Should I Get a Tummy Tuck After Pregnancy?

Pregnancy and childbirth can have a dramatic impact on a woman's body. The weight gain and stretching of the abdomen during pregnancy is followed by weight loss over time as the body returns to normal. As a result, the lower abdominal region tends to be stretched out a fair amount. Mothers may notice loose skin and stretchmarks around their lower abdomen.

While exercise and a health diet can help address these matters to a certain degree, only surgery can eliminate these stretchmarks and the drooping skin. That's why many mothers come to our Fairfield plastic surgery center seeking treatment. In these cases, a tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) can be quite helpful. Let's explain why.

About Tummy Tuck Surgery (Abdominoplasty)

A tummy tuck is a body contouring surgery for the abdominal region. During surgery, an incisions are made along the lower abdomen and around the belly button. Through these incisions, a plastic surgeon can adjust the underlying structures of the abdominal area, remove excess fat, excise the excess skin, and pull the remaining skin of the abdomen tighter. The result is a flat, smoother stomach free from stretchmarks and sagging.

Ideal Candidates for Tummy Tuck Surgery

Good candidates for tummy tuck surgery after pregnancy are women who are in good overall health. They should not suffer from conditions that would make this body contouring procedure a risk to wellness. They should also have a good understanding of all the risks and benefits that are involved with the surgery.

Timing for Your Post-Pregnancy Tummy Tuck

Timing is everything when it comes to surgery. For a post-pregnancy tummy, the procedure should only be performed after a woman has finished having children and after they have finished nursing any newborns and infants. This is done for practical reasons.

• For one, getting pregnant after a tummy tuck is performed will ruin the results of the surgery, requiring some amount of surgical revision to address the new stretching and sagging.

• Additionally, waiting a bit can allow the body to lose weight and adjust following a pregnancy, meaning that a surgeon can avoid performing a surgery too early.

• Finally, women should finish nursing their children so that surgical recovery does not impact the well-being of a baby or affect a patient's ability to be a present and attentive parent.

Consider a Full Mommy Makeover

The stomach isn't the only part of the body affected by pregnancy and childbirth. The thighs, buttocks, arms, breasts, and face can also be affected by childbirth. In order to address these various issues, it's a good idea to undergo a full mommy makeover. This combination of procedures will address the many body contouring issues that women face as a part of motherhood. These can be discussed in greater detail as part of the consultation process.

Learn More About Tummy Tuck Surgery

For more information about tummy tuck surgery and the many ways that you can experience an enhanced body contour after the procedure is completed, be sure to contact an experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon today. We look forward to your visit and discussing these matters in much greater detail.