Can I Have A Tummy Tuck If I Am Not Done Having Kids?

Although there is some debate as to the best time to have a tummy tuck, the basic answer to the question is “yes”–abdominoplasty will not present a problem for future pregnancies. Most plastic surgeons, however, do recommend waiting to have tummy tuck surgery until you’re done having children. This is because a post-abdominoplasty pregnancy can affect long-term results and satisfaction with the original work done. For instance, while damaged abdominal muscles are repaired by your surgeon during tummy tuck surgery, they can easily separate again with another pregnancy.

Every patient is different, and the decision as to when to have body-contouring surgery depends on your unique lifestyle, health history and expectations. During your one-on-one consultation with a leading New York City plastic surgeon such as Dr. Preminger, she will discuss various options for looking your best at any point during your childbearing years.

Types of tummy tuck surgeries

When people think of a tummy tuck, they typically imagine the traditional or “full” abdominoplasty, which is sometimes also called a “wedge excision.” There are different techniques a surgeon may choose, but basically, the primary incision will run from one hipbone to the other, just below the bikini line, and a secondary incision is made around the navel. Skin is loosened from the abdominal wall and pulled tauter, damaged muscles are surgically sutured, and excess fat is removed by liposuction or another method.

Other types of tummy tuck surgery include:

Mini Tummy Tuck – Similar to the traditional tummy tuck, a “mini” uses a shorter pubic line incision and no belly button incision. The ideal candidate is someone with laxity and protrusion below the navel – someone who has always been in fairly good shape, but cannot achieve the desired look through diet and exercise.

Modified Tummy Tuck – Patients with very mild laxity above the belly button can tighten this area, as well as the lower stomach, through a procedure that leaves no belly button scar. The belly button is released from beneath, excess skin and damaged muscle are repaired, and the belly button is reattached slightly lower than its original position.

Alternatives to abdominoplasty

The stomach is a common area for plastic surgery due to the stretching and changes associated with childbirth. While there are no true alternatives to a full tummy tuck, there are alternate procedures that can help a patient get by for the time being.

Liposuction to remove excess fat tissue or laser treatments to reduce the size of the abdominal fat cells can shave off a few inches. These procedures do not address the underlying issues of abdominal muscle damage or loose skin, but may improve the stomach’s appearance, depending on the patient. A consultation with Dr. Preminger is the best way to determine if anything can be done for women who may have more children down the road.

Looking for one of the best tummy tuck surgeons in Manhattan?

Dr. B. Aviva Preminger is an Ivy League educated, board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in body contouring. When she’s not running her own practice, she is teaching medical ethics at Cornell or teaching clinics at Columbia University Medical Center. As a mother of three, she truly understands the issues faced by women whose figures have been altered by pregnancy.

If you are interested in learning more about having a tummy tuck in NYC, call (866) 201-9828 to schedule a consultation. Dr. Preminger’s office is located at Park Avenue and 83rd Street in Manhattan.