Excess skin removal from stomach prior to pregnancy - will it cause an issue when I do become pregnant?

Thank you for your question.
In my opinion, you may want to hold off on the abdominoplasty until after children. I would recommend removal of the excess skin prior to pregnancy. There are three components to an abdominoplasty: removing the excess skin and pulling it taught, finding a new home for the umbilicus, and repairing the six pack muscles. When a woman becomes pregnant, those six pack muscles are pulled apart and never quite come back together all the way. It is important to note that the skin will stretch and become lax after pregnancy. This will possibly warrant further surgery or removal in the future.

If you plan to have children, then avoid any tightening now. Wait until you have had all the children you want, then tighten your abdomen.

Thank you for your question regarding skin removal and pregnancy. My usual message is if your plan is pregnant in the next year, don’t get skin tightening surgery. However, if you don’t know when you’re getting pregnant, you can undergo skin tightening. Do not worry. The skin will stretch with pregnancy but again if your plan is to get pregnant in next year, don’t have skin tightening surgery yet. I wonder why you’re not having muscle tightening surgery. In my opinion, with your weight loss, you should have muscle tightening. Thanks for your question regarding whether you should have skin tightening surgery before or after pregnancy and the need for muscle tightening after a massive weight loss

If you have any more questions regarding a tummy tuck, lower body lift, 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, belt abdominoplasty, or belt dermolipectomy please contact my office. Since the body lift is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing the lower body lift. Do your research. Make sure they have performed at least 100 tummy tuck or circumferential lower body lift surgeries and have the before and after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf. If you cannot find an experienced, tummy tuck or lower body lift surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if you must. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)