Many women are getting aesthetic treatments earlier in life while waiting longer to start growing their families. When you first consult with your plastic surgeon about a procedure, how a future pregnancy may impact the results probably isn’t the first question to cross your mind. However, if you’re planning to receive an aesthetic procedure and may become pregnant, it’s important to determine which procedures will last and which can have potential risks. Here’s everything you need to know about pregnancy after a tummy tuck, breast augmentation or breast reduction.
What Happens to Your Body During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy affects every woman’s body differently. Your body undergoes massive changes to support your growing child, and you can expect the effects to last a long time after giving birth. Your hair, breasts, skin, body and pelvic floor can change and may take a long time to heal. Certain parts of your body may remain in their altered state. Here are some changes you can expect after pregnancy:
- Pelvic floor: Your pelvic floor supports your bowel bladder and uterus, and cesarean and vaginal births can affect these muscles. Your baby will put additional strain on your muscles throughout your pregnancy, and you can stretch or damage them during vaginal deliveries.
- Breasts: Your breasts will likely grow throughout your pregnancy, and they will grow and shrink between feeds. Your breasts connect to ligaments that stretch during pregnancy, leaving your breasts to droop after pregnancy.
- Skin: Women often develop stretch marks during pregnancy that can fade with time. Additional dark spots from pregnancy can also fade over time.
- Body: As you make room for your baby, your body will grow wider. Your ribs may expand, and your pelvis may widen to ease the baby through the birth canal, resulting in wider hips. Most often, the pelvis returns to its normal position four to 12 weeks after pregnancy, though you may not notice a physical change in your hips. You will also experience some weight gain to support your child before and after birth. It can take several months or longer to return to your pre-pregnancy weight.
- Hair: Some women experience their hair becoming thicker throughout pregnancy. After giving birth, your hair growth will start normalizing, though you could experience hair loss for a few months.
How Pregnancy Affects Past Plastic Surgeries
There are minimal health risks associated with getting pregnant after having a plastic surgery procedure. However, pregnancy can affect past plastic surgery results, making some women wish for another procedure.
As you grow your new family member, your body will experience many changes, with your stomach and breasts being two of the most significantly affected areas. Weight gain in your midsection and breasts is natural during pregnancy and may alter your plastic surgery results.
You may wish to receive another tummy tuck because you’re uncomfortable with how your midsection feels. You may also face enlarged breasts that hurt your back or experience sagging or altered implants after pregnancy. Some women will still be satisfied with their plastic surgery results after a full-term pregnancy, but there is no guarantee that you will have the same results you had before becoming pregnant.
How Pregnancy Affects a Tummy Tuck
Pregnancy brings weight gain, and some new mothers have trouble returning to their pre-pregnancy weight. A tummy tuck removes excess or loose skin and tightens your abdominal muscles that can strain during pregnancy. Any weight fluctuation can affect tummy tuck results, including the weight increase and decrease that occurs throughout pregnancy and after giving birth.
The results of a tummy tuck can last much longer when you get the procedure after pregnancy. You can also consider getting a tummy tuck procedure and tubal litigation simultaneously to limit your recovery periods and save time in the long run.
However, if you find yourself pregnant after receiving a tummy tuck, you can feel at ease. There are minimal risks for pregnancy after a tummy tuck. Although your midsection may feel tighter, your body will be able to accommodate your growing child, and you can have a successful and safe delivery. If you decide to get a tummy tuck before becoming pregnant or become pregnant unexpectedly, you can feel calm about your baby’s health. You can receive another procedure after the baby is born if you desire.
How Pregnancy Affects Breast Augmentation and Reduction
Some women’s breasts return to their normal size after pregnancy, while other women face significant changes to their breasts. Although pregnancy will not ruin your breast reduction, your results will be more permanent if you wait until after your pregnancy to have breast reduction surgery.
You should consult with your plastic surgeon before getting a breast reduction if you intend to have more children and want to breastfeed. Your glandular tissue will protect your milk glands, so leaving enough of the tissue is essential for breastfeeding. Keep in mind that you may lose the ability to breastfeed after a reduction procedure, so be sure to understand the effects prior to the procedure. If you’re not planning to become pregnant, you may still want to speak with your doctor about the implications of becoming pregnant unexpectedly.
If you have undergone breast augmentation and received implants before pregnancy, you may be unsatisfied with your breast results after giving birth. Breast implants are resilient and able to resist ruptures, leakages and deflating. However, your implants could change shape or sag after pregnancy as you gain weight or your breast tissue weakens. Although your implants will likely persist through pregnancy, you may want another procedure to redefine their shape and structure.
How Long Should You Wait to Get Plastic Surgery?
When you want to return to your pre-pregnancy figure, a mommy makeover is an excellent way to achieve lasting results. Pregnancy and childbirth are stressful times for your body, so waiting for the appropriate time to get plastic surgery can help ensure you love your results.
Expect to wait at least three months after breastfeeding to get your surgery, and be sure you don’t want to become pregnant again in the future. Your body and unique needs might require you to wait longer before plastic surgery, so consult your doctor and surgeon for an accurate timeline.
Get a Mommy Makeover With Miami Plastic Surgery®
Miami Plastic Surgery® is a team of board-certified and top-quality plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons and skin care experts in central Florida. Our specialists are leaders in the industry who offer medical knowledge and have the experience to provide the best possible outcomes.
We understand that you may want to reclaim your body after pregnancy, and we have the perfect solution. A mommy makeover with us can bring you back to your best self and make you feel great again. Your children are a blessing, and we want to help you love the body that made it all possible.
Board-certified surgeon Dr. Max Polo specializes in mommy makeovers. He’s in the prime of his career and has been practicing in South Florida for more than 20 years. His greatest proficiency and experience is in body contouring services, including breast lifts, breast augmentation, breast reductions, liposuction and tummy tucks. His extensive experience makes him the perfect choice for those looking for these sophisticated services.
Our mommy makeover procedure includes breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reduction, abdominoplasty, liposuction and buttock augmentation so that you can find the best version of yourself. Book an appointment with us to feel renewed and rejuvenated.
