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.

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.)

Hello and thank you for your question.
Most patients are advised to wait until they are done having children. If you are not having muscle work then you may be fine to have the procedure. Schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss all your options. Best of luck!

It is wonderful what you have achieved!!
I have performed Tummy Tucks in young patients who have lost significant amount of weight because of a bypass or gastric sleeve and some others who by accident had pregnancies after the TT without any issues because the tissues (skin, muscle) gradually overstretch throughout the pregnancy.
In order to prevent you losing the TT results must avoid putting a lot of weight during the pregnancy.
Be encouraged!!
Dr. Cárdenas

Dear Imaginative435530,
loose skin removal and tightening should have no effect on pregnancy. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

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.

Dear Imaginative435530,
Thank you for your question and congratulations on your amazing weight loss! You can certainly tighten your skin with another excisional procedure prior to pregnancy. The skin will stretch, however, it may not contract back to your prepregancy tightness, thus leading to additional skin laxity following your delivery. So skin tightening won't cause problems with pregnancy, but you may have skin laxity following pregnancy.
Hope you find this helpful and wish you well.

Congratulations on your impressive weight loss! Your skin will stretch to accommodate future pregnancies. Depending on the elasticity of your skin you may be more prone to stretch marks with pregnancy. It is important to also be aware that future pregnancies may alter your surgical results. I encourage you to speak to your surgeon about your concerns.

Generally speaking the embryo will take what it needs from the mother and that may include stretching at your skin. From what you describe skin tightening surgery seems highly appropriate and it will not have any harm to future pregnancies. Pregnancies impact skin on women differently depending on the amount of weight they gain and genetic predisposition.
My best recommendation is to not worry about that for now but instead get yourself so that you feel good about your body and let the pregnancy happen when the time is right.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Hi and welcome to our forum!In our practice, we usually wait until your family is complete before contemplating abdominoplasty. `In your situation with previous skin excisions, it depends upon the extent of the residual lax skin. If it is extensive, with problems such as skin rashes and / or chronic irritation, one may proceed. (One may consider reverse abdominoplasty if the problem is limited to the upper abdomen). Without photos, I cannot guess the extent and thickness of your lax skin. I would otherwise recommend waiting until after delivery.Best wishes...