Pregnancy after tummy tuck?

 Hi guys, 

*I posted this on the Plastic Surgery forum and someone told me I would have more luck posting this on here. so here it goes.*

I haven't really posted in this forum before. I'm only 5 months  out but i'm halfway to goal and i'm starting to think about plastics. I have a ways to go still but i can't help but think about it.

I have 120lbs to lose. the main thing i want to get rid of is this giant gut i've been carrying around for 15yrs. its big and a nuisance and i can't wait to get rid of it. its gotten a bit smaller but the skin is so stretched there's no way its going back to normal. i have to get rid of this thing so i can be normal. i want to be able to cross my legs and other things and i can't do it with this gut. 

so here's the thing. i want to have a baby. i don't want to wait ill after a baby to get rid of the gut. i want a better quality of life. is there an issue about getting pregnant after a tummy tuck? will it cause any problems? i'm scared of ripping. i know that when i get preggers my tummy will stretch again and i don't mind. i just have to get rid of the gut. i'm scared of scars ripping. have any of you gotten preggers after tummy tuck? is there a certain amount of time they advised you to wait before getting pregnant? 

thanks in advance

I have a very close friend who just had a baby last year after a tuck. She did not have WLS, but had 3 kids before the tuck, unfortunately she widowed, and remarried. Her new husband had no kids, and she decided she'd give him a baby.

When I went to her babyshower, I did notice her belly was especially small for being 8mths along at the time. I asked about it and she told me it was because of the tuck. She was induced at 35 weeks bcuz the baby had no space and her doctor felt it was the best option to take. Her baby is healthy, and thriving and her belly is almost back to what it was before this last pregnancy. Her tuck included the "mesh" inside, so I dont know if this makes a difference.

Good luck!!!

 thats interesting. i didn't even think of that. someone said i should just do a panniculectomy just to get rid of the gut and save the tummy tuck (whi*****ludes tightening of the muscles) for after i have kids. 

I am not sure what a panniculectomy includes, but I would definitely give it consideration, or maybe just waiting. I know its easier said than done, but I personally, would not want to undergo surgery twice in the same area if I find that I can wait.

My hairdresser also had RNY and rushed into plastics at 12 months out. She regrets it now, bcuz her weight had not "leveled" out and she is unhappy with the results of her breasts and tummy tuck, which aren't as tight as they could've been. Just think it over...

Hi there,
I am 5 years out and had my plastics at one year out, and don't feel I rushed at all.

I became pregnant 3 years after my TT and am now pregnant with my second baby. WIth my first, yes, it was tight in there, but I have never ,ever heard of a doctor inducing because a baby didn't have any more room. No offense to the poster, but I have serious doubts as to the validity of that. Induction at 35 weeks is terribly unsafe and unless the fetus is in mortal danger, not at all reccomended. pPerhaps there were other reasons to induce? THe baby will always make enough room for herself by squishing whatever organs she needs to in your body out of the way. I could go on and on, but I digress.

I had my daugher at 42 weeks, she was 6lbs and 8oz. I gained 23 lbs through the entire pregnancy, and lost it all within a couple months. My tummy went right back to being flat. Now, it wasn't as tight as it was, but I'm good with flat. The only complications I could attribute to my TT were that it was difficult to monitor contractions with the belt while on labor. No problem there as I felt each and every one. Ha! Also, it was difficult to determine her position from the outside as things were sooo tight - like a drum! I was never ever "mushy" or squishy.

This time is different. At 20 weeks, baby is very, very low and probably will not go any higher. This is causing stretching along the scar of my TT, which I anticipate will become very uncomfortable. I do not think I will look the same after baby #2, but that's okay. I've come to grips with it.
Anyway, I guess i would say that having the TT improved the quality of my life after reaching goal. I had many years of happiness in my  Rock and Republic jeans, and two piece bathing suits. But those days are gone after mommyhood. lol
Good luck! 

 thanks for posting this. the though of the stretching along the TT scar sounds painful and scary. i guess i'm just scared of ripping. scars scare me. they make me nervous. i'm not a person that is about looks too much. i don't mind getting stretched out from pregnancy. it would just be nice to start at zero like most people. i've lived with this body so long. it would be nice to have a little skinny time.

i know my body will look less than perfect. its either gonna be scars or stretch marks. so i guess its just about picking whats best for me. 

i really appreciate your input. i guess i'll see what the doctors think i should do.

Know what though? It's really not painful. Its uncomfortable, but I wouldn't let it scare you away from doing it. Its a progressive stretching, really. It doesn't feel like ripping ... the worst I ever felt was some sharp tingles in the end of my last trimester. And I found that using a good lotion from The Body Shop helped a lot. :-) If you have more questions, you can always contact me through PM too ... I'm an open book.

 thanks! i feel better about the scars thing now :)

thank you so much! i'm sure i will take you up on that offer. 

This has been really helpful to me, I am only 3 months out from RNY surgery but just got engaged, so the FH and I have been having the children discussion. I would like to get a TT once I reach my goal, but was concerned with complications if I became pregnant! 

Thanks for starting this thread and also for those *****sponded!!

Well ladies, here I am: YOUR GUINEA PIG lol!

I just had a TT and arm lift on September 15th, 2010, a mere few months ago.  I got it before my wedding on December 4th.  And here I sit, almost 8 weeks pregnant.  I WISH I had not had the plastics, mainly because I drained my savings and now need that money for the baby.  Also, I spent 10 grand and never got tight.  He didn't do a fleur-de-lis anchor cut, HUGE mistake.  I hated the results and money spent, because I still had a huge blobby upper fat roll full of loose skin.  I look at the scar and am nervous about the stretching, etc.  

If I have any advice, as bad as you may want the TT, I would TRY to hold off until after kids....Sure wish I had!  Also I only lost 2 inches off my hips after all the surgery...not worth it, but I may be the wrong one to ask