Month: August 2016

CAN I GET PREGNANT AFTER TUMMY TUCK SURGERY?

Many women are unsure if they have to wait until they are done having children before opting for a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). They read everywhere that having a pregnancy after a tummy tuck will cause harm to the mother and the unborn child.

But as we all know, not all pregnancies are planned and it is possible that people simply change their minds about wanting more kids. Therefore it is important to know that pregnancy after tummy tuck is definitely safe for both mother and baby.

WILL THE PREGNANCY HAVE COMPLICATIONS?

First of all, all pregnancies have the potential for some degree of complications. Your gynecologist is the best person to advise you on any concerns you may have regarding pregnancy complications.

With regards to complications due to a prior tummy tuck surgery, do not be worried as most cases are safe and are not a cause for concern; most mothers carry their baby healthily to full term.

Even after a tummy tuck, your abdominal wall and tissue will still stretch as per normal to accommodate the new baby. Some mothers notice that their bellies do not stretch out as much, or they do not look as pregnant as their previous pregnancy. This is completely safe and is harmless to the growing child.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY TUMMY TUCK?

Most of my patients who became pregnant after their tummy tuck continue to love the results of their surgery even after their baby’s birth. In fact, most of them notice that they look better post-pregnancy with their tummy tuck then during their first post-pregnancy prior to their tummy tuck.

As a general guideline, women may not need a tummy tuck revision if their tummies do not stretch out too much, while others may need a revision if their skin and abdominal muscles stretch out a lot during pregnancy (such as in the case of twin pregnancy). Some women may find it helpful to control their weight gain during pregnancy, but ultimately, the baby’s and mother’s health should be the top priority.

As each body responds differently to pregnancy, it is important to consult your plastic surgeon and your gynecologist as soon as you find out you are expecting.

WHAT IF I NEED A C-SECTION AFTER MY TUMMY TUCK?

The main concern involving having a cesarean section after a tummy tuck is about the scar tissue. However, be rest assured that having a c-section after a tummy tuck isn’t much different from having a repeat c-section. Your gynecologist will still be working with a scar from the previous procedure, be it from a previous c-section or from a tummy tuck surgery. But in any case, you should still inform your gynecologist that you have already had a tummy tuck surgery as sometimes the scar isn’t too obvious.

One downside is that sometimes, your gynecologist might not be able to close your new c-section incision with the skill of a plastic surgeon and that might affect the appearance of the scar.

Sometimes, I get requests from patients to have a revision tummy tuck in conjunction with their C-section, and the answer is actually NO—it simply isn’t the right time. If you are interested in this topic, I’ve written a blog post about this issue. Read more here: www.bit.ly/dsdf7dbfo

HOW LONG SHOULD I WAIT TO GET PREGNANT AFTER A TUMMY TUCK?

Even though being pregnant after a tummy tuck is completely safe, I would still encourage you to wait until you are not planning any more pregnancies before considering a tummy tuck. It makes more sense this way due to the possible expense and need for a revision surgery following the pregnancy.

That said, there are some exceptions when there is a large gap between pregnancies, such as having their first child in the late teens and not planning any more until the late twenties or thirties. It is important that my patients feel confident and happy with their bodies, so it is understandable that they may wish to consider a tummy tuck even with more planned pregnancies in the future.

However, different plastic surgeons have different opinions about this matter; some believe that a pregnancy can be planned about 5/6 months following a tummy tuck surgery, while others feel that it is not worth running a risk for short-term results and should wait at least 5/6 years. In any case, the final decision should be made taking into account your individual life story.

In most scenarios, you should still find comfort in knowing that no matter how long the duration is between your tummy tuck and your pregnancy, you should still expect to make a full recovery without complications. If you have any concerns, speak to both your plastic surgeon and your gynecologist to ensure that your best interests are kept in mind.

 

Disclaimer: The information contained in this post is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your plastic surgeon or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment. Always speak to your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a procedure.

IS IT TRUE THAT YOU CAN HAVE A TUMMY TUCK IN CONJUNCTION WITH A C-SECTION?

The allure of emerging from the hospital with a baby and a flat stomach is definitely tantalizing, especially with the media constantly showing images of celebrities that look no different before and after pregnancy. Many women turn to exercising and dieting immediately after pregnancy, while others who undergo a cesarean section (C-section) may turn to a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) to restore the look of their abdominal area.

While a tummy tuck can take care of many post-pregnancy issues at the same time, the immediate period after having a C-section or a vaginal delivery is NOT a good time for the surgery.

I often encourage my patients to wait at least 6 months after childbirth before considering a tummy tuck.

Healing from a C-section before a tummy tuck cannot be rushed if you want to have the best outcome from the surgery. And if you are planning more pregnancies, I suggest letting the tummy tuck wait; there are lots more Mummy Makeover procedures that can be done if future pregnancies are in the picture. (Find out more about the different Mummy Makeover procedures.)

BENEFITS OF POST-PREGNANCY TUMMY TUCKS

For the average healthy woman who has completely healed from her pregnancy and C-section, a tummy tuck offers multiple benefits:

• Restore the pre-pregnancy figure (or even improve upon it)
• Remove redundant abdominal skin
• Remove abdominal stretch marks
• Remove abdominal fat through liposuction
• Contour the waistline
• Repair separated abdominal muscles (rectus diastasis)
• Treat umbilical hernia
• Improve posture through well-supported core
• Tone and contour the tummy and waist areas
• Replace the C-section scar with a bikini-line scar that can be easily hidden
• Tighten the entire abdomen with a scar that is slightly longer than a C-section scar
• Improve the appearance of the belly button (‘outtie’ to ‘innie’)
• Provide a certain degree of lifting and rejuvenation in the pubis and thigh areas
• Improve self-confidence with a better figure and a thinner waistline

 

SO, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

The point of having a tummy tuck is to look the best afterwards, and in order for that to happen, the mummies should already be healthy and stable before the tummy tuck.

Having a tummy tuck right after or in conjunction with a C-section or vaginal birth is both impractical and risky. That is because the body is still recuperating from the strain of pregnancy immediately after childbirth; it takes time for the abdominal muscles and uterus to shrink naturally, which may not happen until after breastfeeding is completed.

Other bodily characteristics and processes such as hormone levels, blood volume and body weight are also still readjusting for at least a few months after childbirth. To have the best results from a tummy tuck, all of the above should be stable before and after the plastic surgery procedure.

MY ADVICE FOR YOU: DON’T RUSH YOUR TUMMY TUCK

I always encourage my patients to take the time during the recovery from the stresses of childbirth to enjoy and spend time with their baby. It is far more important to spend quality time with their baby and bond emotionally.

Here at my practice, I will want an optimal recovery experience for the best outcome. Safety always comes first for my patients and I want to advise my patients in the best way possible.

After the first 3-4 months of motherly responsibilities (also the time when your baby needs you most), come in fresh both physically and emotionally. When both mother and baby are stable and well, and all support is in order, I will welcome and even encourage mums to come for a consultation. When mums focus on self-care, have the right mindset about plastic surgery, and the right expectations before the procedures, they experience the most satisfaction from the final outcome!

 

Disclaimer: The information contained in this post is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your plastic surgeon or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment. Always speak to your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a procedure.

No doubt, being a mother is extremely rewarding and satisfying. But pregnancy and breastfeeding do bring about several changes to a mother’s body, such as droopy, deflated breasts and loose, sagging bellies. That’s why some consider having a Mummy Makeover to restore their figure, but they often wonder when the best time is to get one.

WHAT IS A MUMMY MAKEOVER?

A Mummy Makeover is a combination of body sculpting procedures designed to revitalize a mother’s body. In some cases, it enhances the figure to an even better physique than they have always struggled to achieve. The combination of treatments generally consists of tightening the abdomen with an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and restoring the youthful perk of the breasts with a breast lift and breast augmentation to achieve a fuller and firmer breast shape.

There are many more treatment procedures for a Mummy Makeover. Click here to find out.

While there are many guidelines available to help mothers determine their ideal timing for a Mummy Makeover, I will always urge mothers to wait at least 4 to 6 months after giving birth. It is to encourage mummies to spend the needed quality time with their newborn, as well as to give both mum and baby enough time to bond, recover, and stabilize. If after the recovery period, they still are unhappy with their body, and exercise and diet aren’t helping, a Mummy Makeover can help rejuvenate their bodies.

There are still some simple guidelines to help mummies understand the rationale behind specific timings for a Mummy Makeover:

1. BODY WEIGHT

One of the most important factors to consider before having a Mummy Makeover is stabilizing the mother’s body weight. As plastic surgery is not a weight-loss procedure, mummies should wait until they have reached their ideal weight before having a Mummy Makeover (usually about 4-6 months). A healthy diet and an exercise routine is the best solution to initiate weight loss. After achieving their ideal weight, mummies should ensure their weight goal is stabilized. It’s an indication of recovery from the stresses of pregnancy and childbirth.

While exercise and dieting will help with weight loss, a mother’s body will be bound to carry a few excess areas of loose skin and post-pregnancy weight. That is when I will step in with abdominoplasty and/or liposuction to restore the pre-pregnancy body. If there is a presence of diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles), I can also fix that during the abdominoplasty procedure.

**INSURANCE COVERAGE
The cost incurred from the treatment of diastasis recti may be eligible for insurance claims. Insurance criteria for approval for surgery vary from insurance company to insurance company. Contact your insurance company for specific details, criteria, and eligibility requirements for insurance claims.

2. BREASTFEEDING

The next factor to consider before a Mummy Makeover is to wait until the cessation of breastfeeding for at least 6 months. This is particularly important for breast procedures such as breast augmentation with implants or with fat grafting and breast lift.

As the breasts undergo significant changes with pregnancy and breastfeeding, resulting in breast enlargement, waiting until the mother has finished breastfeeding will allow the breasts to stabilize in shape and size. This makes a much more accurate assessment during the consultation.

After plastic surgery on the breast, the mother will still be able to breastfeed if she has more children in the future. The ability to breastfeed depends on the type of incision used during the surgery. Hence, I urge patients to discuss their wish to breastfeed with their plastic surgeons before the procedure. Note that additional pregnancies may further change the breast surgery results and reduce their fullness. 

3. FUTURE PREGNANCIES

Most of the procedures in the Mummy Makeover, except for abdominoplasty, can be done even with future pregnancies planned. Liposuction, breast procedures, facial rejuvenation, and even vaginal rejuvenation are great to help maintain mummies’ figures, even after giving birth later on. Such procedures do not have many restrictions and have proven to boost self-confidence.

On the other hand, I will encourage mothers considering abdominoplasty to wait until they are done with having children. The main reason is to ensure that the mother’s physique does not change with future pregnancies so that the results of the Mummy Makeover are permanent. As an abdominoplasty involves removing excess, loose, and stretched-out abdominal skin and fat in the belly, being pregnant again (especially with twins) might partially affect the results, although to a smaller extent.

That said, even if a woman does get pregnant after the abdominoplasty procedure, it will not affect the pregnancy process and the breastfeeding process.

Additionally, a woman should also wait until they have childcare and support available before proceeding with a Mummy Makeover, as the recovery does take a while. It is not the right time as it will be inconvenient for these mums if they have to take care of the baby with some restrictions.

If you are a mother who meets all of the above criteria and is interested in having a Mummy Makeover, I can assure you that it will be one of the most rewarding surgeries you will ever do. My patients emerge more confident and with better self-esteem. Their overall happiness soars!

To learn more about Mummy Makeovers, do contact us at:
Dr Marco Faria-Correa Plastic Surgery
Tel: +65 64648075
E-mail: enquiry@drmarco.com
Web: www.drmarco.com

 

Disclaimer: The information contained in this post is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your plastic surgeon or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment. Always speak to your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a procedure.