Will a Tummy Tuck Affect Possible Pregnancy?

I am scheduled to have a tummy tuck in March, although I am uncertain if I'll have more children.

What are the main risks in getting pregnant after a tummy tuck, and is there a possibility that the results of the tummy tuck will hold after the pregnancy?

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abdomen female

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by anabelle1997 in Miami,Fl

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Tummy Tucks - Wait till you are done with kids

Dear Anabelle, It is in your best interest to reserve the tummy tuck until you are done having children. (This is a simplistic view, but it makes the point.) Children stretch out the abdomen, and normally this results in stretch marks on the lower abdomen. When a tummy tuck is performed, the "normal" upper abdominal skin is stretched out to cover the full abdomen. This makes the skin thinner, and resets the tone. If you have another child, you will again likely get stretch... more

Pregnancies after tummy tucks

Anabelle, This is a very common question, and the answer -- in my opinion -- is quite simple: wait until you are done having children. You can become pregnant after a tummy tuck, and it will not adversely affect your child, but you will undo everything you have achieved with the tummy tuck. So you will have wasted your time, money and recovery on the operation. And having another tummy tuck after the pregnancy, may not give you as good a result because of how the pregnancy will expand... more

Tummy tuck before having more pregnancies not the best idea

I have had a few patients who did not plan to have another child, but did and there were no problems with it after having had a tummy tuck, so you shouldn't worry about that. However, the tissues will likely stretch out again, which is unavoidable because the hormones of pregnancy are designed to allow that sort of stretching for the process of childbirth. But having had a tummy tuck previously, doing another one may not work out as well, so the best advice is to wait until you are sure.... more

Pregnancy will tend to undo the results of your tummy tuck

Having a tummy tuck will not prevent you from getting pregnant and will likely not affect your pregnancy. However, the stretching of your skin and muscles with pregancy will tend to undo the results and you may have to redo the surgery. If you feel that there is a pretty good chance that you will have another child, then it would be best to wait until your family is complete before having your abdominoplasty.

Becoming pregnant after a tummy tuck.

I have had 3 patients unintentionally become pregnant after a tummy tuck, one of them being my office staff. In all cases, the results of the tummy tuck did not hold but I beleive the outcomes were not as severe as their prior pregnancies. I attribute this to greater awareness about nutrition and limiting weight gain during their subsequent pregnancies. In only one of these patients, my office staff member, did I repeat the tummy tuck. I have on occasion repeated full tummy tucks on... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Pregnancy after tummy tuck

I am not aware that there ant increased risks to being pregnant after a tummy tuck. The only real problem is in stretching out the result and possible needing to redo it. Of course, there are times this won't be necessary but this can't be predicted reliably.

A Tummy Tuck is best done After having had Children

There is not much point in having a tummy tuck and then expanding it with one or more pregnancy. Although the pregnancy itself is not likely to be affected by a previous Tummy Tuck , a revision or re-do Tummy Tuck will be more challenging. You should seriously considerthis advice. Dr P Aldea

Pregnancy after a Tummy Tuck will ruin results

Although there is no health risks with pregnacy after a tummy tuck, it can certainly ruin the results. I would reccommend waiting for your your abdominoplasty until after you are done having children.

Effects of pregnancy following a Tummy Tuck

Although most plastic surgeons feel it is safe if you become pregnant following a tummy tuck, it is advisable to wait until you are finished having children. The risks involved if you become pregnant following a tummy tuck include: the development of stretch marks, developing a hernia or a rectus diastasis (weakening of your abdominal muscles) and the return of sagging abdominal skin. If any of these conditions were to occur, you may require a redo of your tummy tuck or a hernia repair. My... more

Pregnancy after tummy tuck

Looks as though you have two separate questions, the first related to the effects of pregnancy on the results of your tummy tuck and the second related to the effects of tummy tuck on your pregnancy. 1) Although possible, it is not probable that the results of your tummy tuck will be maintained with future pregnancy. Future pregancies will result in weight gain and expansion of your intraabdominal contents, stretching your abdominal wall muscles. It's very likely you will develop bulging... more