Is Tummy Tuck After C-Section Safe And What To Expect?

Tummy tuck after C-section, also known as abdominoplasty, is an optional surgical procedure to remove excess abdominal fat and skin and tighten abdominal muscles to flatten the belly (1). Sometimes, women may opt for this cosmetic surgery since exercise may not tone the sagging tummy and scar after a C-section. However, this procedure is not recommended as an alternative to weight loss.

Read on to learn when to use tummy tuck after a C-section, what to expect, and factors influencing recovery.

Is A Tummy Tuck Advisable Immediately After A C-Section?

Women who have fully recovered from a C-section delivery are eligible for a tummy tuck procedure. A minimum gap of six months is advisable post delivery for the C-section scar to heal and any physical swelling to reduce (2).

What To Expect During A Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck is a major surgery and involves risks and complications. There are mainly two types of tummy tuck surgeries (2):

• Complete tummy tuck surgery involves the entire abdominal region.

• Partial tummy tuck surgery involves the lower abdominal region.

The surgery may take two hours or more, depending on the extent of fat and skin deposition. Further, the procedure may need a week of hospitalization, while recovery may take two to three weeks. The following are the steps involved in the procedure (3) (4):

1. Anesthesia: The surgery may involve general anesthesia or intravenous sedation, as recommended by the anesthesiologist.

2. Incision: The orientation and pattern of the incision depend on the scale of the surgery.
   • Generally, a horizontal incision is made across the belly button and pubic hairline for a complete tummy tuck.
   • The abdominal skin is lifted, and the weak underlying muscles are repaired.
   • A second incision around the navel can remove extra skin in the upper abdomen.
   • The belly button may be relocated depending on the amount of skin and fat removed and stitched into its new position.
   • For a partial tummy tuck, an incision is only made below the cesarean scar.
   • A small amount of excess skin is removed, and minimal muscle repair is done.
3. Incision closure: The incision may be closed using sutures, skin adhesives, or clips.

4. Healing: Post-surgery, using a compression corset for several weeks is advisable to support the stitches physically.

A partial tummy tuck may be performed along with a C-section (5). However, a complete tummy tuck surgery is not recommended immediately after a C-section as the wound must first be allowed to heal (2).

What Factors Influence Tummy Tuck Recovery?

The recovery timeline for a tummy tuck varies among individuals depending on factors such as (6) (7) (8) (9)

• Maternal age: Generally, mothers undergo this procedure in their 30s or 40s. However, age is a minor factor in planning the procedure.

• Personal fitness and health: Good health is the top priority in tummy tuck surgery. Healthy individuals have a shorter recovery timeline.

• The extent of the surgery: A complete tummy tuck may require a longer recovery than a partial tummy tuck.

• Scar management: Following the postoperative care instructions, regular wound dressing, and topical ointment usage enable faster wound healing.

• The surgeon’s skill: A well-experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon may offer better guidance for a swift recovery.

Can You Get A Tummy Tuck Along With A Cesarean Delivery?

Sometimes, a tummy tuck surgery may be combined with a C-section surgery, referred to as a C-tuck surgery. While getting done with both procedures at once may sound appealing, it is not always a good idea (2) (10).

• The mother’s skin and muscles reorganize immediately after pregnancy. A C-tuck may not give satisfactory results since more reorganization may occur in the skin, requiring further surgery.

• Since a C-section is a major surgery, combining it with a tummy tuck may increase the recovery time and risk of associated complications.

• There is a higher risk of infection due to the prolonged operation time. C-tuck procedures are associated with a high incidence of distal abdominal skin necrosis despite all the care taken during the surgery.

• Blood loss from both surgeries may lead to postoperative anemia.

• Finding a plastic surgeon willing to perform the C-tuck surgery on your planned date may be challenging, and it is higher in the case of unplanned C-sections.

Does A Tummy Tuck Lift Your Pubic Area?

A tummy tuck does not involve lifting the pubic area but could be carried out on request (11) (12).

References

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