Tummy tuck along with C-section surgery? Is it advisable?

Are you thinking of going for a tummy tuck surgery immediately after you delivery your baby via C-section surgery? Tummy tuck (also called abdominoplasty) is a surgery done to correct the shape of abdomen by adjusting the muscles and removing the extra skin to bring you back into shape post delivery.  If you are thinking that combining both into a single surgery (though it is longer) so that you can save some time, then this article is for you. In here, we will take you through what happens during the delivery and during abdominoplasty and finally you can see for yourself if going for tummy tuck after a caesarean surgery is right.

What happens during a C-section delivery?

If your gynecologist thinks that the position of the baby isn’t right or for any other reason, normal vaginal delivery of the baby isn’t good for you or the baby, he/she would recommend you to go for a c-section delivery (also called caesarean delivery). During a c-section delivery, the abdomen will be cut open, usually between the belly button and the pubic area. This is a horizontal cut and is most common type of incision made to deliver a baby via c-section. In case of emergencies, a vertical cut may be made. This is more painful and takes longer to heal than a horizontal cut. Horizontal incision is also called a bikini incision. If a vertical incision has to be made, future deliveries may also have to be done by making vertical incisions.

After removing the baby, the uterus will be sutured with dissolvable stitches and then the incision made on the skin will be stitched up. The suture material used for the uterus will be broken down by the body as the uterus heals.

What is a tummy tuck surgery?

Tummy tuck surgery is one type of body shaping surgeries done to bring back the protruding abdominal area to shape. Possible reasons why the abdomen may overgrow include:

1. Heredity
2. A surgery done in the past
3. Aging
4. Pregnancy
5. Drastic weight loss (due to illness or working out or with medications).

Tummy tuck is a major surgery that can last from a couple of hours to even four hours, depending on the person. Following is done during tummy tuck surgery (in short):

1. You will be put under general anesthesia (full body anesthesia).
2. A horizontal cut will be made between the belly button and the pubic area (just like the c-section delivery) but the uterus will not be touched in this case.
3. How long will be the incision and how deep will depend on the shape of the abdomen and what needs to be done.
4. The extra skin on the abdomen is then cut and removed. If there is large amount of skin to be removed, another incision may be required.
5. The abdomen skin is pulled down and stitched up.
6. The belly button also may have to be moved to a different position if there is a lot of adjustment needed. Your cosmetic gynecologist will make a new spot for the belly button.
7. The muscles and tissues inside the abdominal will be adjusted and the incision on the skin will be stitched up.
8. The area will be wrapped with elastic bandages and for some people, drainage tubes will be placed to drain out fluids that gets collected.

Recovering from tummy tuck surgery takes time. You will need to take care of the area by keeping it clean at all times, take antibiotics to prevent or treat any possible infection. Lifting of weights and bending must be avoided so that no pressure is laid in the area at least during the first few days after the surgery. Your cosmetic gynecologist will keep you informed on what you can and what you cannot do after tummy tuck surgery.

Why you should NOT combine c-section and tummy tuck surgeries?

1. During pregnancy, the skin on the abdomen would have stretched to the max and that is not the right time to perform the tummy tuck surgery. Your surgeon will not able to approximate the amount of skin that needs to be removed or retained. This can lead to awkward looking abdomen once it heals completely.
2. If you are planning for another delivery, you should NOT go for tummy tuck. Getting pregnant after tummy tuck surgery will reverse or nullify all the results of tummy tuck surgery.
3. Problem nursing and recovering. Recovering from caesarean surgery itself is a painful and time consuming thing. Adding tummy tuck recovery to it is a bad idea. You will not be able to take your baby into your arms and if you are under antibiotics, you may not be advised to feed breast milk to your baby.
4. Possible complications. Every surgery involves risks and when you have two surgeries, just double the possible complications. Chances of infection goes up, recovery time goes up, possibility of blood clots, fluid retention in the abdominal area etc can only make your life difficult for few months.

Our conclusion

As per Dr. Deepa Ganesh, one of the most sought after cosmetic gynecologist in Chennai, it is a bad idea to combine c-section surgery with tummy tuck for the above mentioned reasons. Once you have healed completely from c-section delivery and if you decide not to have any more kids of your own, then is the right time to consult the best cosmetic gynecologist near you to undergo a tummy tuck surgery.