Working out & tanning beds

HolliBeth1
on 3/4/10 2:24 am - Millbrook, AL
I had a TT, Inner thigh lift, BL/BA under the muscle on December 19th. I have been cleared the Doctor to do whatever. My questions: does tanning effect my scars, what should I do to protect them? Working out: I am wanting to tone my triceps & lift my butt. I can feel arm work in my chest....not hurt, just feel.....anything I need to keep an eye out for? Just leaning on my my experts here!

Highest~ 267/ Surgery~ 253/Current~133/ GOAL 130
August 31, 2006 ~ Gastric Bypass~December 19, 2008 ~Tuck with muscle repair~December 16, 2009 ~ Tummy Tuck revision (loosened skin as a result of stretch marks), Mons reduction, Mini Inner Thigh Lift, BL/BA to Full C from AA :)~December 18, 2013 ~ Butt Lift and brachioplasty~Completed by Dr. Wang-Ashraf at Artisan Plastic Surgery in Atlanta, Georgia.
"No day, but today", RENT...Johnathan Larson

terrijp
on 3/4/10 3:08 am
Hi Holli,

You'll be fine on the workouts.  You'll feel it more as you first start working out again and re-building and toning everything.

There are two schools of thought on the tanning beds.  For me, I would never get in one.  That's a personal decision.  I can only tell you that my doc instructed me to limit overall UV exposure for at least a year and to use a UVA/UVB sunscreen of at least 30 on my scars if there's any possibility I'm going to be outside, even if the scar is under clothing.  UV exposure before your scars are matured (it takes a year) will cause hyperpigmentation.  I do know he's speaking the truth on that...I have a dark scar on my arm from a simple scratch a few years ago in December and it turned a  really dark brown by the middle of the summer.

LBL/BL 12/11/09; BL Revision, Quad Bleph 07/16/10. Larry H. Lickstein, M.D., F.A.C.S.

It's not how fast you go, but that you're moving in the right direction!

            
LinR
on 3/4/10 5:19 am
I've read the same thing about scar healing.  I don't know how easy it would be to tan and keep the scars protected.
      
JamieRN
on 3/4/10 8:06 am - Wyandotte, MI
I have been tanning since 3 weeks post op, In the beginning my scars got a lil' darker but do fade to a light white over time of tanning. Mine are almost completely pale white and you can hardly see them now. Love it!!
    
Live life for today & tomorrow NOT yesterday!!
Mom of 2 crazy boys!!    
HolliBeth1
on 3/4/10 9:51 pm - Millbrook, AL
Thank you ladies for your replies! I am not a big tanning bed person, just want to take the chalky white look down a little.....

Highest~ 267/ Surgery~ 253/Current~133/ GOAL 130
August 31, 2006 ~ Gastric Bypass~December 19, 2008 ~Tuck with muscle repair~December 16, 2009 ~ Tummy Tuck revision (loosened skin as a result of stretch marks), Mons reduction, Mini Inner Thigh Lift, BL/BA to Full C from AA :)~December 18, 2013 ~ Butt Lift and brachioplasty~Completed by Dr. Wang-Ashraf at Artisan Plastic Surgery in Atlanta, Georgia.
"No day, but today", RENT...Johnathan Larson

playwithzoe
on 3/5/10 4:16 am
I'm not sure I'd risk it with my big tummy tuck scar but I did tan like 4 or 5 months after my lapro VSG and I put scar guard on the little incision scars and they are fine.  If I do it again this spring to get a base tan I will cover my TT  (and aureole breast) scars with scar guard/ sunscreen AND scar strips to make sure no UV rays get at them.

46 yr old female; 5'6"; 11/13/08 VSG Dr. Jossart LapSF, SF, CA
SW 213, GW 150, CW 140, dream GW 130 and/or 20% body fat or less
12/22/09 mini face lift; Dr. Hove, Monarch Med Spa, KoP, PA
01/09/10 Reconstructive Surgery Dr. Sauceda, Monterrey, Mexico
U & L eye lid lifts, mini tt w/o muscle tightening, Brazilian buttock lift by fat grafting, Benelli BL & BA

ToniLee
on 3/20/10 12:31 am
I know this is a lil late, but.... when I use the tanning bed at the gym I always carry a tube of Blistex.  Its SPF 15 and easy to apply on a scar.  The sun usually turns scars a dark purple.  I just figured it was better to be safe than dark purple!!

HW 271/SW 255 RNY Jan.21 08 RNY Revision July 25th 2013
Plastics done 4/21/10 (Dr. Sauceda)
Extended TT, Full Arm lift, BL/BA, Long Thigh lift

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