What people of color should know before getting plastic surgery or a skin procedure

• body contouring
• breast reconstruction surgery
• cosmetic breast surgery
• facial cosmetic surgery
• abdominal wall surgery
• non-surgical laser resurfacing or phototherapy
• chemical peels

One of the most important parts of my job as a UT Southwestern plastic surgeon is to help you understand how best to care for your skin. Let’s discuss how to choose appropriate treatments, what questions to ask your skin-care team, and how to set realistic expectations for your outcomes.

Your skin’s natural strengths – and some considerations

Dark skin tends to be thick and contains plenty of collagen, a protein that helps skin maintain elasticity. For some, this combination means your skin has the natural advantage and is more likely to develop wrinkles later in life compared with people with lighter skin tones.

However, that same biology can also affect how the skin heals.

Patients with darker skin tones are more prone to certain types of scarring, particularly keloids and hypertrophic scars. These types of scars are firm, raised skin growths that occur when the body produces excess collagen during healing.

What to expect during your skin care consultation

Our approach is to see patients at least twice before performing surgery or advanced treatments:

• The first visit focuses on understanding your goals, your skin, and how your body heals. We’ll discuss your concerns as well as possible treatment options. You’ll go home with additional information to help you compare the choices.
• The second visit gives us time to revisit those conversations, answer new questions, and ensure you fully understand the benefits and risks of treatment.

Patients are sometimes surprised to learn that cosmetic procedures involve trade-offs. For example, breast reduction can relieve back pain and improve quality of life, but surgery – no matter how precise – always creates scars. My job is to minimize scarring as much as possible and help patients understand what realistic results look like.

UT Southwestern has deep experience in providing exceptional, research-backed plastic surgery outcomes for people of all skin tones. Specialists from several departments work together to help each patient achieve the best outcome. Aestheticians who are well versed in skin care and products for various skin tones and textures often accompany me in patient consultations. This is unique to our practice and not something that you'll encounter at a commercial salon or med spa.

Preventing scarring during and after a procedure

Patients often assume scars are something we only address after surgery. In reality, prevention begins in the operating room.

During treatment

UT Southwestern plastic surgeons use several techniques to reduce the risk of noticeable scars, including:

• Minimizing trauma to the skin and underlying tissue
• Placing incisions in areas where scars are less visible
• Closing the skin strategically to reduce tension on the incision

For example, we frequently use surgical staples after abdominal surgery for patients with light skin. But for a patient with dark skin, the trauma of placing then removing the staples can cause unnecessary risk of keloid scarring. What may look like a small blemish in the operating room can become a large, embarrassing, and even painful scar down the line. So, your surgeon may instead use special adhesives or absorbable sutures.

After surgery

We can use silicone scar gels or adhesive sheets to help reduce inflammation and flatten scars over time. Applying gentle pressure with specialized skin tape or silicone products may also help reduce the height or thickness of scars.

Tension on healing skin is one of the biggest factors that can stretch and widen scars. That’s why postoperative instructions – such as avoiding heavy lifting or strenuous activity – can make a meaningful difference in how you feel and how surgical scars ultimately look.

This may surprise you: One of the most important skin care steps is wearing sunscreen. Some patients with darker skin believe they don’t need it, but we do. While melanin does provide some natural protection from ultraviolet radiation, it doesn’t eliminate the risk of sun damage. Sunscreen is critical for preventing skin cancer, reducing signs of aging, and protecting your skin as it heals from treatment. Sun exposure on surgical scars can make them turn red, and that discoloration is irreversible.

Get care from a team that knows your skin

UT Southwestern brings together a team of plastic surgeons and specialists with deep, research-backed experience in skin care. We design treatment plans that will be safe and effective for each patient’s skin type. Ultimately, our goal is always to provide thoughtful, personalized care that helps every patient feel confident in their skin.