Pregnancy after tummy tuck – all you need to know

The question of pregnancy after tummy tuck is asked very often. 

A tummy tuck procedure implies a surgical procedure in which excess fat and skin are removed, while muscles that have weakened over time are repaired, which results in a trimmer and smoother torsal area. 

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty (more expertly said), is the favorable choice for patients who have a few extra pounds they can’t seem to get rid of, and those who often find themselves in this situation are mothers, post-pregnancy.

However, even though tummy tuck is one of the most popular procedures that can help mothers get their pre-baby bodies back, what happens if you get pregnant after a tummy tuck? This is a common issue and one we address thoroughly in the text below. 

First of all – can you get pregnant after a tummy tuck?

It is usually advisable for women to opt for a tummy tuck once they are done having children, and the reason for this lies in the fact that tummy tucks as a procedure are supposed to improve the tone and tightness of the abdominal muscles. 

Pregnancy haves long-term effects on the abdomen, especially if you have more than one child – having this in mind, it doesn’t come as a surprise that a tummy tuck is advised to be done at the of your childbearing years. 

However, to answer the question can you get pregnant after a tummy tuck – yes you can, and no, having a pregnancy after a tummy tuck is not harmful to either you or the baby – still, there are some things you need to know.

What happens if you get pregnant after a tummy tuck?

We’ve already absolved that pregnancy after tummy tuck is not impossible, and this is mainly because not all pregnancies are planned, and more often than not people change their minds about having more children. 

That said, the safety of the mother or the baby shouldn’t be a concern when it comes to pregnancy after a tummy tuck – you should be able to enjoy your pregnancy and the birth of your healthy baby but keep in mind, regardless of having or not having abdominoplasty – all pregnancies are prone to complications, for many reasons. 

As for pregnancy after a tummy tuck – most mothers carry their baby safely to full term. What will happen though is that your abdominal and tissue walls will stretch in order to accommodate a new baby, but if you have had a tummy tuck, you will notice that your belly doesn’t stretch out as much and that you don’t look as pregnant as you did during the previous pregnancy. This just goes to show that getting pregnant after a tummy tuck is completely safe. 

Tummy tuck and pregnancy – what will happen to my abdominoplasty?

Most of the time, patients still enjoy the results of their surgery, even after having a baby, sometimes acknowledging they look better with their post-pregnancy tummy tuck, then during the pregnancy prior to their tummy tuck.

However, there has to be some guideline regarding this matter, and essentially, women should get a tummy tuck revision in cases when their tummies do not stretch as much as they should, or in cases when their skin and abdominal muscles stretch out too much – this tends to happen the most if you happen to carry twins.

Additionally, some women might succumb to controlling their weight more closely during pregnancy, but this shouldn’t be the top priority, not like the mother’s and baby’s health.

How long should you wait before getting pregnant after a tummy tuck?

The opinions regarding this matter are confronted – some surgeons believe that a safe pregnancy can be planned about 5 to 6 months after having a tummy tuck surgery, while others are of the opinion that this is a very short time span and that 5 to 6 years of waiting is a better solution. 

That said, there are some exceptions when it comes to large gaps between pregnancies – for example, if you had your first child in your late teens, and you’re not planning anymore until your late twenties or thirties.

In most scenarios, no matter how long the duration between your tummy tuck and pregnancy is, you should still make a full recovery, without complications, but the final decision should definitely take your individual story and health into account.

The reason why most surgeons, including our Dr. Ress advise to wait after you’ve done having children, in order to undergo a tummy tuck, is because it makes more sense especially when you take into account the revision surgery following pregnancy.

Benefits of waiting

One of the biggest benefits of waiting to have a tummy tuck is that you can have it combined with other procedures such as a mommy makeover, more easily. Rather than subjecting your body to 2 separate procedures, you can reshape your abdomen and reshape any other issue you have at the same time. 

However, we already mentioned that women who have gone through the whole pregnancy after the tummy tuck ordeal, have noticed that they don’t “show” as much. This is due to tighter abdominal muscles and skin from the surgery, that stretch in order to accommodate the growing baby, and since the abdomen is fully healed some 4-6 months after surgery, there is no health risk for the mother either. 

What to do if you want a tummy tuck, yet you want more children too?

This is something we strongly recommend you should communicate with your surgeon beforehand. 

This desire of yours can be very insightful, as the surgeon can be more cautious and leave your body in a much better state to accommodate a growing baby. You should always discuss all your wishes and concerns with your surgeon, so you can ensure that your best interest is kept in mind. 

The bottom line is – yes, pregnancy does have a profound impact on a woman’s body, and after childbirth, her entire midsection needs time to recover. However, some women find that their bodies have changed forever in a manner they don’t like, which is why they seek the help of plastic surgery for assistance. 

If pregnancy after tummy tuck ordeal is something that bothers you, you can always schedule your consultation at liv Plastic, have a chat, and find out all the down and plus sides before deciding to undergo the procedure.