" ultraviolet--UV-A is just less-harmful than UV-B. Just look at your mother's or grandmother's decolletage area--the spots, moles, growths, wrinkles, and overall aging effects are clearly seen when compared to covered skin of the breasts, or other areas! This is obvious in most all of us, so it's not just a few "severe tan abusers," it's in anyone who thinks that looking good on the beach requires "preparing for their trip." Add the fact that incompletely mature scars or any residual bruises can be permanently turned brown by even minimal ultraviolet exposure, and this is really an easy answer to "How soon after surgery can I return to tanning?" The answer is: "NEVER!"

Instead, use one of the better self-tanning creams or lotions, or consider a mist-type spray tan to obtain the desired bronze color, and then use the highest SPF sunscreen you can find that your skin "likes." You can still be the golden goddess, and have youthful radiant skin in a decade or two when all of your tanned friends are bemoaning their growths, wrinkles, or skin cancers! My partner and I feel so strongly about this that we are considering adding spray tanning to our skin and body care clinics!

I know, some people think the self-tanners or the "misty tan" cause a orange or artificial look. For some people this may be true depending on the product or choice of spray tan retailer. I can absolutely tell you that it is worth the effort to find a product or spray tan location that does a great job of giving a natural look and proper color! That way, you can have it both ways--great color, and undamaged skin! (And, scars that fade over time instead of being a beacon of what you had done.)

If you get liposuction on your thighs and go on vacation two months later, your full results may not yet be visible. However, you should see some benefits by then and the postoperative bruising and swelling should have resolved. You can also look into noninvasive fat-removal techniques, such as ThermiTight, Vanquish and CoolSculpting. These also take months before final results are appreciated but usually have quicker recovery times.
 
As for tanning: Don't do it! Ever. If you want to “prepare” for a sun-soaked vacation, stock up on sun screen, buy a becoming hat and bathing-suit cover up, and make sure you can rent an umbrella or cabana on the beach. I treat skin cancer every day in my practice. It can be deadly. If you look up the definition of tanning it is “the art and science of turning skin or hides into leather.” Do not take the risk. Learn to appreciate your alabaster skin (or whatever color skin you have) and protect it. Safety first, beauty second. Please consult a board-certified dermatologist to find out how best to remove the fat on your thighs and to learn more about protecting your skin from sun damage and/or cancer.

You're asking a dermatologist who deals with skin cancer all day long, when it's OK to tan...Never!     Use sunscreen and sun avoidance techniqes. For recent surgical scars, they should be covered with UVA / UVB sunscreens.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Two months after liposuction should be OK to tan.  The scars from liposuction are quite small and shouldn't be greatly affected.  I would recommend still using sunscreen and keep reapplying every hour or so.  Your skin where you had the liposuction done may be more sensitive to sunlight, so start tanning carefully and less that what you would normally do.

Hello,

Thank you for the question.  To be on the safe side I would wait a couple of months prior to any tanning.  When you do resume I would be very careful and only briefly exposie yourself to sun.  For skin health reasons you may want to consider spray tanning instead.  This of course a personal decision and some people just need sun expsure to feel good.

All the best,

Dr. Remus Repta