How Long Do You Have to Wait to Have a Tummy Tuck After Pregnancy?

Most women are eager to regain their pre-pregnancy figure quickly after giving birth. Once delivery day arrives and baby is safely welcomed to the world, women often consider following a strict diet and exercise program to lose the excess weight gained during pregnancy. For many women whose abdominal skin is left stretched and sagging after pregnancy and dieting, having a tummy tuck performed by a plastic surgeon may be the only way to receive the desired results.

Function

• An abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, is the surgical procedure of removing excess fat and skin found on the abdominal region. In most cases, a tummy tuck also helps restore weakened or separated muscles and create a sleeker, smoother and firmer abdominal profile. Because the abdominal muscles can separate during pregnancy due to the growth of the baby, a woman may choose to undergo a tummy tuck after pregnancy to regain abdominal strength and definition.

Time Frame

• While the recommended time frame for a postnatal woman to have a tummy tuck is anywhere from three months to one year after giving birth, it is more important for the woman to be at her pre-pregnancy or ideal weight and done with child bearing completely before having an abdominoplasty. If a significant amount of weight is lost after having an abdominoplasty, the visual results of the surgery may change. In addition, women who are nursing should not have a tummy tuck since the circulating hormones will continue to stretch out the skin.

Considerations

• After having an abdominoplasty, the results may be distorted initially due to swelling and the patient's inability to stand completely upright until internal tissues have healed. Within approximately two weeks, the internal tissues will be healed enough to stand tall. At that time, the results will be more accurate. In approximately three months when recovery is complete, the patient should see a flatter, firmer abdominal contour that is more proportionate to her body type.

Misconceptions

• Women who give birth by Cesarean section sometimes believe a tummy tuck could be performed after they give birth since an incision has already been made in the lower abdomen to remove the baby. Abdominoplasty in conjunction with a Cesarean section is not recommended and should not be attempted. Performing a tummy tuck immediately following a Cesarean section will put a new mother at undue risk during the stressful and demanding time of caring for a newborn after delivery.

Warning

• Women should consult their primary care physician or potential plastic surgeon to discuss possible risks associated with an abdominoplasty after pregnancy. Risks vary depending on the individual, but they can include scarring, excessive bleeding, blood clots, fluid collection under the skin, infection, numbness, skin discoloration, recurrent looseness of skin, asymmetry, persistent pain, swelling in the legs, adverse reaction to anesthesia, nerve damage, and cardiac and pulmonary complications.