{"id":18013,"date":"2021-01-08T14:09:44","date_gmt":"2021-01-08T22:09:44","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=18013"},"modified":"2023-10-12T13:47:04","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T20:47:04","slug":"pregnancy-after-tummy-tuck-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/pregnancy-after-tummy-tuck-questions","title":{"rendered":"5 Questions About Getting Pregnant After a Tummy Tuck, Answered"},"content":{"rendered":"

Generally speaking, a tummy tuck<\/a>, or abdominoplasty, is one cosmetic procedure most women consider once they’re done having children. Whether it’s performed solo or as part of a mommy makeover<\/a>, a tummy tuck is an effective way to repair the separation of abdominal muscles and remove excess skin, both common side effects of pregnancy. But what if you get pregnant after <\/em>a tummy tuck? Ahead, experts answer five common questions about this scenario. <\/p>

Can you have a baby after a tummy tuck?<\/strong><\/h2>

In a word, yes. “Ideally, you’d wait until you were done having children to have a tummy tuck, but it’s not the end of the world if you get pregnant afterward,” says New York City board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lisa F. Schneider<\/a>. The experts we spoke with agreed that while it may not be the most advisable course of action, pregnancy and giving birth after an abdominoplasty<\/a> are both possible and safe. However, it’s crucial to disclose your tummy tuck (as well as any other surgeries) to your OB-GYN in the early stages of pregnancy.<\/p>

Interested in tummy tuck?<\/small><\/div>Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div>

What are the risks of pregnancy after a tummy tuck?<\/strong><\/h2>

“It’s not dangerous to have a baby after a tummy tuck,” reiterates Dr. Falguni Patel<\/a>, a board-certified OB-GYN in Aberdeen, New Jersey. “It won’t cause any issues with the pregnancy, it won’t cause preterm labor, and it won’t affect the position of the uterus.” Long story short, there’s no danger to mom or baby. <\/p>

That being said, some women do experience more discomfort, particularly in the third trimester. A tummy tuck will leave your stomach fairly flat, so even if you gain a minimal amount of weight, the tension created as that tight skin stretches can be uncomfortable or painful, especially later in pregnancy, explains Dr. Patel. <\/p>

Ultimately, the biggest drawback to having a baby after tummy tuck is purely cosmetic. “You’re probably going to need another tummy tuck [if you want to maintain your results]. The skin and the repair to any gap in the muscles are all going to get stretched out again,” says Dr. Schneider. Dr. Patel agrees, adding that this is the primary reason it’s recommended to do a tummy tuck once you’re certain there are no more babies on the horizon.<\/p>

It’s also worth noting that the results of a secondary tummy tuck likely won’t be as good as those of the first. “It’s a complicated operation that you can’t really repeat in the same way. Once the skin and muscles are stretched out again, it’s not possible to re-create it exactly,” says Beverly Hills, California, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kelly Killeen<\/a>.<\/p>

Related: Doctors Answer 6 of the Most Common Questions About Tummy Tuck Recovery<\/a><\/em><\/p>

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