Question:
What effect does abdominoplasty have on future pregnancy?

I am 22 years old and want to have children one day. I am about 15 pounds from goal and I am interested in having a tummy tuck and breast lift... Will this affect my ability to get pregnant later in life?    — Erin C. (posted on March 8, 2004)

March 8, 2004
As I understand things, a TT will not affect your ability to get pregnant, but the effect of the TT will be compromised,. During a pregnancy your skin is stretched tremendously, and there is no guarantee that it will return to the post TT condition. This is why most Drs suggest waiting until you have finished having children. If you are a self-paying person and can afford a second TT after pregnancies, that is a diffeerent story. As for a breast lift, I am not sure. I have been told that there can be difficulty breast feeding post breast lift/enlargement. Not sure about this. Good luck!
   — Fixnmyself

March 8, 2004
Hi Erin. AG is right...no problem getting pregnant and no particular problem carrying the pregnancy, although you may have more discomfort as the abdominal wall relaxes. For sure count on losing some of the flatness and skin tightening...perhaps a lot. Breast lifts or reductions usually aren't affected dramatically by pregnancy, but this depends on the technique used. Ditto breast feeding. Implants to enlarge the breast increase the chances of sagging or drooping after pregnancy.
   — DrL

March 9, 2004
You're young. If you're not planning on having kids any time soon, I'd say go for it. A TT doesn't ahve any effect on your ability to get pregnant at all. Your TT won;t be exactly the same after you carry, but, then again, who would expect it to be? Regarding Breast reconstruction, please speak to your PS, as it depends on techniques. You need to be sure to let them know if you want to breast feed in the future, so that the surgeon can plan accordingly. Good luck to you!
   — LMCLILLY

March 9, 2004
As tight as my skin is right now after the lower body lift I had 2 weeks ago I cannot even imagine there being enough elasticity left in the remaining skin to stretch enough to carry a baby. It's already severely stretch marked skin. Somehow it would seem there has to be a limit to what the skin can deal with but maybe not. If you mainly have a significant panni I would consider just getting that taken care of now and not bothering with the abdominoplasty as the muscle tightening etc will just get stretched out again. The panni is cheaper and will give you lots of relief. Then after you are done with having children get the remainder done and enjoy your flat belly for the rest of your life.
   — zoedogcbr

March 9, 2004
This surgery should have no impact on your ability to have children. However, you should consider exactly when it is that you might like to have kids. If it's within 5 years I would hold off on the tummy tuck and the breast lift, just cause all that work will be stretched out with pregnancy. I already have 1 child, had my WLS 3 years ago and wanted to have the tuck and lift, but not till after my 2nd kid. I'm now 4 weeks from delivering my 2nd child which would make about 1 year till my body is ready for the tuck and lift. Good Luck. Kelly [email protected]
   — Kelly T.