Childbirth often comes with a great feeling of empowerment and satisfaction for new mothers. Their body has nurtured a child for nine months and has triumphantly overcome the painful process of giving birth. It is quite an accomplishment. However, most women would agree that the positive feelings that come with giving birth are also met with negative feelings about their new post-pregnancy body. Although the baby is now the primary focus, many wonder if something can quickly be done to remove the excess skin and stretch marks that result from pregnancy.
The answer to that question is yes, a tummy tuck (“abdominoplasty”) MAY be undergone immediately following childbirth, but this is not advised. A tummy tuck can remove the excess skin that was stretched, along with some of the fat that accumulated in the midsection. Stretch marks can sometimes be removed in the process, and separated abdominal muscles may be brought back together. However, more satisfying tummy tuck results can be achieved if the mother waits at least six months to go through with the procedure. After childbirth, the uterus is still enlarged, and most women carry some extra weight from the pregnancy. These two factors can inhibit the best possible results from tummy tuck surgery.
If a woman went ahead with the tummy tuck procedure immediately after childbirth, she would almost certainly have some recurrence of loose tissues (skin and abdominal muscles) due to any weight loss and shrinking of the uterus. If this does occur, a revision tummy tuck performed later on may not provide the best results when compared to an abdominoplasty performed after the patient’s body has returned to a more stable state after pregnancy. Most surgeons advise waiting at least six months to a year after childbirth to get the best results with a tummy tuck. It is also best to be finished having children before considering the procedure, as a subsequent pregnancy will negatively affect the abdominoplasty results.
If you are interested in the tummy tuck procedure in New York City, please contact Dr. Beran by calling (212) 792-7938 or filling out our contact form today.