Will Pregnancy Undo a Tummy Tuck?

You may be pondering the question – will pregnancy undo a tummy tuck? The short and simple answer is yes. This is why plastic surgeons advise women to wait until they’re done having children before getting a tummy tuck.

Still, some women who have had the procedure experience a pregnancy after the fact. It’s okay though.

Even though pregnancy reverses much of what a tummy tuck accomplishes, there are possible solutions.

What Does a Tummy Tuck Address?

After pregnancy, many women experience loose skin that shrinks up in the first six months. Yet, this isn’t the case for some women and they will seek out a tummy tuck to remove it.

In addition, many women experience diastasis recti. This is when the fascia between the rectus abdominis (two strips of muscle on the front of your abdomen) is overstretched and doesn’t return to its pre-pregnancy state. This widened space between the muscles causes the belly to look six months pregnant even after the baby is born.

A tummy tuck helps to flatten the stomach and tighten the muscles in both of these situations. It is not effective, however, for visceral fat which accumulates behind the organs.

How Does Pregnancy Undo a Tummy Tuck?

First of all, having a tummy tuck is not going to negatively impact a pregnancy. The previous muscle repair and skin removal don’t affect fertility. But women who have a baby after a tummy tuck often find that the pregnancy doesn’t show as early because the tightened abdominals take time to stretch. They will though.

And so will the skin.

There’s no real way of knowing how much the skin and muscles will stretch out and then retract after pregnancy. But new stretch marks, loose skin, and stretched muscles are definitely on the table.

Then there’s the issue of weight gain. Many women put on additional weight during their pregnancy. They may be more sedentary and inclined to eat more. And that’s pretty normal. But the extra pounds will add to skin and muscle stretching.

So Can (and Should) You Get a Second Tummy Tuck or Revision?

Fortunately, there is the possibility of a second tummy tuck or revision surgery. Though surgeons are emphatic that there be no more pregnancies or lifestyle changes after a second procedure.

Plus, even though many women feel they’ve recovered from their pregnancy a few months postpartum, it takes the body about six months to recover fully after pregnancy. The skin and abdominal muscles are still shrinking.

Because of this, surgeons will also not rush to offer a second surgery until a bare minimum of six months after delivery. In many cases, it will be longer. This is because the procedure will render optimal results when the patient has been at their ideal weight (with a BMI around 30 or less) for at least six months.

To Tuck or Not to Tuck…

Did your pregnancy undo a tummy tuck? You’re far from alone. And there’s absolutely no shame in it.

So if you’re curious about whether a second tummy tuck or a revision is in your best interest, contact us today.

During your free consultation, our surgeon will give you an honest and comprehensive evaluation of your situation and point you in the right direction.