Tanning After a Tummy Tuck?

All scars have a tendency to become darker if they are exposed to UV light if it occurs while healing. Applying sunscreen over the scar is not 100% effective and will give you a band of pale skin in a darker and tanned body making the scar even more noticeable.

The question is for how long? Rather that giving an arbitrary time framework, I go with biology. As long as the scar is healing and therefore red or pink it is sensitive to UV light so it needs to be protected.

Tanning, particularly in a tanning bed, can result in a more noticeable scar. Often scars will become dark (hyperpigmented) and this may persist for some time. We often forget that tanning involves ultraviolet radiation and this can effect all areas of our skin but especially healing wounds. The heat associated with tanning can also burn skin of the abdomen after tummy tuck due to changes in blood supply that results with elevating the tummy skin.

My recommendation to my patients is to avoid tanning scars for 4-6 months. Completely covering scars with high SPF clothing is fine, as long as it is not black (which becomes hot in the sun.)