Body Contouring and first time pregnancy

[Sophi85]

I lost over a 100 pounds and now have sagging skin around my stomach with a lot of stretch marks as well. I want to opt for a tummy tuck but the only thing holding me back is concern whether it will harm my pregnancy whenever later i decide to get pregnant. I am only 23 and plan to get married by next year december. I cannot stand the sight of my ugly stomach and it drives me nuts because the constant wobbling and my upper tummy showing through clothes just sickens me. I just want to know what will happen after i am done giving birth? will be tummy just get loose or does it get deshaped looking even more horrible then before the tt? we dont plan to have kids for another 3 yrs or so..since that will be give me enough time to heal etc... i mean what should i expect? i dont mind some loose skin later but i dont want some sort of lopsided stomach after my pregnancy...and i dont mind going in for a fix up after im done with my family...but i want to know what will my tummy look like once i loose the pregnancy fat etc...

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

The muscle fascia will be loose due to stretching from the intra-abdominal fat prior to your weight loss.  A panniculectomy (removal of the sagging apron of skin only) can be performed without fascial tightening.

[Sophi85]

Thank you so much for your reply...Just one more query...can the tummy tuck surgery be performed without tightening of the muscles?? since i havent had any kids before i am assuming my muscles will not be loose...Do correct me if im wrong...

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

I have performed many tummy tucks on young patients after massive weight loss.  If you do get pregnant after the procedure, you will loose some flatness due to re-stretch of the muscle fascia (the tendinous layer that is tightened overlying the rectus muscles).  I would expect less effect on the tightened skin.  There is no risk for the pregnancy after a tummy tuck.