How Will a Tummy Tuck Help After Kids?
Posted October 25, 2022 in Abdominoplasty / Tummy tucks
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Becoming a mother is one of life’s greatest joys; the damage the childbearing process does to your body is not.
Pregnancy and childbirth wreak havoc on the midsection, particularly the lower abdomen. The skin stretches (and, unfairly, does not always contract), pockets of fat develop in areas you didn’t even know they could, stretch marks appear left and right, and, for some, a Cesarean section scar runs haphazardly across the abdomen — all proof that your body has been through mommy trauma.
There is little doubt that the reward and endless joy of having children far outweighs the toll it takes on your body; however, that doesn’t mean that you can’t miss and yearn for the figure you used to have.
That is a very human emotion. And just because the title of “mother” may come first, there is absolutely no reason why you don’t deserve to let your body — and your confidence — shine.
Plastic Surgery After Pregnancy: What Can You Expect?
Most women have baby weight to lose after pregnancy. And, for most, part of this weight does go away naturally. However, some pockets of fat resist any amount of diet and exercise. Besides that, no amount of healthy living can fix stretched skin or separated abdominal muscles.
To accomplish that, you need to think outside the box. Namely, you need to consider surgery.
Plastic surgery is the top way to combat midsection laxity after pregnancy.
Pregnancy and Tummy Tuck: What Can This Top Plastic Surgery Procedure Fix?
A tummy tuck focuses on three primary aspects: the skin, excess fat, and abdominal muscles.
During pregnancy, your uterus expands. This stretches the skin and commonly causes the two halves of the abdominal muscle to separate (a condition known as diastasis recti). To top this, your body stores fat differently since you need the fuel from it for your baby.
This means that there could be a lot to correct following childbirth.
Abdominal Muscle Separation
While tummy tuck surgery is often touted as the ultimate way to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen, it is not always described as the top way to tighten ab muscles, which is something that many mothers need.
Pregnancy often causes some degree of diastasis recti (abdominal separation). While the level of this separation varies between women and the number of pregnancies experienced, any separation is visible (either as a belly pooch or rippled-looking skin). This is impossible to remedy with exercise and diet.
A tummy tuck physically brings these muscles back to their original position much like an internal corset would work. This restores your stomach’s firmness.
Excess Skin and Fat
Tummy tuck techniques (usually combined with liposuction) are unmatched in their ability to remove lax skin and reduce unwanted fat pockets. This gives you a leaner, fitter, and younger-looking physique.
Stretch Marks
While no plastic surgery can eliminate all stretch marks, many mothers find that the place where their stretch marks are heaviest is on the skin that is excised during a tummy tuck. Because of this, many of your stretch marks are physically removed in this process.
The remaining stretch marks will be located on flatter and tighter skin, and this usually minimizes their visibility.
C-Section Scars
While delivery room surgeons are excellent at what they do, they are not plastic surgeons. Their goal is the health of you and your baby, not the aesthetic look of a future scar. Because of this, many C-section scars are less than beautiful.
Fortunately, plastic surgeons can incorporate a C-section scar into the tummy tuck scar, which often improves its appearance.
Umbilical Hernias
One of the lesser-known benefits of tummy tuck surgery is that it also allows for umbilical hernia repair. Because of the techniques used, an abdominal hernia can easily be corrected at the same time, preventing the need for an additional procedure to repair the hernia.
Dr. Gallas is trained in general surgery and can repair abdominal hernias during the tummy tuck.
When Should I Consider My Tummy Tuck?
One of the perfect things about tummy tuck surgery is that you can consider it on your own time. There is no expiration date for a tummy tuck, and you can choose to schedule it when you are well and ready.
The one thing to remember is that it requires some downtime, and your body should be back to normal. This means that you don’t want to rush into this procedure right after you’ve given birth. You should wait until you’ve completed breastfeeding and your weight is stable.
Additionally, it may not be the best idea to undergo a tummy tuck if you predict that another pregnancy is on the horizon.
While you can safely get pregnant and carry your child after a tummy tuck, your new bundle of joy might have something to say about your svelte physique. Remember, you chose tummy tuck surgery because of what a previous pregnancy (or pregnancies) did — so it is safe to assume that another pregnancy will create the same complications.
Therefore, why invest the time, money, and energy into a tummy tuck if another pregnancy can damage it? Plastic surgeons suggest waiting until you have completed your biological family whenever possible.
Finished Having Kids? Consider a Tummy Tuck to Enhance Your Silhouette
If you want to learn more about tummy tuck surgery or any other post-pregnancy surgical procedure (such as a Mommy Makeover), reach out to Dr. Mennen Gallas in Katy, Texas. Give us a call at (281) 646-1114 or fill out our online contact form.
