Tummy tuck after pregnancy- Is it safe and effective?

Overview

Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful phases in a woman's life. And ofcourse, everything has its own pros and cons. To make sure the pregnancy is safe the gynecologists assess the pregnancy thoroughly by doing tests like the anomaly test and there are several others as well to make sure there are no complications. Just like that after the pregnancy you are supposed to take care of your body since your body has gone through a lot. You gain a lot of weight, and suddenly after the delivery your body becomes loose and saggy. And now there is a solution to this as well.

Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a restorative surgery to work on the shape and presence of the abdomen region. During a tummy tuck surgery, extra skin and fat are removed from the abdomen. The remaining skin is then repositioned to give a more toned look.

Are you worried about safety?

Tummy Tuck after pregnancy is completely safe and effective. The weight gained during pregnancy can be eradicated. It is recommended to go through the treatment after 6-12 months of giving birth to make results last longer.
 

Still not sure about getting a treatment done?

Read the article till the end to know more about it.

Reasons for getting a tummy tuck after pregnancy

There can be multiple reasons for getting a tummy tuck after pregnancy. These can include:

1. Abdominal surgery, such as a C-section: Through tummy tucks, the scars caused by the c-section can be easily removed. It will also help to reduce stretch marks. It also helps in repairing the abdominal muscles.
2. Sagging Skin and Stretch Marks: Tummy tuck helps remove loose or sagging skin fat that will not tighten on its own.

Wait! There is a right time for everything! Read on to find out when it is the right time to go for a tummy tuck after pregnancy. 

When to schedule tummy tuck after pregnancy?

1. After six months of giving birth: Once should wait at least six months after giving birth. There can be various reasons for that, which include:
 

2. 6 Months After Breastfeeding: Assuming you are breastfeeding, it is ideal to hold on until half a year after you wean your kid. When you breastfeed, you transfer whatever is in your breast milk to your nursing kid. Under normal conditions, this is safe, yet there is a chance for the child when the mother is given an anesthetic. Keep in mind that the procedure involves drugs and medications. These can be a problem if you're breastfeeding.

According to Dr. Jonathan Kaplan, MD, MPH, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon at Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery in San Francisco,

"It's safer to get a TT after a hysterectomy than after a C-section. The issue is that if you remove the excess skin after a C-section, the excess skin may not be fully obvious. After a C-section and TT, weeks to months later, the skin may continue to relax or tighten and you'll realize there's excess skin that still needs to be removed that wasn't obvious at the time of the C-section. He further adds, "it's best to delay the tummy tuck after a C-section or do the TT at the same time as a hysterectomy once it's clear how much excess skin or abdominal wall laxity exists." 

You can refer to this link to check for the best plastic surgeons in India and Turkey.

Types of tummy tuck procedures after pregnancy

The changes to a lady's body after pregnancy can be significant. However, no two ladies have a similar encounter. Tummy tuck procedures are of 3 types to address every patient's worries. These include:

A) Full tummy tuck: one of the most common types of tummy tucks for women after pregnancy. During this procedure, a horizontal incision is made from one hip to the other and fat is removed from both the upper and lower abdomen regions. A full tummy tuck may involve repairing abdominal muscles that separate during pregnancy.

B) Mini tummy tuck: It is a much smaller incision in which the sagging skin is confined to the area below the belly button. It mainly focuses on the lower belly area.

C) Extended Tummy Tuck: In this, the fat is removed from the lower as well as upper abdomen, along with the area of the flanks. This process should be opted by people with a lot of sagging skin or who have undergone multiple pregnancies.
 

If you're particularly looking for the best doctors for tummy tuck in India and Turkey then click here.
 

Procedure for the Treatment of Tummy Tuck After Pregnancy

Before: There are a lot of different procedures for a tummy tuck, depending upon 

• Your goals and 
• the kind of change that you want.
• The amount of skin removed 
• The type of procedure will determine the shape and length of the incision. 
   

During Procedure:

• The person may be given an antibiotic, In order to prevent infection,
• The treatment takes about 2-3 hours.
   

After the procedure: After a tummy tuck

• The abdominal area and belly button will likely be covered with surgical dressing. 
• The person will be given medication. 
• Swelling in the area of treatment.
• The person will wear a supportive abdominal garment for about six weeks.
• Even some people also opt for liposuction after 6 months of tummy tuck.

Prevention is better than cure,

So, it's better to take some precautions before treatment.

Before and after precautions for tummy tuck

Six things to do before an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)

1. No smoking- Nicotine shrinks the blood vessels, essential for tissue repair, making infection rates and poor wound healing unacceptably high. 
2. Child care Taker - The person will be on best rest for two to three weeks after the operation and won't be able to lift anything, including a baby or child. So if a person is opting for a tummy tuck after pregnancy, she should have a child caretaker at her place.
3. Complete family- It's not risky to have a baby after a tummy tuck, but for the safer side, it is recommended not to have babies after a tummy tuck.
4. Scarring- The scar from a mini-tummy tuck is comparatively low but still more significant than a cesarean scar. 
5. Healthy lifestyle - Healthy diet and good exercise will help the child and the person maintain the tummy tuck after the treatment.
    

What to expect after the procedure

Here you can see what to expect after tummy tuck-

• The person should not lift anything heavy
• Complete bed rest for at least six weeks
• The treatment will reposition the skin around your belly button in its normal position.
• Following a healthy lifestyle with good exercise will make the results last longer.
   

Tummy tuck post pregnancy 

Recovery Time

Different types of tummy tucks have different recovery times:

• Mini tummy tuck- This procedure has the shortest recovery time because of minimal scarring.
• Full tummy tuck- In this, the person will have a more extensive scar stretching from hip to hip, and recovery will take longer.
• Extended tummy tuck- This tummy tuck creates the most prominent scar as the area of treatment is more comprehensive, and it will take 6-8 weeks to recover.

However, the recovery duration depends upon various factors, which include:

• Type of tummy tuck
• Age of the person
• General Health of the person
• Post-treatment care    
   

Every treatment has some or other effects, so let's discuss them!

Side effects /Risks of Tummy Tuck after Pregnancy

A tummy tuck has various risks, which include:

• Liquid under the skin (seroma)- Drainage cylinders can assist with eliminating the extra fluid. It tends to be destroyed after a medical procedure.
   
• Wounds take time to heal-Each Human body is different. After the medical procedure, the regions along the cut line start to isolate for which anti-infection agents are given to forestall contamination.
   
• Scarring- The scar from a stomach fold is highly durable but can be covered up without any problem. The length and permeability of the spot fluctuate from one individual to another.
   
• Damage to Tissue: During a stomach fold, fatty tissue in the skin could get harmed. Depending on the size of the medical procedure, tissue could mend all alone or require a careful final detail method.
   
• Skin sensation-During a stomach fold, the nerves in the stomach district will influence its tissue. The individual will feel some diminished sensation or deadness nearby. This typically lessens in the months after the method.
   

Success rate of tummy tucks after pregnancy

The success rate of tummy tuck surgery is above 95 percent across super-specialist hospitals.

Yes, you read that right.

 

Are you worried that what if “I fall in the other 5% category”

Don’t worry, a second tummy tuck after pregnancy can be an option. 

Second tummy tuck after pregnancy

It is normal to have a second tummy after pregnancy when the first tummy tuck fails or you have not got the desired result. Women who have gained weight or may have gone through another pregnancy after a tummy tuck may require a second tummy tuck. However, it is recommended to complete their family first and then go through the treatment, as pregnancy will affect the results of a tummy tuck.

Although there is no limit to having a tummy tuck procedure, it is recommended to have it in less time as it affects the body.

 

Cost

Is tummy tuck after pregnancy covered by insurance?

A tummy tuck is merely a cosmetic procedure, and most insurance plans will not cover this.

 

References

https://www.healthline.com/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/

https://www.drkimberlyhenry.com

https://www.brucatoplasticsurgery.com

https://www.myplasticsurgeon.ca/cosmetic-procedures

https://ssa.care/blog/

https://www.taranow.com/blog/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com