Can I have a Tummy Tuck during my C-Section?

Illustration of the differences in anatomy during pregnancy. Due to these changes, a tummy tuck combined with C-section is not recommended.

Patients ask me frequently as to whether I can perform an abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, at the same time as their C-section during the birthing process. It is true that the most common reason that women choose to undergo a tummy tuck is due to irreversible changes after pregnancy. Depending on a variety of factors such as genetics, many women are left with post-pregnancy changes including stretch marks, a stubborn pad of belly fat, excess skin, or excess side fat. These changes will often remain even if the woman is able to return to her pre-pregnancy weight, no small task in and of itself.

While the idea Tummy Tuck combined with a C-section may seem compelling and is technically feasible, it is the general consensus among plastic surgeons that it is not a very good idea. C-section is a significant surgery and is performed under similar conditions as an abdominoplasty, but during pregnancy, all the structures stretch out significantly including the skin, the muscle, and the fascia of the abdominal wall. When everything is so stretched out, I wouldn’t be able to tell if I were getting a tight enough pull or not of the structures when performing the tummy tuck and closure. The elasticity of the skin isn’t high enough.

As a result, aesthetic outcomes are unpredictable and substandard and the complication rate is quite high. Problems of a combined C-section plus tummy tuck include unsightly bulges, excess skin, and problems with the belly button. Complication risks are infection and possibly fatal blood clots. Consequently, for both aesthetic and medical reasons, I advise my patients to give it 6 months after delivery before coming to see me! And ideally, if you plan to have more children, it is best to have a tummy tuck after all your children have been born.