If you have heard of the term tummy tuck, you can guess that this procedure is especially popular among new mothers. True… I am talking about a tummy tuck, reducing extra fat, a procedure that prevents the skin from sagging. It is the perfect way to achieve the look you want after having children.
And vice versa, if you get pregnant after having this surgery? Or you may be wondering if this procedure will have an impact on your pregnancy. I would be happy to tell you here what you need to know about pregnancy after the tummy tuck procedure.
Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is cosmetic surgery performed to improve the shape of the abdomen. The main purpose of this procedure is to remove excess skin from the abdomen. Examples include skin that occurs after pregnancy or being overweight.
After a tummy tuck, the results are considered permanent. Your abdominal wall will be more stable and strong. The excess skin has been removed and will not return unless there’s a fluctuation in weight or a subsequent pregnancy stretches out the area again.
Getting pregnant after having a tummy tuck procedure
First of all, I must say that each pregnancy has the potential for a degree of different complications. For this reason, health may be an issue, especially if you do not consult your personal gynecologist.
There are no risk factors on pregnancy after a tummy tuck, although your midsection may be tighter. Women can have healthy, full-term pregnancies after a tummy tuck.
Even after tummy tuck surgery, your abdominal wall and tissue will stretch according normally to accommodate the new baby. Some mothers notice that their bellies do not stretch much or do not look as pregnant as their previous pregnancies. This is completely safe and harmless to the growing child.
However, while pregnancy after a tummy tuck is safe, the aesthetics of your results can change in some situations. Weight fluctuations and abdominal stretching during pregnancy could result in loose or separated abdominal muscles, sagging skin, and excess belly fat. To reverse these effects, a second tummy tuck would be needed. Just keep in mind that each body responds differently to pregnancy…
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If you underwent the tummy tuck procedure before your pregnancy, I can tell you that you will continue to see the results of the surgery after the birth of your baby. You may even notice that you look better post-pregnancy with your tummy tuck than during your first post-pregnancy prior to your 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. Some women may find it helpful to control their weight gain during pregnancy, but ultimately, the baby and mother’s health should be the top priority.
Should I or 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 needs for revision surgery following the pregnancy.
Because pregnancy might do to your body exactly what brought you in for your tummy tuck in the first place. As your baby grows, the skin of your abdomen is stretched to accommodate the growing belly. But in addition, it can also spread your abdominal muscles apart. This condition is called diastasis recti. Your two-pack is connected with tissue that stretches as the uterus expands, and your pregnancy hormones can contribute to softening it further. A small amount of widening between the two halves is normal during pregnancy, but if the gap becomes too large, you can be left with a paunch after you have given birth.
What to do during the pregnancy after getting a tummy tuck
During the pregnancy, place a significant emphasis on eating healthy and exercising daily to avoid unnecessary weight gain. It is possible that you may not need another tummy tuck, or a non-surgical procedure may reverse any effects from your subsequent pregnancy.
In my honest opinion it is important to set realistic expectations. I would recommend you to be as sure as possible if you are done having children before undergoing the tummy tuck. And if you decide the tummy tuck may be right for you, I would gladly evaluate you and your ideas.
Remember, life is full of surprises.
It is important for you to understand that you can still have a safe pregnancy and maintain many of the results even if you become pregnant after the tummy tuck surgery.
Useful links:
Pregnancy after abdominoplasty
