When To Schedule A Tummy Tuck After Pregnancy

You can still flatten your tummy after pregnancy through exercising and surgery known as Tummy Tuck. 

Contrary to popular belief, tummy tuck results can last for years – given that the patient lives a healthy lifestyle and maintain their weight. 

Surgeons always recommend going for a tummy tuck if you’re no longer planning to be pregnant again. This is recommended so that you can avoid any chance of complicating your pregnancy.  

So, if your family is complete, and you don’t plan to get pregnant ever again, don’t hesitate to give us a call so that we schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified surgeons.

In the meantime, let’s talk about when you should schedule a tummy tuck surgery after pregnancy. 

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Tummy Tuck Defined

Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that aims to make the abdomen thinner, flat, and more firm. To achieve this, a patient’s unwanted skin or fat from the abdomen is trimmed. 

It’s an intricate surgery that should only be performed by expert hands. Possible risks of surgery can include death – this is why we always recommend that you make sure that your surgeon is experienced.  

Having said that, so, how do you know if you’re an ideal candidate for this surgery even after pregnancy? 

Well, every tummy tuck patient is unique in their way. This is why the procedure is customized to the desires of the patient. To be regarded as an ideal tummy tuck candidate, you have to:

• Be physically healthy and at a stable weight
• Have realistic expectations
• Be a nonsmoker
• Be bothered by the appearance of your abdomen

It’s important to note that there are several tummy tuck techniques: 

• Standard or full tummy tuck
• Extended tummy tuck 
• Mini tummy tuck 
• Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck

So, how do you know which technique is right for you? 

That’s a good question! Factors that determine the ideal tummy tuck surgery include your underlying anatomies, clothing preference, location, as well as the amount of redundant skin. 

What are the benefits of tummy tuck after pregnancy? 

The most common benefits of a tummy tuck surgery are aesthetics and improvement of one’s self-image. But according to recent research, there’s more to the benefits of tummy tuck other than the two mentioned above. 

A tummy tuck is a reliable solution for patients who have chronic pain and urinary incontinence. Considering that 5% to 21% of women have chronic back pain for more than 24 months after childbirth, this surgery can help solve this problem. 

After pregnancy, there’s an abdominal muscle separation and weakness, and the lower back is left unstable and unsupported, but a tummy tuck tightens the core which reduces the pain.  

When to schedule a tummy tuck after pregnancy? 

As mentioned earlier, the best time to have a tummy tuck is when a mom has decided not to get pregnant again. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t have a tummy tuck during your childbearing years, you can. 

It takes about six weeks for the uterus to go back to its normal size after delivery, and this is one of the reasons why surgeons prefer performing the procedure. Surgeons can also accurately determining how much tightening is needed once the woman’s body has returned to its normal weight – and this process usually takes between six and twelve months.  

You have more chances of getting desired and long-lasting results if your body is at its original weight. 

Even after a mother has decided not to have children again, it’s best to schedule a tummy tuck surgery six months after the breastfeeding phase. This is because the meds used after one has gone through the abdominoplasty can be passed to the child through breastfeeding and can harm the infant. 

Suppose you prefer to go for a tummy tuck immediately after delivery, be prepared to have a lengthy recovery period. 

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This content is edited by Flymedi Medical Editors in August 2023.