Many women are unsure if they have to wait until they are done having children before opting for an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). They read everywhere that having a pregnancy after an abdominoplasty will cause harm to the mother and the unborn child. But this is not true!
All pregnancies have the potential for some degree of complications and the best person to give advice will be your gynaecologist.
For ladies who had an abdominoplasty done before, their abdominal wall and tissue will still stretch as per normal to accommodate the new baby. There are some mothers who 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 Abdominoplasty?
Most of my patients who became pregnant after their abdominoplasty 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 abdominoplasty than during their post-pregnancy prior to their abdominoplasty.
If one already had an abdominoplasty done before and if they do not put on too much weight during the pregnancy period, the midline connective tissue will not stretch too much again, causing rectus diastasis because there is a strong scar tissue holding together the muscles together from the previous abdominoplasty. The abdominal muscles still can stretch outwardly allowing the baby to grow and it can retract back again after the pregnancy without causing the same gap as before.
Dr Marco stress that the problem after pregnancy is not the muscles itself but the gap in-between the 2 rectus abdominal muscles which is commonly known as the midline in the stomach that is actually the connective tissue. If there is any excess abdominal skin due to the pregnancy stretch, then we only need to remove the excess skin and tighten the skin if the midline gap is not over stretched.
However the baby and mother’s health should be at top priority. As every lady’s body responds differently to pregnancy, it is important to consult your plastic surgeon and your gynaecologist as soon as you find out you are expecting.
What if i need a C-Section after my Abdominoplasty?
The main concern involving having a caesarean section after an abdominoplasty is about the scar tissue. However, be rest assured that having a c-section after an abdominoplasty isn’t much different from having a repeat c-section. Your gynaecologist will still be working with a scar from the previous procedure, be it from a previous c-section or from an abdominoplasty. But in any case, you should still inform your gynaecologist that you have already had an abdominoplasty surgery as sometimes the scar isn’t too obvious.
One downside is that sometimes, your gynaecologist 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. This is where sometimes the plastic surgeon is called in to do the closure of the C section incision.
Can I do an immediately Abdominoplasty after C section?
The answer is NO.
To read more from the previous blog, click here
How long should I wait to get pregnant after an Abdominoplasty?
According to Plastic Surgeon Dr Marco, there is no “right period of time “to get pregnant after doing your abdominoplasty surgery. It is very individual and personal but usually I will advise you not within the first 6 months after the surgery. Sometimes pregnancy can happen especially if the patient feels so confident and happy with their new body.
It is still best to discuss with your plastic surgeon & your gynaecologist on what is the best for you.
To learn more about our “Can I Get Pregnant After Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)?”, do contact Dr Marco Faria Correa at:
Dr Marco Faria Correa Plastic Surgery
Tel: +65 6464 8075
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.drmarco.com
About the Author: Dr Marco Faria Correa
Dr. Marco has developed both experimental and clinical work, created techniques and developed surgical instruments that represent great contribution to plastic surgery. In 1992 he presented his first achievements in a meeting at the Southern Chapter of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery, in Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil. It is registered in the book of meeting records that conferred him as the first surgeon presenting an endoscopic plastic surgery method in a scientific meeting. He also had the first scientific paper published in the Journal of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery, with the papers “Videoendoscopy in Plastic Surgery: Brief Communication” and “Endoscopic Abdominoplasty (Subcutaneouscopy)”, through workshops, meetings, conferences, scientific publications and articles he has shared and globalized the know-how and use of his techniques. Lately, Dr Marco is pushing endoscopic surgery to the next level by introducing the use of the latest high-tech robotics system (da Vinci® Surgical System) to perform minimally-invasive procedures.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this post is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your plastic surgeon or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment. Always speak to your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a procedure.