Getting A Tummy Tuck After Pregnancy

If you’re a busy mom, you likely put others’ needs before your own. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look and feel great about yourself, and a tummy tuck can be a great way to restore your pre-baby body. If you are thinking about scheduling this procedure, it is important to understand how a tummy tuck can help you reach your cosmetic goals.

How can pregnancy affect your body?

Pregnancy often causes major changes in your body. Gaining a few pounds during those 9 months is just the beginning. For most women, pregnancy creates a full body transformation. Following are some of the common changes women see during and after their pregnancy:

Tummy: This is the most obvious change. Most women gain 25 to 30 pounds during pregnancy. A lot of that weight goes to the belly. And frequently, once the baby is born, women are left with stretched-out or sagging skin in the lower abdomen.

Hair: Many women notice changes in their hair texture during pregnancy. The influx of hormones can cause your hair to grow faster and fall out less. Usually, these changes aren’t permanent, and many women begin to lose a noticeable amount of hair after they are finished breastfeeding and their hormones levels reset.

Breasts: During pregnancy, breasts often go up a few cup sizes to account for the milk production. For some women, these changes do not affect the breasts in the long run. For others, the breasts lose volume and droop after breastfeeding.

Skin: Women sometimes experience brown patches on the face during pregnancy. Additionally, many women experience breakouts during their first and second trimesters. These skin issues are due to hormonal changes.

Bladder: After pregnancy, many women develop stress urinary incontinence (SUI). A weak bladder can cause women to leak when they sneeze, cough, exercise, or laugh. This can be a daily occurrence that is uncomfortable and embarrassing.

Ease your worries by using super-absorbent adult diapers. These products are made to help you carry on with your daily routine, including exercise and travel, with confidence and freedom of movement. With your bladder one less thing to worry about, you can aim for uninterrupted sleep.

What are the benefits of a tummy tuck?

Though a tummy tuck cannot reverse all of your body’s changes, it can be a big step toward getting back your pre-baby body. Some of the benefits a tummy tuck offers include:

Tightened muscles: When you have children, the core abdominal muscles can become weak, and, in more severe cases, actually separate, a condition called diastasis recti. When your core muscles are weak, your other muscles must compensate, which can lead to back pain. This is because strong core muscles stabilize your pelvis and spine and keep them in a neutral position, which is important for comfort. During a tummy tuck procedure, a surgeon can tighten the underlying muscles, which helps to strengthen your core, improve your posture, and reduce back pain.

Remove excess skin: A tummy tuck is a good option for women who are concerned about excess skin in their midsection and who lack sufficient skin elasticity. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Arthur Cambeiro explains that during tummy tuck procedures at his Las Vegas plastic surgery center, he first removes a large amount of lower abdominal skin and fat and then re-drapes the upper skin over the entire abdomen to provide beautiful, natural-looking results.

Address urinary incontinence: A tummy tuck can also help women who suffer from SUI. During the procedure, your surgeon can make a slight obstruction to cause tension and pressure from the bladder to the urethra, which helps to prevent leakage. Many women report they’ve regained complete bladder control post-abdominoplasty.

Correct ventral hernias: A ventral hernia is a bulge of tissues that protrudes through an opening in your ab muscles—women who have had children are more prone to this condition. This type of hernia can cause discomfort and complications with other organs. Women are often pleased to hear that a tummy tuck procedure and hernia repair can be addressed in the same surgery. Additionally, the newly tightened abdominal muscles reduce the chance that another hernia will develop.

When is the right time to get a tummy tuck?

It is understandable to be eager to schedule your tummy tuck soon after giving birth. However, getting one right away is not usually recommended because of fluctuating hormones and an increased risk of bleeding. It is also important to wait until after you are done breastfeeding to have this procedure. Even if women do not breastfeed, most surgeons recommend waiting around 3 months after childbirth before it is safe to perform the procedure. Typically, plastic surgeons also recommend postponing a tummy tuck until you are done having children. Though it is possible and safe to have children after the surgery, the effects of pregnancy will most likely compromise your tummy tuck results.

If you are interested in tummy tuck surgery, contact your local board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.