Should I Wait Until After Having Children to Get a Tummy Tuck?

Abdominoplasty offers transformational results for patients experiencing excess skin, loose abdominal muscles, and stubborn pockets of fat, yet these results can be reversed by pregnancy. This blog discusses why it is recommended that patients wait until they are done having children to undergo a tummy tuck.

When Is the Best Time to Get a Tummy Tuck?

Tummy tucks are transformational procedures that provide some of the most significant benefits of any body contouring procedure. By reducing excess skin and pockets of fat and surgically tightening the abdominal wall, patients receive tummy-flattening results otherwise impossible to achieve with diet and exercise alone.

Because tummy tuck surgery provides such substantial results, many patients are ready to undergo it as soon as they have some excess midsection weight. While it is always the patient’s choice whether to undergo surgery, most surgeons will advise patients to wait for two specific reasons:

First, the patient should be as close to their goal weight as possible. This is because a tummy tuck, despite its impactful nature, is not a weight loss solution. In fact, abdominoplasty results are much more successful on a patient who has already lost weight, as a common side-effect of weight loss is excess skin. Working hard to lose weight is usually step one, and then a tummy tuck eliminates excess skin and tightens the abdominal wall to refine the results. The most ideal case would allow the patient to then continue with a healthy lifestyle, working out their core and bringing results to another level.

The second reason is to wait until after you are done having children. Pregnancy, in addition to obesity, is one of the most coammon causes of a stretched abdominal wall (diastasis recti), stretched skin, and stubborn pockets of fat. Because of the changes that pregnancy makes to the midsection, tummy tucks and mini tummy tucks are some of the most popular procedures for women who have had children and are commonly included in a Mommy Makeover.

Why Waiting Until After Pregnancy Is Recommended

Your aesthetic surgeon wants what’s best for you, including providing you with long-lasting, satisfying results. If you’re planning to get pregnant, it’s almost always advisable to wait for your tummy tuck until you’re done having children. A tummy tuck can remedy the primary issues that pregnancy can create, meaning you’ll have better, more satisfying results.

Of course, we know that life happens and plans can change, so we’ll discuss what happens if you get pregnant after your tummy tuck.

Will a New Pregnancy Affect My Tummy Tuck Results?

In short, yes, it’s entirely likely that your new pregnancy will affect your previous tummy tuck results. A tummy tuck removes excess skin and surgically tightens your abdominal muscles. When you become pregnant, the skin of the abdomen and the abdominal wall becomes stretched to accommodate the baby.

If the skin and abdominal muscles do not stretch back into place, you may be left with the same concerns you had before your initial tummy tuck, resulting in the need for a secondary procedure. However secondary surgery is usually a much smaller, less extensive operation than the original tummy tuck.

Unlike managing your weight with diet and exercise, pregnancy leaves little room for preventing the same problems as before. This is why your aesthetic surgeon will likely recommend that you wait for your procedure until you are confident you won’t be having any more pregnancies.

The upside? Waiting for your tummy tuck increases your chances of having and maintaining the stunning figure you want!

Interested in a Tummy Tuck in Southern California?

If you are interested in a tummy tuck and want to discuss your options with a knowledgeable expert, call AesthetiCare Cosmetic Surgery Institute today at (949) 661-1700 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation at any of our Southern California locations.