Will having children after a tummy tuck destroy your tummy tuck?

It is usually advisable to have a tummy tuck after you are done having children.  However, life happens and occasionally a patient will get pregnant after having had a tummy tuck.  The tummy tuck should not cause any problems with the pregnancy but the skin and muscles of the abdomen will get stretched out again.  How much skin and muscle laxity occurs will vary from patient to patient.  Sometimes a repeat tummy tuck will be necessary but not always.  

Aloha and thanks for your excellent question. It is best to wait til you are done having children if you want a full tummy-tuck with muscle tightening. However, I have done mini-tucks to help smooth the lower skin in between pregnancies; with plans to come back later for the full tuck. It would be best for you to visit an experienced board certified plastic surgeon for an in-depth consultation to review your options.   Mahalo, Dr D                                              

As other colleagues have posted, it is advised to wait until you are done having children before considering a tummy tuck, but getting pregnant after a tummy tuck is possible and may "undo" the tightening of the previous tuck procedure.  There will be further stretching of the tissues with inadequate "snap back".  A secondary tuck may be considered if this occurs.