You’re in the final stages of tummy tuck recovery. The first few days were tough, but as time passed, you started to regain your strength and incorporated gentle movement and exercise into your daily routine. You almost feel back to normal!
In this guide, we review the following:
- Can a tummy tuck cause problems years later?
- Can your stomach grow back after a tummy tuck?
- How do I know if I damaged tummy tuck?
- Can you have a baby after a tummy tuck?
Can a Tummy Tuck Cause Problems Years Later

However, you’re still suffering from signs of poor tummy tuck surgery. And while you know that no plastic surgeon can ever guarantee results, you can’t help but feel disappointed with your results.
There are a number of reasons you might feel let down by your tummy tuck, which we’ll get into further below. If you have any concerns about a past surgery, please get in touch with the Cairns Plastic Surgery team.
We’ll be happy to sit down with you and listen to your prior procedure, and the reasons why you feel disappointed or uncomfortable.
If you want more information about what’s involved in a tummy tuck in Cairns, including recovery, revisions, and complications, we invite you to get in touch with us today.
Warning Signs After Tummy Tuck
The purpose of abdominoplasty at Cairns (also referred to as “tummy tuck”) is to remove excess skin located in the middle and lower abdomen – typically the area below the belly button. This surgical procedure is designed to tighten your abdomen, and as a result, can flatten your stomach.
Some people mistakenly consider tummy tuck the same as liposuction, however the fact is that the former focuses on removing loose, excess skin, while the latter actually removes fat.
Can tummy tucks go wrong?
As with any other kind of plastic surgery procedure, results are never guaranteed, and as such, abdominoplasty comes with some complications that may lead to a bad tummy outcome.
Tummy tucks gone wrong can cause frustration, especially if your expectation doesn’t meet with reality.
Are tummy tucks high risk?
According to Health Direct, 1 in 25 people experience complications following surgery.
And just like any other surgical procedure, tummy tuck at Cairns comes with risks.
This is why you need to choose a qualified and competent plastic surgeon who can not only perform the surgery to its highest standard, but also offers pragmatic, and honest advice, and sets realistic expectations.
Your recovery, too, is an incredibly important part of your journey. Here, you must give your body adequate time to heal and follow the guidance from your surgeon. A positive recovery can have a tremendous effect on the success of your tummy tuck.
How do you know if a tummy tuck failed?
There are a few common signs and irregularities you should be on the lookout for that may indicate complications or issues with your tummy tuck. Importantly, if you have any concerns at all, it’s imperative that you contact your surgeon.
While we encourage you to be aware of your body and its changes, the last thing we want you to do is self-diagnose. The most important thing is your health and safety, so please never hesitate to contact us, no matter how small or insignificant you think an issue may be. We are here to help you throughout your entire plastic surgery experience.
Irregular contours
Like we said above, the purpose of abdominoplasty is to help you achieve a flatter and tighter stomach. The surgical procedure deals with loose skin and sagging abdominal muscles following pregnancy and birth, ageing, or even significant weight loss.
However, some patients may be unsatisfied seeing an uneven shape and contour of their tummy after the surgery. As you can understand, this can give a strong sense of unfulfilling results.
There are several reasons for an uneven tummy following surgery, however the most common is that the abdominal muscles were not tightened adequately during surgery, and have started to separate. This can result in a lopsided or uneven stomach.
If you feel like there’s an imbalance or irregular contour, you may consider tummy tuck revision surgery to correct the issue.
What is a revision after a tummy tuck?
Second abdominoplasty or tummy tuck revision is a repeat tummy tuck surgery designed to rectify issues resulting from the initial surgery. If you’re unhappy with the results of your first tummy tuck, revision surgery may be a suitable option for you.
Your navel has been poorly repositioned
A common sign of an undesirable tummy tuck is poor repositioning of the belly button.
If you see that your navel is too high or too low, it might be that it’s been misshapen, while pulling and tightening of the skin has distorted the original shape and position.
If your navel is too high or too low, tummy tuck revision surgery may help reposition it to a more natural position. This is a minor surgery that can improve the appearance of the navel.
You think your scars are too high
Regardless of whether you choose a mini tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck, an incision is usually made across the lower abdomen, similar to that of a caesarean procedure.
Experienced surgeons will usually make tummy tuck incisions low to ensure they can be hidden by undergarments like underwear or swimwear.
High scarring not only on the stomach but around the hips, too, may be a sign of poor surgery.
In most cases, your surgeon should try to make the incision as low as possible.
Scar revision surgery may be a possible fix, however you may be advised to wait several months to give the scars time to mature.
Additionally, keep in mind that you might be only a few weeks out of surgery. Scars will start to fade; give your body time to heal before looking at revisional next steps.
How do you avoid a bad tummy tuck?
There are two critical steps you can take to increase your chances of getting the desired outcome.
First, is to take your recovery process seriously. What we mean by this, is following your surgeon’s orders, getting adequate rest, and not trying to rush it.
Your body is amazing, but it needs time to heal. A good recovery process also means less risk of complications!
The second is to choose a qualified, reputable, and experienced surgeon, and that is what we will focus on today.
Know what you want to achieve
Do you understand the purpose of tummy tuck surgery, and do the desired outcomes align with your goals? Most importantly, you need to set the right expectations.
Here’s the thing: no surgeon can guarantee results, no matter how skilled they are or how many years they’ve been in the game. So if you’re speaking to one who is, we suggest marching out of that office and finding another.
Choose a certified and experienced surgeon
After you’ve done your research and prepared yourself, the next thing to do is look for the right plastic surgeon.
There are two things you need to look for that, in our option, are non-negotiables.
Check for qualifications
Choose a surgeon affiliated with the Australian Medical Council and a Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
Look for these five letters after their name – ‘FRACS’, only then can you be confident that your plastic surgeon is accredited to perform cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery in Australia.
Search for track record
Check the track record of your surgeon, including their education, skills, experience and affiliations.
During your consultation, you’ll have an idea of how well your surgeon can speak to you about the procedure (including the associated risks and complications, costs, and expected outcome) and as such, how it aligns with your goals.
Do you feel comfortable with your surgeon?
The right surgeon should make you feel comfortable from your first visit, during the consultation, throughout surgery, and all the way through to recovery after your Queensland plastic surgery in Townsville.
Whatever questions you have in mind, you should be able to ask in confidence, and your surgeon should honestly answer.
Emotional connection is essential in choosing the right surgeon. As a patient, you should feel empathy, care, and support of your surgeon and the clinical staff before embarking on the process.
Can your stomach grow back after a tummy tuck?
Tummy tuck surgery is a transformative procedure that sculpts and tones the midsection. It is often used after pregnancy or significant weight loss to get rid of loose skin and unwanted fat. However, many patients worry that gaining weight after their tummy tuck will ruin their hard-earned results. It’s true that putting on pounds can change your new look—but there are ways to prevent this from happening.
All humans have natural weight fluctuations, but it’s useful to know the connection between weight gain and tummy tuck surgery. We offer our Roswell and Atlanta, GA, patients the following tips:
How Tummy Tuck Surgery Works
A tummy tuck is a plastic surgery procedure that cuts away unwanted skin and fat from the lower belly and flanks. The procedure begins with your doctor making a low hip-to-hip incision across the bikini line area. Using this incision, they can remove fatty tissue and pull loose skin into a firm, taut position. Other body contouring procedures, such as liposuction, are often combined with the procedure.

Because a tummy tuck is a more extensive surgery, patients need around 10 to 14 days to recover. The results are long-lasting, and the removed fat cells won’t grow back—but remaining fat cells may expand and the skin may re-stretch if you gain a large amount of weight.
Gaining Weight After a Tummy Tuck
Patients may gain weight after their tummy tuck for a variety of reasons. By understanding how weight gain happens in the first place, you can do a better job of avoiding these pitfalls.
Lifestyle
The most common culprit of unwanted weight gain is simply unhealthy lifestyle choices. Eating high-calorie foods while living a sedentary lifestyle can cause you to gain weight quickly. If you want to maintain a slim, lean figure, there’s no replacement for a balanced diet and regular exercise. No matter how many plastic surgery procedures you decide to undergo, establishing healthy habits is the best way to look and feel your best.
Hormones
Your hormone levels fluctuate throughout the course of your life, starting first in puberty. They can also change depending on your diet, genetics, or age. If your hormones are unbalanced, your body may gain weight at a dramatic rate. If exercise and healthy eating aren’t enough to correct the problem, try talking to a doctor to see if you can be tested for a hormonal condition.
Stress
Stress puts pressure on nearly every part of your body and nervous system. It often causes people to eat more and sleep less—two things that both contribute to weight gain. Stress can also cause hormonal issues like the ones mentioned above. If you’re going through a tough patch, try activities such as exercise or journaling to help put your system back in alignment.
Post-Surgery Water Retention
Surgery puts a lot of strain on the body as it attempts to recover and heal. Sometimes water is retained in the spaces between your organs, leading to a bloated appearance. Swollen hands and feet can be a sign that you need more time to naturally process these fluids. Try to stay active and carefully follow any post-op instructions given by your doctor.
What Happens Next?
Gaining a handful of pounds after your procedure won’t compromise your final tummy tuck results. You can usually fluctuate within 10 to 15 pounds of your goal weight without any significant issues. However, weight gain over the 15-pound mark can cause skin and abdominal muscles to slowly stretch out of place. This can create a belly bulge and impact the elasticity of your skin.
In severe cases, you may need tummy tuck revision if you are unable to lose the new weight. Revision surgery is typically more complicated than the initial procedure, so try to avoid this last-chance solution. Instead, we encourage our patients to lead healthy, active lifestyles after surgery and avoid any major lifestyle changes.

How Do I Know if I Damaged Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck is surgery to remove fat and skin from your belly and to tighten the stomach muscles. It is also called an abdominoplasty. The surgery makes your belly look flatter.
Your belly will be sore and swollen for the first week after surgery. You may need to wear a compression garment as you heal. The skin on your stomach will be mostly numb for several weeks to months. Feeling will return slowly. It’s normal to feel tired while you are healing. It can take 5 to 6 weeks for your energy to return.
You may not be able to stand up straight when you first come home, but this will improve. You’ll need to get up and walk every day to regain your normal movement. Between walks, move your feet and legs often.
A tummy tuck leaves a long scar that will fade with time. You also may have a small scar around your belly button.
This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.
How can you care for yourself at home?
Activity
- Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
- Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation.
- Avoid abdominal exercises and strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, for 6 to 8 weeks.
- For 6 weeks, avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. This may include heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, a vacuum cleaner, or a child.
- Ask your doctor when you can drive again.
- Most people are able to return to work about 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. It depends on the type of work you do and how you feel.
- You may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery or once your drains come out. Pat the incision dry. Do not take a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it is okay.
- Ask your doctor when it is okay to have sex.
Diet
- You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt.
- Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to).
- You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fibre supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative.
Medicines
- Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. Your doctor will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines.
- If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
- Be safe with medicines. Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
- If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
- If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
- If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
- Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
- Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.
- If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
Incision care
- If you have strips of tape on your incision, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off. Or follow your doctor’s instructions for removing the tape.
- Wash the area daily with warm water, and pat it dry. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.
- Keep the area clean and dry. You may cover it with a gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day if your doctor told you to do so.
- You may have one or two drain tubes in place to prevent fluid from building up under the skin of your belly. Your doctor will tell you how to take care of it.
Other instructions
- Wear your compression garment all of the time, except for when taking a shower. Your doctor will let you know how long you will need to wear it.
- Hold a pillow over your incision when you cough or take deep breaths. This will support your belly and decrease your pain.
- Do breathing exercises at home as instructed by your doctor. This will help prevent pneumonia.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It’s also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Can you have a baby after a tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck is an invasive cosmetic procedure in which excess fat and tissue in the abdominal region are removed to give a tighter and toned stomach. The tummy tuck is a popular procedure opted by many women who lack confidence when it comes to their appearance.
A tummy tuck can restore a woman’s confidence and body image. However, many women have questions about getting pregnant after a tummy tuck. Is it risky? Is it safe for the baby? What happens to the tummy tuck after pregnancy and so on?
Read on to find out.
Is it possible to get pregnant after a tummy tuck?
Barring any complications with fertility, yes; women can get pregnant after a tummy tuck.
Can a tummy tuck accommodate a growing belly?
The abdominal wall of a woman is designed to stretch and widen to accommodate a growing fetus. A tummy tuck cannot hinder the natural stretching of your abdomen.
How soon can I get pregnant after a tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck is a major surgery. It is of the utmost importance to give your body enough time to heal and recover from the side effects of the surgery before getting pregnant. Pregnancy is very demanding on a woman’s body; so, doctors advise women to refrain from getting pregnant for at least one year after the tummy tuck. The time varies according to the health of the patient as well.
Complications can occur in case a pregnancy has occurred before the body has had time to recover.
Will the results of the tummy tuck last even after the pregnancy?
Surprisingly, in many cases, women have reported satisfactory results even after a full pregnancy. Of course, a touch-up procedure might be required after the pregnancy, but, overall, as long as the patient stays on the healthier side, the results of a tummy tuck are bound to last even after a pregnancy. This being said, it can also depend on the body type and the extent of muscle repair before and after the pregnancy.
Is it safe to get a tummy tuck immediately after my pregnancy?
The answer is a resounding no. Pregnancy is tough on a woman’s body, especially if the baby was delivered through a C-section. It is vital to make sure that a woman’s body has completely healed before subjecting the body to another major surgery like a tummy tuck. Doctors recommend patients to wait for at least a year before having a tummy tuck.
What about scars?
A tummy tuck leaves behind a scar that is usually hidden below the lower abdomen. However, during pregnancy, the skin on your belly may stretch and leave the scar exposed. If the patient needs a C-section, it is likely that the incision will be made along the scar from the tummy tuck. Either way, there is a good chance that the scars from your tummy tuck will become visible after a pregnancy.
