How Pregnancy Affects a Tummy Tuck
The best time to consult with a plastic surgeon about a tummy tuck also referred to as abdominoplasty, is when you’re reasonably close to your ideal weight and you have no plans to add to your family. To ensure the longest-lasting results, the latter half of those conditions is obviously crucial. But, we all know life happens, and after a tummy tuck, you may change your mind about having more kids or experience an unsuspected, life-changing surprise. It can and does happen.
At AW Plastic Surgery, several common questions we get from women during mommy makeover and tummy tuck consultations pertain to pregnancy and how it could affect their tummy tuck. Because tummy tucks are consistently one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures, we thought we’d share some of the essential safety information we give to our patients and some of the things you should know if you were to get pregnant after you’ve had a tummy tuck.
Is It Safe to Get Pregnant After a Tummy Tuck Procedure?
It’s OK to consult with your plastic surgeon if you have questions about your abdominoplasty and how it’s affecting your planned or unplanned pregnancy. At appointments, you should obviously also be checking in with the medical team taking care of you throughout your pregnancy, but most women rarely experience any safety concerns related to their past tummy tuck and growing addition to the family.
One of the times where you may be most at risk for complications, though, is if you become pregnant when you are still recovering from surgery. Gradual stretching of the abdominal wall may affect scarring and how well your tissue heals in specific areas. Some women also report experiencing additional sensations of pressure on their abdomen, increased heartburn, and issues with incontinence, in rare circumstances. These complications may add to some of the discomfort in the early stages of pregnancy and slightly alter your scarring progress, but there are very few situations in which pregnancy after a tummy tuck endangers the mother or baby.
When Is It Safest to Get Pregnant After a Tummy Tuck?
If you have the option, it’s ideal to wait at least six months after your surgery before you consider getting pregnant. A tummy tuck is a significant medical procedure, and although everyone’s recovery will be different, you want to wait at least six months to give your body a chance to heal its damaged tissues and form healthy scars.
To ensure the best and longest-lasting results for your abdominoplasty, however, you should try to wait at least five years before you start planning any next steps for your family’s size. Most plastic surgeons will advise you to finish having kids altogether before you have a tummy tuck done, but as we said, life will happen.
Will You Need a Tummy Tuck Revision After Your Pregnancy?
There’s not a definitive answer to this question, because every woman’s body reacts differently to both pregnancy and surgery. However, most women continue to be happy with the results of their cosmetic surgery and the appearance of their belly following a pregnancy that occurred after a tummy tuck.
How much weight you gain during pregnancy, the appearance of new stretch marks, and the extent of abdominal separation your body experiences may be factors that influence your decision to have a tummy tuck revision. These factors may also determine whether your plastic surgeon recommends a revision or a less invasive treatment. There are exercises and things you can do to limit some of the circumstances that naturally come along with any pregnancy. For some mothers, a procedure called a mini-tummy tuck may be perfect to restore the results they enjoyed from their original tummy tuck surgery.
Have Questions or Want to Learn More About an Abdominoplasty?
A tummy tuck can be a wonderful source of newfound self-confidence, whether you’ve experienced some of the many bodily changes that occur during pregnancy or not. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, an increasing number of men are now also choosing to have this procedure.
Call Dr. Anthony Wilson in Portsmouth, NH at (603) 294-4526 if you’d to schedule your tummy tuck consultation. You can also contact our practice through the form on our website if you have questions or comments.