Can you have a baby after a tummy tuck?

I happen to do a lot of tummy tucks in my practice and I've had several women get pregnant afterwards.  The baby's have all been fine and I have NEVER needed to touch anybody up. 

I will admit that during the pregnancy they seem to carry a little higher in the abdomen, but when all is said and done they still look great a year after the baby is born. I had one woman ask for liposuction in the flank area, but that has nothing to do with the tummy tuck - that's just a little baby fat left over after the fact.

In my opinion there is nothing better than having kids.  Enjoy your pregnancy!  Enjoy your family!

If you already have a plan for another baby, you should wait.  If you do not have plans, then there is no particular reason to postpone your tummy tuck.  There is no specific recommendation regarding how long you should wait after tummy tuck to have another baby.  Certainly it would be best to wait at least a year after tummy tuck to have another baby, but even that might be too soon.  There have been many patients that have have had a tummy tuck in my practice that have gone on to have another baby, and very few of them have required revision surgery.

As you can read on this forum, most board certified plastic surgeons agree it is best to wait until you are done.  I have patients occasionally who have life circumstances that make them want to have the surgery done now, such as a divorce or separation, but who are not certain on wether they will have kids in a future relationship.  from a surgical persective, a tummy tuck won't prevent you from having more kids, but you will likely restretch the results.  This is a personal decision, and you must weight the pros and cons for yourself.

Patients with unplanned pregnancies after tummy tuck generally do well, however, it is best to wait until you are finished having children for best results.  Pregnancy after liposuction is also very common with less aftereffects.Discussion with a/your plastic surgeon is recommended.

Hi there,
Yes, of course you can have a baby after your tummy tuck surgery but it'll be best to wait for at least 12-18 months post op so that there is sufficient time for all healing and scarring to mature and for your abdominal wall reconstruction and surgical wound to be strong enough to withstand the increased intra-abdominal pressures from your pregnancy.
However, you'll need to be realistic that while having a baby after tummy tuck is always possible, there is possibility that all the good work achieved through your tummy tuck surgery may get "stretched" again and thus "spoiling" the good surgical effects from your surgery. Depending on your tummy tuck approach, the other consideration is that your abdominal wall will be significantly tighter due to the plication of the rectus sheath in a full tummy tuck or radical abdominoplasty procedure ( vs mini-tummy tuck where only skin below the belly button is resected without correction of the separation of your rectus muscle), there is a higher chance that you may require caesarian section as a result.
In any case, you'll be best guided by your plastic surgeon leading up to your tummy tuck surgery and be prepared for the potential implications involved in being pregnant after your procedure in time ahead.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes
Ellis Choy

That’s a great
question. After allowing your body to heal, you can certainly have a
baby, yet it will compromise your tummy tuck results as the skin will stretch
and your abdominal muscles will expand and likely separate again. I recommend
having children before moving forward with the procedure for optimal results.
Hope this information has helped with your decision.Good LuckDr Rahban

Having a baby after a tummy tuck is possible, but there are important considerations. Ideally, it's recommended to complete your family before undergoing a tummy tuck, as pregnancy post-surgery can alter the results. However, life circumstances can change, and pregnancy after a tummy tuck is certainly not impossible.

Regarding the timing, there's no fixed period to wait after the surgery before planning another baby, but allowing your body to fully heal is crucial. This typically means waiting at least a year, ensuring your body has recovered from the surgery and is ready to handle the physical demands of a pregnancy.

If you're considering another pregnancy in the future, discuss this with your surgeon during the consultation. They can tailor the procedure with this possibility in mind, offering the best advice for your specific situation. Remember, your health and safety, as well as maintaining the results of the surgery, are important factors to consider in your decision.

Yes you can have a baby after a tummy tuck operation. But you must keep in mind that there will be effects of pregnancy which will not go back completely. After pregnancy there can be stretch marks, some loose skin and separation of the rectus muscles which might not go back again. So there are chances that you might need revision procedures after the effects of pregnancy have worn off. It is always advisable to complete your family before undertaking abdominoplasty procedure.

Yes, you may be able to get pregnant after an abdominoplasty, however I do not recommend it for my patients. The abdomen will not be able to expand as usual during pregnancy, and the stitches may tear. The best option is to wait until after pregnancy to have a tummy tuck. Please discuss this with your surgeon before having a tummy tuck!

Yes, you may have a baby following abdominoplasty but you may want to consider some of the following. 
Pregnancy can cause weight gain and excessive stretching of the abdominal muscle which can affect your results.  It is impossible to predict how much your baby will grow and stretch your muscles and skin out and then to what degree your skin will retract following your pregnancy.  But if you do get pregnant following a tummy tuck, you may end up with loose skin and/or stretched muscles.
You may risk rectus muscle separation (rectus diastasis) which can occur during pregnancy which may then require repair following your pregnancy
Pregnancy has a dramatic effect on your abdomen so even if you were to lose all your weight gained it is highly likely you will have altered your results you achieved prior to your pregnancy following your surgery

For these reasons, we advise its best to wait until you are finished having children.

Thank you for your question! Babies after tummy tucks are just fine! It is recommended to speak to your double board certified plastic surgeon so they can help address your questions and concerns and decide what the best possible procedure is for you. Best of luck,Dr. Dhaval M. Patel, M.D., FACS
Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Chicago, IL
Hoffman Estates, IL
Oakbrook, IL
Orland Park, IL