My opinion, and it’s only my opinion, is No.

There are Plastic Surgeons who will do a tummy tuck immediately after a C-Section, but most won’t. Here’s why.

First, the abdominal wall is completely distorted. The skin and muscles are very streteched out and the uterus is still huge, so it’s hard to know how much loose skin to remove or not remove. In my opinion, it would be very, very difficult to get predictably good results. But, for the next reason, I will be the first to admit I have never done this combination of procedures.

Second, when the uterus is opened to get the baby out, by definition the infection potential goes up. This is true because once your water breaks, the sterile environment in the uterus is lost because the unterus is back in communication with the vagina. So, by OR terms, the case has officially gone from a “clean case”, which carries the lowest risk of infection, to a “clean-contaminated” case which carries a higher infection risks. A post operative infection can be a threat to Mom’s health, render her unable to breast feed, and ruin the cosmetic result.

Third, adding a tummy tuck to the ordeal will prolong your recovery. This is not a good thing when you have a new baby to care for, especially if there are older little ones around.

So, I think it’s best to wait. There is little to gain and a lot of potential down side to combining the procedure. Plus if you decide to have more kids later all of our hard work gets “undone”.

Wait…it’s safer.

Lee Corbett, MD

https://www.corbettcosmeticsurgery.com/

502.721.0330

All posts on this blog are authored by Louisville tummy tuck surgeon Dr. Lee Corbett.