If possible, Dr. Bryan Armijo always recommends getting a tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty) after you’ve completed childbearing. That said, tummy tucks by no means stop a woman from being able to have children.
If you’re healthy and of childbearing age, a tummy tuck won’t prevent you from getting pregnant or carrying a baby to full term. With that in mind, many of our patients ask us about how a post-tummy tuck pregnancy affects results, how soon is too soon after giving birth to get one, and whether it’s worth it to wait until after you’ve stopped having children.
Below, we’ll break down all the info you need to know to make an informed decision about when a tummy tuck is right for you.
Tummy Tucks Post-Pregnancy: Why Should I Wait?
Pregnancy changes the body a lot. For many new mothers, after having a baby, even the most rigorous exercise and diet regimens can’t get rid of those last few extra pounds in the abdomen. Tummy tucks are particularly effective in helping women get their pre-baby bodies back for good.
Tummy tucks remove loose or excess skin and work to tighten up the abdominal muscles that can often become strained as a result of pregnancy. The medical term for this condition is a “diastasis,” or when the stretch of pregnancy causes the rectus abdominis muscles to separate. If a patient becomes pregnant after an abdominoplasty, the skin can stretch again. There’s no guarantee of how this will affect the belly’s cosmetic appearance, especially after post-birth weight loss.
Weight fluctuation of any kind can affect tummy tuck results. How much it changes your belly’s appearance varies from patient to patient, and based on what kind of procedure you had. If you think you might want to get pregnant down the line, be sure to talk to your doctor about all the options available to help contour and sculpt your post-baby belly.
Waiting until after you finish building your family to get a tummy tuck comes with several benefits. One of the most significant is the chance to combine your abdominoplasty with sterilization procedures such as tubal litigation. That way, you’ll only have to undergo one procedure and recovery period. Dr. Armijo can also work to reduce cesarean scars or stretch marks that resulted from pregnancy. By holding off, you’ll be able to address all these issues in one go.
We understand life doesn’t always go according to plan, and things change. If you decide you want to become pregnant post-abdominoplasty, be sure to talk with Dr. Armijo about maintaining your results and the best practices moving forward.
Women who do become pregnant after an abdominoplasty often report they don’t “show” as early. This phenomenon is generally the result of tighter skin and abdominal muscles and is healthy and natural. Your stomach muscles will stretch along with your skin to accommodate your growing baby. There is no evidence pregnancy after a tummy tuck endangers the health of your child at all. As your abdomen should fully heal within four to six months of the procedure, there are typically no health risks for mothers either.
How Soon Is Too Soon?
Our patients often ask us if Dr. Armijo can perform a tummy tuck during a C-section. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Immediately after having your baby, the uterus is still larger than normal, preventing Dr. Armijo from tightening the muscles or removing as much skin as possible. Secondly, most women won’t be back to their ideal body weights, limiting the achievable cosmetic results. Third, after your tummy tuck, you’ll need to avoid heavy lifting for a few weeks, which can be difficult with a newborn around the house.
Waiting until your body fully recovers and your weight stabilizes ensures the best possible results.
Learn More About Tummy Tuck Surgery in Texas
Though becoming pregnant after a tummy tuck doesn’t present any medical safety risks, there are no definitive means of ensuring a toned tummy after a new pregnancy. Ideally, Dr. Armijo suggests waiting until you are finished with your childbearing to reap the most from your procedure.
Each of our bodies is unique, and the ways pregnancy will affect your tummy tuck results depend on several factors, including age, skin elasticity, and weight fluctuation. It’s essential to fully understand your cosmetic procedure and to make an informed decision about when is right for you.
If you have any further questions or would like to schedule an in-person consultation, please don’t hesitate to call our Dallas, TX, office (214) 540-1434 or contact us online today.