Can you have a baby after a tummy tuck?

I happen to do a lot of tummy tucks in my practice and I've had several women get pregnant afterwards.  The baby's have all been fine and I have NEVER needed to touch anybody up. 

I will admit that during the pregnancy they seem to carry a little higher in the abdomen, but when all is said and done they still look great a year after the baby is born. I had one woman ask for liposuction in the flank area, but that has nothing to do with the tummy tuck - that's just a little baby fat left over after the fact.

In my opinion there is nothing better than having kids.  Enjoy your pregnancy!  Enjoy your family!

Thank you for your question.  The short answer is that plenty of patients who have had tummy tuck procedures have gone on to have beautiful and healthy babies and you can certainly do so after your planned procedure.  While there does not seem to be any reason to delay your scheduled tummy tuck, I would recommend that you wait at least 6 months after your procedure before you begin to consider another pregnancy.  Waiting an appropriate amount of time for you to have healed from your tummy tuck is the only caution that I would advise when it comes to future pregnancies.  I wish you all the best and good luck!

I have had several patients have normal pregnancies after tummy tuck. One patient had twins.  The abdomen holds up better than expected, but some stretching is anticipated. If you know that you are planning to have another pregnancy in the next few years, the I would suggest that you finish your family, then have your tummy tuck. 

Thank you for your question.
Yes, you can become pregnant after a tummy tuck. There is no medical obstacle to becoming pregnant after a tummy tuck.

But in my practice, I advise patients to wait until they're fully healed after a tummy tuck, a minimum of 4-6 months because it may necessitate having the operation re-done according to your pregnancy's effects to your tummy tuck surgery results.  

Good morning Jess,
In my opinion, it is completely safe to plan for a baby after full recovery from a tummy tuck, this should be at least one year post-op. However, I do encourage my patients to follow my rule of thumb: If you aren't planning on having a baby within the next 5 years a tummy tuck is for you. If you're going to go through the process of getting such procedure done, you should give yourself some time to enjoy it's maximum results!

Best Regards,
Jose M. Soler-Baillo, M.D, M.S
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your question regarding having a baby after a tummy tuck. The answer is “yes”. My general rule is if you are planning to have baby within the next year I would wait on having a tummy tuck. If you’re not planning on getting pregnant within the next year, then you can proceed with tummy tuck. Tummy tucks will not affect the child in any way. The child is usually full-term and normal. Also, after pregnancy, the tummy bounces back and the tummy tuck usually does not have to be redone. If you have any other questions regarding tummy tucks and pregnancy, feel free to contact my office.

 

Sincerely,

Dr. J. Timothy Katzen

Having a baby after a tummy tuck is possible, but there are important considerations. Ideally, it's recommended to complete your family before undergoing a tummy tuck, as pregnancy post-surgery can alter the results. However, life circumstances can change, and pregnancy after a tummy tuck is certainly not impossible.

Regarding the timing, there's no fixed period to wait after the surgery before planning another baby, but allowing your body to fully heal is crucial. This typically means waiting at least a year, ensuring your body has recovered from the surgery and is ready to handle the physical demands of a pregnancy.

If you're considering another pregnancy in the future, discuss this with your surgeon during the consultation. They can tailor the procedure with this possibility in mind, offering the best advice for your specific situation. Remember, your health and safety, as well as maintaining the results of the surgery, are important factors to consider in your decision.

Yes you can have a baby after a tummy tuck operation. But you must keep in mind that there will be effects of pregnancy which will not go back completely. After pregnancy there can be stretch marks, some loose skin and separation of the rectus muscles which might not go back again. So there are chances that you might need revision procedures after the effects of pregnancy have worn off. It is always advisable to complete your family before undertaking abdominoplasty procedure.

Yes, you may be able to get pregnant after an abdominoplasty, however I do not recommend it for my patients. The abdomen will not be able to expand as usual during pregnancy, and the stitches may tear. The best option is to wait until after pregnancy to have a tummy tuck. Please discuss this with your surgeon before having a tummy tuck!

Yes, you may have a baby following abdominoplasty but you may want to consider some of the following. 
Pregnancy can cause weight gain and excessive stretching of the abdominal muscle which can affect your results.  It is impossible to predict how much your baby will grow and stretch your muscles and skin out and then to what degree your skin will retract following your pregnancy.  But if you do get pregnant following a tummy tuck, you may end up with loose skin and/or stretched muscles.
You may risk rectus muscle separation (rectus diastasis) which can occur during pregnancy which may then require repair following your pregnancy
Pregnancy has a dramatic effect on your abdomen so even if you were to lose all your weight gained it is highly likely you will have altered your results you achieved prior to your pregnancy following your surgery

For these reasons, we advise its best to wait until you are finished having children.