What Can I Expect From Pregnancy 4 Years After Tummy Tuck?

Question

hello all, 4 years ago I did a tummy tuck, because I thought I was not going to have more babies, but now change of thinking and wanted to know if it is safe for me and baby, what are the SYMPTOMS? hurts when you're pregnant with a tummy tuck? what are the differences from normal pregnancy and when you have a tummy tuck. thanks for your time.

John J. Corey, MD · Answer

You should do fine! It has been my experience with my patients that the tummy stretches without problem and that after delivery, the tummy usually does not return to where it was before the TT ..but... there may be some "touching up" required!! But overall, patients do very well...

Pablo Prichard, MD · Answer

Thank you for your post.  You certainly can have a baby after tummy tuck.  In a tummy tuck, we are putting your body back together similiar to what you were like before you were pregnant.  Your muscle tension, your skin and your fat contours are adjusted.  Once you are fully healed from your surgery, your body is just as able to accept a pregnancy as it was before your first pregnancy.  However, if your belly area stretched after your first pregnancy, then you are likely to stretch again after your next pregnancy.  Most surgeons recommend to have a tummy tuck after you are finished having childern, however, in certain instances, such as starting to date again, or just not being happy with your post pregnancy body, then it makes sense to go ahead and have a tummy tuck.  Just realize that you may need a revision later on.Best Wishes,Pablo Prichard, MD

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

A well-done Tummy Tuck not only removes the extra, loose skin of the tummy but also takes in the looseness of the tummy muscles and repairs any muscle splitting. In effect, it reverses all the abdominal wall damage created by pregnancy. A pregnancy after a tummy tuck will largely undo many if not all of these corrections. As your uterus grows from its normal size of a lime to the size of a very large watermelon it stretches everything in its path. No scar and no suture is a match for this persistant stretch.

	Inform BOTH your OBGYN you had a Tummy Tuck and let him/her be in contact with your Plastic surgeon for additional information.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.

	Generally, patients are able to have normal pregnancies after tummy tuck surgery. However, I have heard anecdotally (recently) from patients and OB/GYN physicians that the abdominal wall can be very tight and that some OB/GYN's recommend earlier delivery if possible. Check with your own OB/GYN for his/her experience in this situation.

	Depending on the weight gain/loss,  changes in skin elasticity,  genetics etc.  revisionary surgery may be necessary after the pregnancy. This is a situation where only time will tell.

	Best Wishes.

What Can I Expect From Pregnancy 4 Years After Tummy Tuck?

Answers (4)