I really want to go to the tanning salon but I don't know how it will effect my scars. Is it bad for scars? I guess I could cover them with a bandaid. What do you all think?

I say embrace them as your battle wounds!!! So what if you have a little bit of scarring!!! To hell with anyone that minds them too!

Man, I am really on a self empowering kick today!!!

When I had my c-section my doctor told me to wait a year before I tried to tan because otherwise it would discolor the scar and make it more pronounced.

iam the LBT tanning QUEEN...I have been tanning for years I am tan 365 days a year...my scars look great all exept for the one I got from my band removal, it is a little browner then the rest of them , but yes you can cover them up or just put a dab of sunscreen on the scar before tanning

great advice la madam, thanks

and crongrats on how well yuoure doing bandless!

I tan as well, and my scars have tanned with me, making them nearly invisible. I was banded for about 6 months before my scars saw sun, so I didn't have any problems.

Okay...so being a California girl I know something about this! It looks like you're far enough out from your surgery to tan with no need to use sunscreen on the scars (which I recommend for fresh scars) unless you notice them to start darkening more than the rest of ya'. I've had other surgeries and have never had a problem once they weren't fresh scars. I agree with Pam - tanning actually helped my other surgical scars to blend. Also remember the California Girl Code - "If you can't lose it, Tan it!"

:eek:

Also remember the California Girl Code - "If you can't lose it, Tan it!"

LOL...I have been telling my hubby for years that tan fat looks better then white fat...he now says to me after losing over 100 lbs " Now what is your excuse for tanning since you have no more fat?"

I was wondering about tanning as well. I went into surgery with a really nice tan. The nurses in recovery even commented on how tan my tummy was and how cute my little heart "tan tatoo" was. I was wondering how soon any of you started tanning again after surgery. And how long would you recommend me putting sunscreen on the scars? My tan is still nice....but I don't want to lose it!

I have been pondering this thread almost a week now. Especially with what happened to Illsucceed recently I think this just needs to be pointed out. Christina's battle in the tanning bed is really something serious and scarey so I will just put it out there... if you heed it great, if not, then okay too.... I used to be a HUGE tanner. Then... I went to the doctor and had a chunk removed out of my back because of my exposures to the sun and occasional burning. I now know that it is safer to lather on the sunblock and protect my face from the sun to promote good aging and less wrinkles. Is being pale attractive? Maybe not, but neither was being fat and I worked that pretty well if I do say so myself. Just because it is society attractive does not mean it is in the long run. Prolonged exposure to the sun will give your skin a leathery and aged look. Sure, it is a healthy glow at first, then you will notice the changes later in years. Spend the 45 seconds to just spray the damn tan on if you want it that bad.

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/azhealthtopics/a/tanboothworthit.htm

http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/tanningbeds.html

http://www.mercola.com/2001/jun/2/tanning_beds.htm

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/tanning.html

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Tanning_Beds_May_Increase_Skin_Cancer_Risk.asp

I heard that scars dont tan well. Mine are still deep red 5 months post op. However, being a guy, scars dont bother me much. I am thinking that they never really go away.

Ok, I obviously missed it, what happened to Christina?

Oh my gosh, it was horrible! She was so red and it must have been so painful!! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=15103&highlight=sunburn