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April 15, 2024

What to Consider Before Liposuction After Pregnancy

Written by: Dr. Dahlia Rice. Posted in: Blog

Category:
Liposuction After Pregnancy

Liposuction after pregnancy is a common plastic surgery procedure for women. Naturally, women who’ve gone through the life-changing experience of pregnancy and childbirth should be extremely proud of the work their bodies have done. It is an amazing honor to grow a baby and welcome them into the world.

Still, any woman who’s gone through these experiences knows how much the body can change afterward. One common aesthetic challenge new moms face is excess fat exactly where you don’t want it to be — namely, around the abdomen and on the flanks, on the inner thighs, and on the upper arms.

Fortunately, liposuction Chicago can help reduce this unwanted fat and give you back the figure you know and love. Moms deserve to feel proud and happy when they look in the mirror! Let’s learn more about liposuction before and after pregnancy.

Pregnancy and Liposuction: What to Know Before Surgery

When you are pregnant, your body responds by retaining more fat. This is completely normal, but it can come as a shock to some women, especially after pregnancy when the fat sticks around. Fortunately, liposuction for body contouring can help.Liposuction Before And After Pregnancy

If you are interested in liposuction following pregnancy, here are some things you need to know:

  • Most women will need to wait at least 3 to 4 months after childbirth before undergoing surgery. This time period may be longer, depending on your postpartum healing, whether you had a C-section, and whether you choose to breastfeed.
  • Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. If you have significant weight to lose following childbirth, try to do this before undergoing liposuction surgery. Lipo is more helpful for getting rid of stubborn pockets of fat.
  • If you plan to have more children, you may want to wait until you are finished having children before getting liposuction. This isn’t always true, but in many cases, if you get pregnant after liposuction, this may change your results and cause the need for further liposuction down the line.

Tummy Tuck vs. Liposuction After Pregnancy

It’s important to note that tummy tuck surgery and liposuction are completely different procedures. Many women think that they need a tummy tuck following pregnancy, but sometimes only liposuction is needed to improve your physique.

On the other hand, liposuction cannot take care of loose skin; it only removes fat cells. If you have loose skin following pregnancy, you may want to get a tummy tuck.

This surgical procedure will remove excess skin, smooth and tighten skin that remains, and repair separated abdominal muscles. Some patients may get liposuction in addition to a tummy tuck to remove the fat underneath.

Mommy Makeovers After Pregnancy

Most plastic surgeons offer mommy makeover procedures for women who are finished having children and want to improve their figure. Mommy makeovers frequently include liposuction, but other procedures such as breast lift surgery, breast augmentation, tummy tuck surgery, and Brazilian butt lift surgery may be included as well.

If you are unhappy with weight gain, excess skin, and drooping breasts following pregnancy, a mommy makeover may be for you. Remember that this is a major surgery, involving multiple procedures performed at once. So, be sure to choose from only board certified plastic surgeons when selecting a practice to work with.

FAQ: Liposuction and Pregnancy

Pregnancy After Liposuction PicturesCan liposuction get rid of mom pooch?

Yes, in most cases, if you have a “pooch” following pregnancy and childbirth, liposuction can help. Of course, sometimes, a pooch is more about separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti). If this is the case, a tummy tuck procedure may be required to repair these muscles.

Is pregnancy after liposuction safe?

Yes, pregnancy after liposuction is safe. Of course, if you know you would like to have children in the near future, some patients may choose to go through pregnancy, childbirth, and (if chosen) breastfeeding before undergoing liposuction.

This is because your body will naturally change following childbirth, and in some cases, if you have lipo before pregnancy, your results will be altered. If this doesn’t bother you, liposuction safety is not a concern , but you may end up having liposuction again when you gain weight with pregnancy.

Pregnancy after liposuction photos may also sometimes show stretched liposuction scars (stretched due to pregnancy), which can be more noticeable than they originally were.

How can I flatten my postpartum belly?

Many women complain of a “pouch” or “pooch” after pregnancy and birth. Fat accumulation during pregnancy is totally normal (especially around the abdomen), and it is also normal for this excess fat to hang around following birth.

If you would like to flatten this area, many women are successful using regular exercise and healthy eating habits to drop body fat. If this does not work, liposuction is certainly an option. If you also have excess skin, wrinkles, and stretch marks on your abdomen, a tummy tuck can be helpful as well.

How can I tighten my stomach after giving birth?

After pregnancy and childbirth, women often carry excess weight around the abdominal area. This is totally natural and to be expected.

Some women tighten this area by reducing their body fat with diet and exercise. Abdominal exercises meant to tighten and strengthen the abdominal muscles can also help.

Of course, sometimes, even these techniques aren’t enough to tighten the stomach. In this case, a tummy tuck, liposuction, or a combination of the two may be needed.

Call Today to Schedule a Consultation

Deciding to undergo liposuction after pregnancy is a big decision for moms. Many women struggle with focusing on self-improvement as it’s common to feel totally selfless once you have a baby to care for.

It is important for numerous reasons to focus on yourself, however. Not only does doing so improve your own self-confidence, but it also shows your children the importance of caring for themselves. Moms are best when they are happy and confident about the way they look and feel.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Dahlia Rice performs liposuction for women after pregnancy at her Chicago practice. To find out more about this and other plastic surgeries for new moms, contact us today and book your consultation.

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/how-to-eliminate-your-post-pregnancy-paunch

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