A tummy tuck before pregnancy is becoming increasingly popular as women feel more comfortable with their bodies. Tummy tuck after pregnancy is still a controversial topic, but there are many advantages of getting one done before pregnancy which made it a choice for many mothers-to-be. In this guide, we review the aspects of Tummy Tuck Before Pregnancy, pregnancy after tummy tuck not showing, What happens if you get a tummy tuck and then get pregnant, and Can you get tummy tuck before pregnancy?
Pregnancy after tummy tuck not showing. It is important to know that there are various options when it comes to having your surgery, whether you want a mommy makeover or just a post-pregnancy tummy tuck. Learn about what happens if you get a tummy tuck and then get pregnant, and Can you get tummy tuck before pregnancy?
Tummy Tuck Before Pregnancy
It happens…you’re not sure if you are done growing your family but you want to consider cosmetic help with your stomach now. You might be asking, can I still have a tummy tuck procedure but become pregnant in the future? While there are no set rules on this subject matter, many Northern VA women contemplate if they can have the best of both worlds. A tighter tummy now and future children down the road. The plastic surgeons at Austin-Weston in Reston, VA are here to offer tummy tuck options to moms that may not be quite done growing their family. Let’s take a look at this topic for women, what is recommended, and how a tummy tuck doesn’t necessarily have to be put on the back burner even if you might become pregnant.
The tummy tuck recommendation
It is not an uncommon question for Northern VA women to ask at their tummy tuck consultation, can I still have more children after my tummy tuck? The answer is yes but it is typically advised and highly recommended that women be done with pregnancy before having any type of tummy tuck procedure. Most qualified plastic surgeons, like the ones at Austin-Weston, would advise to be done having children in order to enjoy and optimize your tummy tuck results. With that said, it is not the end of the world if you have more children or even accidentally become pregnant after having a tummy tuck procedure.
Tummy tuck and pregnancy
There is misinformation out there that you can’t consider cosmetic procedures, especially a tummy tuck, if you are still in your reproductive years of life. As with any cosmetic procedure, it is crucial that patients make a well-informed decision and knowing that your tummy tuck results may be altered if you become pregnant is part of it. There is also no medical harm to you or the baby should you become pregnant after a tummy tuck procedure. The only side effect may be that some women claim to not “show” as soon as their friends, so it can affect how your belly develops over 9 months, which may not be a bad thing!
Do I tell my surgeon of possible plans
It is always the best advice to tell your plastic surgeon any possible future plans of having more children, especially when consulting on a tummy tuck. For obvious reasons, pregnancy can exhaust a woman’s body in certain areas especially the stomach. If you give your plastic surgeon a heads up, they can even alter your tummy tuck procedure. A surgeon can leave the underlying abdominal muscles more lax or not as tight in order to allow for any future pregnancies. If a revision procedure is then needed, 6-12 months after giving birth, then those lax abdominal muscles and any other further stretching can be corrected. It will only help your end results if you discuss all goals and future plans with your plastic surgeon during your consultation.
The options
The main goal of any tummy tuck procedure is to remove any excess skin and make a patient’s profile slimmer and more toned-looking. With a traditional or extended tummy tuck, the underlying abdominal muscles are also tightened. A mini tummy tuck is just a smaller version of the traditional and patients struggling with loose skin from losing a significant amount of weight can have a panniculectomy performed. This procedure simply removes all excess skin in the lower abdominal area but doesn’t tighten the underlying muscles. If you think about it a patient struggling with extra skin, due to weight loss, shouldn’t have to wait to enjoy the benefits of a panniculectomy procedure even if they are undecided about having children.
A revision or touch-up
There is a risk for women to lose their tummy tuck results after another pregnancy. It is a personal choice to have another baby. After 6-12 months, a patient can come back in for another consultation with one of our plastic surgeons to discuss the option of a revision surgery or mini tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck may only be needed in order to correct slight changes or laxity that happened to the stomach area with pregnancy. Liposuction can also be included again with either of these options in order to permanently remove excess fat left behind. Either way, women who may not be done planning their families can enjoy their new look now and even again after being done with pregnancy.
Watch the scale
Even though it is recommended to wait and have any type of tummy tuck procedure after being done with having children, circumstances come up. One of the ways you can help maintain your tummy tuck results, should you become pregnant, is by maintaining a healthy pregnancy weight. This will also reduce the risk of the abdominal muscles or stomach area stretching too much. In turn, this can allow for better end results for your tummy tuck procedure when you are done being pregnant. A patient may then only need a mini tummy tuck to alter any slight changes in the tummy area that may have occurred.
The plastic surgeons, at Austin-Weston, have the experience and expertise to help you decide what is best for you. They have helped countless women in the Northern VA area look and feel better about their midsections. If you want to improve how you look now and possible have more kids later then there is no need to wait! If you are interested in a tummy tuck procedure, call or schedule your consultation with one of the surgeons at Austin-Weston in Reston, VA today.
pregnancy after tummy tuck not showing
Each year, thousands of women undergo Tummy Tuck surgery to help them reclaim their pre-baby bodies. Although no one can argue that the birth of a child is a joyous occasion, the long-term effects of pregnancy on a woman’s abdomen can make her feel anything but celebratory. As a result, many women pursue Abdominoplasty surgery, or Tummy Tuck, to improve the tightness and tone of their midsections after they have decided their families are complete. Even so, not all pregnancies are planned, and sometimes a woman may decide that she wants another child, even after having had a Tummy Tuck. Although most plastic surgeons will encourage a woman to wait until she is finished having children before scheduling surgery, getting pregnant after having had a Tummy Tuck is still considered reasonably safe for both mother and baby.
“As Plastic Surgeons, we generally advise women to wait until they are done having children before considering Tummy Tuck surgery,” says Dr. Robert Wilke, a board-certified plastic surgeon with Edina Plastic Surgery. “A Tummy Tuck removes loose, sagging skin in the abdominal area, tightens the midsection, repairs muscles when needed, and restores a more youthful, sculpted shape to the stomach. It is often combined with other procedures like Breast Lift, Breast Augmentation, and Liposuction to complete a true Mommy Makeover. Getting pregnant after a Tummy Tuck is not ideal, but it, of course, happens. Here are some things a woman needs to consider if she intentionally or unintentionally gets pregnant after her surgery.”
#1 – Pregnancy after Tummy Tuck Surgery is safe for both mother and child.
Most surgeons’ concern about pregnancy after Abdominoplasty surgery is an aesthetic one – not one based on function or safety. Pregnancy stretches out the muscles and skin of the abdominals. If this excess skin has already been excised via a prior Tummy Tuck, the remaining tightened skin will need to stretch once again during the new pregnancy. This can lead to loose, sagging skin all over again that a woman may find frustrating and unattractive. Regardless, a woman should be able to enjoy a safe and uneventful birth irrespective of whether she has had a prior Tummy Tuck.
#2 – Your pregnancy may feel and look differently after Tummy Tuck Surgery.
“It’s vital that you communicate with your OBGYN that you have had Tummy Tuck Surgery in the past, as they are the best ones to advise you about any concerns and to track and monitor your progress,” says Dr. Wilke. “Even though a woman should be able to carry her baby to a healthy term, her pregnancy may feel differently than it did before. If abdominal muscles were significantly tightened during her Tummy Tuck, she might experience heightened straining and stretching sensations as her baby grows. A woman may also notice that her baby bump does not protrude as much as her last pregnancy. In both cases, there should still be enough room for her baby to grow, move, and thrive.”
#3 – If a C-Section is required, previous Tummy Tuck incisions may be utilized.
Plastic surgeons strive to make Tummy Tuck scars as undetectable as possible. This includes placing them low on the abdominals, so they are easily hidden inside swimsuit bottoms. In the event that a C-section is needed, an OBGYN may be able to make their incision along the scar of a woman’s Tummy Tuck surgery, avoiding the need for additional scarring.
#4 – Tummy Tuck results may or may not be compromised by a new pregnancy.
“Just because a woman becomes pregnant after having had a Tummy Tuck doesn’t mean that she will lose all of the results from her surgery after her baby is born,” says Dr. Wilke. “Every woman’s body responds differently to pregnancy, and I find that many women, especially those who diligently control their weight throughout their pregnancy, maintain most of their results. If abdominal muscles are damaged in pregnancy, or some sagging of the skin on the stomach does occur, a woman may simply consider an Abdominoplasty Revision or Mini Tummy Tuck to address these changes in the future.”
#5 – There are options for women who want a Tummy Tuck now and more children in the future.
In some cases, your plastic surgeon may be able to make slight changes to how they perform your Tummy Tuck surgery if they know you still want to have more children in the future. This includes repairing less abdominal muscle or avoiding repair to allow for more stretch to accommodate a developing baby. A woman must communicate all of her preferences, concerns, and future plans for pregnancy with her plastic surgeon.
“During my patient consultations for Tummy Tuck surgery, I strongly recommend that women wait until they are done having children before pursuing surgery,” advises Dr. Wilke. “This will not only preserve their results but also cut back on any additional expenses for future revisions or surgeries. That being said, life is life and can come with many curveballs, surprises, and changes, including the blessing of a new baby! It’s important to understand that a woman can still have a safe pregnancy and maintain many of her results even if she becomes pregnant after Tummy Tuck surgery.”
What happens if you get a tummy tuck and then get pregnant
Many women are unsure if they have to wait until they are done having children before opting for a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). They read everywhere that having a pregnancy after a tummy tuck will cause harm to the mother and the unborn child.
But as we all know, not all pregnancies are planned and it is possible that people simply change their minds about wanting more kids. Therefore it is important to know that pregnancy after tummy tuck is definitely safe for both mother and baby.
WILL THE PREGNANCY HAVE COMPLICATIONS?
First of all, all pregnancies have the potential for some degree of complications. Your gynecologist is the best person to advise you on any concerns you may have regarding pregnancy complications.
With regards to complications due to a prior tummy tuck surgery, do not be worried as most cases are safe and are not a cause for concern; most mothers carry their baby healthily to full term.
Even after a tummy tuck, your abdominal wall and tissue will still stretch as per normal to accommodate the new baby. Some mothers notice that their bellies do not stretch out as much, or they do not look as pregnant as their previous pregnancy. This is completely safe and is harmless to the growing child.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY TUMMY TUCK?
Fundamental differences between full and mini tummy tuck
Most of my patients who became pregnant after their tummy tuck continue to love the results of their surgery even after their baby’s birth. In fact, most of them notice that they look better post-pregnancy with their tummy tuck then during their first post-pregnancy prior to their tummy tuck.
As a general guideline, women may not need a tummy tuck revision if their tummies do not stretch out too much, while others may need a revision if their skin and abdominal muscles stretch out a lot during pregnancy (such as in the case of twin pregnancy). Some women may find it helpful to control their weight gain during pregnancy, but ultimately, baby and mother’s health should be the top priority.
As each body responds differently to pregnancy, it is important to consult your plastic surgeon and your gynecologist as soon as you find out you are expecting.
WHAT IF I NEED A C-SECTION AFTER MY TUMMY TUCK?
The main concern involving having a cesarean section after a tummy tuck is about the scar tissue. However, be rest assured that having a c-section after a tummy tuck isn’t much different from having a repeat c-section. Your gynecologist will still be working with a scar from the previous procedure, be it from a previous c-section or from a tummy tuck surgery. But in any case, you should still inform your gynecologist that you have already had a tummy tuck surgery as sometimes the scar isn’t too obvious.
One downside is that sometimes, your gynecologist might not be able to close your new c-section incision with the skill of a plastic surgeon and that might affect the appearance of the scar.
Sometimes, I get requests from patients to have a revision tummy tuck in conjunction with their C-section, and the answer is actually NO—it simply isn’t the right time. If you are interested in this topic, I’ve written a blog post about this issue. Read more here: www.bit.ly/dsdf7dbfo
HOW LONG SHOULD I WAIT TO GET PREGNANT AFTER A TUMMY TUCK?
Even though being pregnant after a tummy tuck is completely safe, I would still encourage you to wait until you are not planning any more pregnancies before considering a tummy tuck. It makes more sense this way due to the possible expense and need for a revision surgery following the pregnancy.
That said, there are some exceptions when there is a large gap between pregnancies, such a having their first child in the late teens and not planning any more until the late twenties or thirties. It is important that my patients feel confident and happy with their bodies, so it is understandable that they may wish to consider a tummy tuck even with more planned pregnancies in the future.
However, different plastic surgeons have different opinions about this matter; some believe that a pregnancy can be planned about 5/6 months following a tummy tuck surgery, while others feel that it is not worth running a risk for short-term results and should wait at least 5/6 years. In any case, the final decision should be made taking into account your individual life story.
In most scenarios, you should still find comfort in knowing that no matter how long the duration is between your tummy tuck and your pregnancy, you should still expect to make a full recovery without complications. If you have any concerns, speak to both your plastic surgeon and your gynecologist to ensure that your best interests are kept in mind.
Can you get tummy tuck before pregnancy
Typically, most patients wait until they are done with child bearing before choosing to have a tummy tuck. If you are still planning to become pregnant, it is important to talk to your surgeon about it before having abdominoplasty. Usually, having a tummy tuck does not interfere with pregnancies in the future.