Operations like Tummy Tucks involve accurate lifting of large areas of skin and fat OFF the underlying muscles, tightening those loose muscles, removing the loose skin/fat and re-positioning everything together for optimal healing. Every such surgery then heals with a sheet of scar tissue which glues everything together.
When surgeons have to operate through scar tissue, it handles differently, landmarks are essentially obscured causing the operation to be longer and more tedious.
Given the choice, few surgeons enjoy operating on such cases. As much as you hate your present appearance you need to carefully weigh what is most important to you.
If you want to enjoy the present – have your tummy tuck now but be aware that repairing it again after your pregnancy(ies) would be more challenging and expensive. If you are more practical, then wait until you are done having children. (Peter A. Aldea, MD, Memphis Plastic Surgeon)
It is not recommended to perform a tummy tuck if you think you are going ot have more children. It is not so much the muscle tightening, because patients that have had breast reconstruction using one or both muscles and closing the muscle fascia have gone on to have normal pregnancies.
The problem is that the muscles will stretch out again, and the skin will probably get loose again. If it is just loose skin below the belly button, then a small skin excision at the lower abdominal region may be all that you need. Unfortunately, stretch marks confined to the area of excision are the only ones that would be removed. If you have loose skin above your belly button, then you probably do need a full tummy tuck, and I would put it off if you are contemplating have more kids. (Steven Wallach, MD, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy Tuck and further pregnancies
If you plan to have children in 5 years, GO AHEAD AND ENJOY THE RESULTS OF THE TUMMY TUCK NOW. So go with the surgery; after your pregnancies, re-evaluate and make another decision. Meanwhile, enjoy the NEW YOU. (Samir Shureih, MD, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon)
Children after a tummy tuck
A tummy tuck does not preclude you from having more children, but the best advice is to only do the procedure after completing having children. Normally, the stretch marks that result from having a baby are confined to the lower abdomen. I consider it a gift that we can get rid of all that skin and use upper abdominal skin to resurface the abdomen. The problem with repeat tummy tucks is that this skin that had been stretched to cover the whole abdomen is now thinner than the skin you had before the first tummy tuck. If you have children after a tummy tuck, you will likely have worse stretch marks (this pre-stretched skin is less compliant) over a larger portion of your abdomen.
If a repeat tummy tuck is attempted, your surgeon will not be able to remove the same quantity of skin and you will not have a very good result. You will have more residual stretch marks, and will likely be left with an inverted “T” scar from the old belly button. I agree that 5 years is a long time to have an abdomen you don’t like, but remember that the second tummy tuck will not be as good as the first, an you will likely live till 80. Make a wise long-term decision. (Michael A. Bogdan, MD, FACS)
Tummy tuck if having more kids?
Yes tummy tucks are wonderful. Yes, a flat belly is wonderful. But so are kids. Don’t have two tummy tucks. Have your children, then get your tummy tuck. You can have children after a tummy tuck, but you run the risk of having to redo the procedure. (Jack Gelman, MD, Frankfort Plastic Surgeon)
Yes, one may have more children AND a tummy tuck!
In fact, I’m occassionally called to do a tummy tuck at the same time as a planned C-section. In general, however planning for children and planning for tummy tucks ought be made in logical continuity based on priorities. For example, if one is in the active stages of trying to become pregnant, it wouldn’t make sense (both from a cosmetic and anesthesia risk) to have a surgical procedure first.
Conversely, (unless at time of C-section) usually a tummy tuck ought be planned 6-12 months after birth to allow for physiologic changes to occur. Having one tummy tuck does not preclude a future tummy tuck (or a mini tummy tuck) after childbirth, and sometimes liposuction by itself (or as a first stage before tummy tuck) may also be considered. (Fredric M. Barr, MD, West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon)