Tummy Tuck Archives -

What Time Is The Right Time?

Having children is a highly personal choice for each woman, and it requires a great deal of thoughtful consideration. So are elective cosmetic procedures including plastic surgery. When it comes down to decision time, it is important for women to consider their plans for pregnancy in relation to cosmetic procedures. Timing, before or after childbirth, can significantly alter the results of plastic surgery.

Before or After Children? That is the question.

A common point of conflict for many women interested in elective cosmetic procedures is whether or not to have a procedure before or after having children. It is unreasonable to assume that women considering plastic surgery, universally, have or do not have plans for children. It’s equally absurd to believe all women who have plans for children do not also have plans for cosmetic surgery. To make such assumptions would be counterproductive and inappropriate. Instead, it’s important to focus on helping women understand all the potential risks and rewards and provide the necessary information to help make decisions in planning cosmetic procedures.

What You Do vs. When You Do It

The particular cosmetic procedure you are seeking makes all the difference when it comes to planning. Though the process of having a child does not affect all cosmetic procedures, we’ve debunked the myths and provided facts on three common surgeries:

Breast Augmentation – While you may have heard that breast augmentation can interfere with breastfeeding, Dr. Rubinstein assures his patients that they have alternate options. Modern incision techniques allow for full function of the breast even with augmentation. The important pregnancy-related consideration for planning your augmentation is the preservation of your results. The changes to the body during pregnancy and childbirth may cause permanent alterations to your augmentation.

Tummy Tuck – It is common to hear women plan for a tummy tuck after they have had children. It is a wise decision given that the weight gain and development of excess skin associated with the process of pregnancy can completely undo the results of a tummy tuck. To maximize the effectiveness of this procedure, women who are not done having children may want to reconsider for later.

Facial Plastic Surgery – Generally speaking, the results of facial plastic surgery will not be impacted by pregnancy or childbirth. Patients should, of course, consult their physician when planning any procedure. Schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Rubinstein today to learn more.

While there are many procedures and possible outcomes, what is most important for patients to understand is that timing is a highly personal decision.

There Is No Right Answer

For each woman, the decision to undergo elective cosmetic procedures must be made to suit her unique needs and desires. Electing to undergo the procedure before or after children may have an impact on the results, so it’s essential for women to learn all the facts about their cosmetic procedure and speak with Dr. Rubinstein about childbirth plans. Only you can decide when the time is right.

When you gain and lose a lot of weight or go through pregnancy your tummy gets stretched out and then relaxes back down. The muscles of your tummy also stretch out. The main muscles we are talking about are two big muscles that run up and down in the middle of your tummy. They are called the rectus abdominus muscles. They are supposed to be side by side like two columns right next to each other. With weight gain and/or pregnancy they can stretch out in the up and down direction as well as pull apart in the middle, separating from side to side. It is the side to side separation that is the real problem. The splitting apart of the muscles is called diastasis recti. This separation is the cause of the poochy shape of the lower tummy after pregnancy. Here is the main problem: you can exercise the muscles to make them strong again in the up and down direction, but there is no natural way to firm things up again from side to side. There is no way to exercise your muscles in a sideways direction. A tummy tuck can bring those muscles back to the middle where they belong but pulling them into position and keeping them there with stitches. When they are separated they are a bit weaker than they should be. This is due to the physics of how they work. They are meant to be together in the middle, so when they are put back that way they probably work a little better. You might not notice a big improvement when doing exercise, but some patients do feel stronger and more stable. Call our office today for a consultation to see if a tummy tuck may be right for you!