Two questions that are frequently asked by women interested in tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) include: “Can I get a tummy tuck before having children?” and “Will my health or my child’s health be at risk if I become pregnant after a tummy tuck?” My response to these inquiries ultimately depends on the unique individual, but the following information can generally apply to most women seeking abdominoplasty.
From a health perspective, receiving a tummy tuck prior to having children is typically fine for the majority of patients. However, for aesthetic purposes, I usually advise females to hold off on abdominoplasty until after they are done having kids, especially if they plan to have children in the near future. When women who have previously undergone a tummy tuck become pregnant, the skin and muscle tissues of their abdomen often restretch to accomodate the developing baby, frequently compromising the results of their former procedure. For many patients, this creates the need and/or desire for a revisional procedure to help regain the more toned and slimmer abdominal shape attained with their initial abdominoplasty.
Regarding any wellness issues related to post-tummy tuck pregnancy, the majority of women do not need to be concerned. Aside from the cosmetic changes noted above, becoming pregnant after abdominoplasty should not pose any threat to a woman’s health or the health of her baby. For those who do become pregnant, however, it is important to reiterate that another tummy tuck or mini abdominoplasty may be needed to restore the outcome of the original surgery, if desired.
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