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Liposuction Before Pregnancy?

asked 3 years ago by GBlu in 10011
Latest answer by Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Question viewed 20,124 times
Tags: pregnancy

I always hear of people getting liposuction to get their body back after having a baby, but what about if you want the lipo before the baby? Is liposuction advised for someone who is planning to have a baby in the next 1-2 yrs?

20 answers to Liposuction Before Pregnancy?

SURE, have it and look good Now. It will make trying to get pregnant more fun!

There are no negative consequences to having liposuction now and getting pregnant 1-2 yrs later. There are actually a few good reasons to do it now. One is that the fat cells we remove are gone for good so if you later gain weight from the pregnancy, which you will, then you won't gain as much in your mid section so you won't look as fat during the pregnancy and thus you won't have to loose as much fat in the mid section after the pregnancy either. You will be a pretty pregnant woman... more

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

Liposuction before pregnancy

There are no known ill effects on the baby in patients who have undergone liposuction before becoming pregnant. The decision is entirely up to the patient. After having all their children, many women opt to have their abdomens and breasts restored; the decision to have liposuction before pregnancy doesn't affect the post-pregnancy appearance either. A healthy pregnancy these days is both fashionable and recommended. Many ladies find it is nice to enter into this tough period... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

It's entirely up to you

Even though you are planning to get pregnant in 1-2 years, there is no certainty that this will happen. IF you would be happier NOW with your body after liposuction, you should go ahead and do it. It would have no bearing on pregnancy. You might need something after you are done having children like a tummy tuck but this isn't related to whether or not you had liposuction before pregnancy.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

I would wait until after pregnancy

The doctors below have given sound advice. You definitely will gain weight during pregnancy and your tummy skin will be stretched. If your shape does not return to normal after pregnacy then you can consider a body contouring procedure like liposuction or laser liposculpture. I also am not comfortable with creating a surgical wound beneath the tummy skin knowing that the skin will have to stretch and expand during pregnancy at a later date. I don't think it would be a major factor, but I... more

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction is performed in many patients prior to childbirth

Liposuction can be performed in women prior to childbirth or following childbirth. Patients who are good candidates for liposuction have isolated areas of stubborn "pockets" of fatty tissue that is resistant to exercise. Patients that achieve the best results have excellent skin elasticity that "shrinks" back nicely following fat removal. Following childbirth, many women's abdominal skin no longer has good elasticity and has numerous stretch marks. These patients... more

Sanjay Grover MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

There is no contra-indication to liposuction

Gblu, There is no contra-indication to liposuction if you are planning on becoming pregnant in the next year or so. The procedures that patients typically have after having a baby have more to do with correcting the loose skin and stretch marks. These usually involves an abdominoplasty. If you have liposuction a few years before your abdomioplasty, you may actually end up with an even better result. So my advice would be to go for it. I hope this is helpful.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Liposuction now - Why not?

If you have areas of concern that are resistant to diet and exercise, I think it is a good idea. It will make losing the baby weight a little easier, since those fat deposits will be eliminated. Of course, it is always important to discuss possible future pregnany with your plastic surgeon during your consultation. Laser Liposuction or SmartLipo is a great idea since it can be done with a local anesthesia. This will eliminate the concern of the effects of a general anesthesia.... more

Linda Swanson, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

It is OK to have liposuction before pregnancy.

Liposuction is good for treating localized bulges (typically in the thighs) and the results are very long lasting. You will put on weight during your pregnancy, but the bulges do not come back. I have seen several women go through liposuction followed by pregnancy. Some lost all the weight after the pregnancy and some didn't. But the bulges did not come back in any of them.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Deciding to have liposuction should be based on whether you have appropriate fat bulges

The decision to under go liposuction should be based on whether you have the areas of fat bulges that are appropriately handled by liposuction. You should be able to draw the area of concern with your surgeon and determine whether it is a good choice. I don't feel that whether you are planing on children later makes any difference. Some women have significant lipodystrophy which makes their life and especially dressing difficult. Many of these women look like they are very thin above the... more

Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD
Daytona Beach Plastic Surgeon

Either way can work quite well

There are many women who choose to have liposuction before starting a family and they do just fine. You should anticipate that whether or not you have the procedure before a pregnancy, the pregnancy is likely to change your body significantly, and you may very well wish to have a cosmetic procedure afterwards-- the liposuction before the pregnancy will not eliminate this possibility.

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.drsalemy.com

Think of it as a short term investment - is it worth the expense?

Assume that having a baby will stretch your skin, add new pockets of fat, rotate the pelvic bones and stretch the muscles that make your body look like an hourglass. With these ideas in mind, liposuction will be as temporary as the time between the surgery and your pregnancy? Also, after liposuction, there will be some time until the swelling goes down, so that you can enjoy the results. Is the time between the surgery and when you get pregnant worth the costs, downtime and surgical risks?... more

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction Before Pregnancy

Liposuction performed prior to pregnancy has not been linked to have any ill effects on babies. However, for optimal long term results you may want to wait until after birth.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.drkrisreddy.com

Liposuction pre pregnancy.

There is no right answer to your question. If a patient has unwanted, isolated fat deposits which are resistant to diet and exercise, they need not wait until they have completed their pregnancies. I tell patients if they plan on getting pregnant within one year post surgery then I would probably recommend to wait since the recovery time can last a few months of swelling and soreness. It all depends on the patients preference. I would recommend for you to meet with a board certified plastic... more

Jaime Perez MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

www.jaimeperezmd.com

Liposuction before pregnancy

Liposuction could be done either before childbearing or after childbearing. We would not expect the fat to return to these areas.

John J. Edney, MD
Omaha Plastic Surgeon

A "Pre-Mommy Makeover"--absolutely!

The BEST time to have liposuction is when you have focused problem areas and good skin quality. This is often prior to any pregnancy. See a surgeon who is Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (not a "cosmetic surgeon", as those doctors are usually not plastic surgeons at all!).

Carmen Kavali, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Lipo before pregnancy

Having a cosmetic procedure on your body before having babies is a personal decision that will depend upon your comfort level with you body. If you are not happy with the shape of your body and have the kind of issues that can be improved with liposuction there is nothing wrong with having liposuction before getting pregnant. Pregnancy can change your body in many ways. But you never know when and/or if you will get pregnant. Having liposuction will change the proportions of fat in... more

Adam Rubinstein, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

It depends on your goals

Liposuction can be done almost at anytime. Liposuction is ideal inthe patient who has isolated areas of fat deposits that don't seem to go away through diet and exercise. I wouldn;t personally recommend liposuction if you are definiely planning to have a baby within the next year. However, I couldn;t tell you for sure if it wsa going to be 2,3,4 or more years before having a baby. That really is a personal choice. Certainly I would put off a tummy tuck until all pregnancies are completed. more

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

It's all about you and your priorities!

Mothers who desire their “before baby body” are frequently marketed to, but certainly this is not meant to preclude those who are in a similar situation as you. Body contouring procedures including liposuction are performed in patients of all ages. Your question has been asked by many others. The answer is simple...it is all about you and your priorities! What is most important is fullfiling your wants, needs, and desires. If you are truly troubled by selective areas of fat... more

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD
Englewood Plastic Surgeon

Immediate vs. Delayed Gratification

There is no "right" answer as to the timing of Liposuction, other than to say that it should not be used as a substitute for weight loss, and that patients should be at or very near their ideal weight when liposuction is done. If a patient has unwanted, isolated fat deposits which are resistant to diet and exercise, they need not wait until they have completed their pregnancies. Under this circumstance, patients can enjoy the improvement of their figures following liposuction during the... more