Tummy Tuck after a Caesarean Section

Having a caesarean section, or c-section, may have not been in your original birthing plan but when it comes to delivering your baby safely, you’ll do anything to ensure that happens.

During a caesarean, layers of tissue and muscle in your tummy are cut so that the surgeon can access your womb. This can cause scar tissue to form and the skin on your stomach to sag. Many find that exercise is not effective at helping to tone this area back up, so it is no surprise that we get many enquiries about tummy tucks for post-c-section mums.

It may appear that women, especially celebrities are back to normal life straight after pregnancy and having a c-section. Recovering from a c-section in preparation for a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is something that can’t be rushed.

What can a tummy tuck do?

A tummy tuck or an abdominoplasty can provide many benefits to those who are healthy and have recovered fully after their pregnancy and a caesarean section.

A tummy tuck procedure involves removing excess skin and fat to flatten the tummy, however, during a tummy tuck, you can also ask your surgeon if they can repair your rectus abdominis muscles which many have separated during pregnancy.

If you do have a separated rectus abdominis muscle (diastasis recti) then the procedure will be able to tone and strengthen your tummy and waist again as well as remove the c-section scar and any stretch marks.

What is the difference between a C-section and a Tummy Tuck?

A C-section or caesarean is a surgical procedure that is performed to deliver a baby. An incision will be made on your lower abdomen (just above the bikini line) and then in the wall of the uterus to allow access for them to lift the baby out. Once the baby is removed, the umbilical cord will be cut, the placenta removed and the incisions will be closed with stitches.

A tummy tuck procedure is less invasive than a c-section, an incision may be made in a similar location but then excess skin and fatty tissue are removed from the abdomen before the incision is closed with absorbable stitches. In some cases, loose muscles can be tightened, abdominal hernias can be corrected and previous surgical scars can be removed.

Whilst both procedures may seem similar, the recovery after a tummy tuck is a lot less than a C-section due to a C-section being a lot more invasive and involving cutting through the uterus and abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck scar can also be longer than a c-section scar depending on the amount of excess skin to be removed.

How Long After A C-Section Can I Get A Tummy Tuck?

We recommend waiting at least 6 months after a c-section before considering surgery as this will give your c-section scar enough time to heal, any swelling to go and your body to return to its pre-pregnancy state before further surgery is carried out. It may also be beneficial for both you and your child that you wait until they are a little older as a tummy tuck is still major surgery and the downtime means you may find tasks like lifting difficult and struggle to keep up with the demands of a new baby.

It is also best to be at your ideal weight before you book in for a tummy tuck as keeping at a stable weight before and after the procedure will ensure that the results last.  It can be challenging to lose weight whilst breastfeeding so we would also recommend waiting until you are no longer doing this as any medications taken during surgery could also have negative effects on your baby.

Another factor to consider is if you are likely to continue having children, to get the best results it is probably better if you were to wait until you have no more plans for future children.

What is a c-tuck?

When doing your research about a tummy tuck after a c-section, you may have seen the term ‘c-tuck’ appearing which is where the tummy tuck is performed at the same time as the c-section.

Can You Have A Tummy Tuck During A C-Section?

Although seemingly a great idea, with respect of everything mentioned above, we would not recommend this at all.  Your body changes so much during pregnancy, your skin and muscles become stretched but they will contract back down on their own. This means that the type of tummy tuck procedure you require may be different in a few months.

The surgeon who is performing your c-section is also unlikely to be a plastic surgeon and finding a plastic surgeon who would agree to perform a tummy tuck immediately after a c-section is rare.

What Are The Problems With Combining A C Section And Tummy Tuck?

A c-section is a major operation in itself and you will need to take the time out to recover. Having another operation on top of that is not only going to add to the risks and complications but it is also going to affect your recovery time when you should be focusing your time and efforts on caring for your newborn.

It may be tempting to rush into getting your pre-pregnancy body back, but for the first year at least we suggest focusing your time on your child and instead exercising to ensure your body is in the best condition for abdominoplasty surgery and of course always make sure to do your research.

Tummy Tuck Surgery at The Private Clinic

• We are multi-award-winning Cosmetic Surgery provider.
• We have over 40 years’ experience in Medical Cosmetic treatments.
• We only use experienced and trusted surgeons with the highest professional qualifications.
• We pride ourselves on being able to offer dedicated post-operative care and appointments with your surgeon and nursing team.
• We offer a 24 hour help line should you need to contact us at any point during your recovery.
• Your procedure will be carried out at our state of the art hospital facilities in Fitzroy Square with no hidden costs.
• You will have a designated Patient Coordinator who will provide you with a comprehensive abdominoplasty patient guide and you will be able to call them with any questions as much as you need, throughout your Private Clinic journey.
• We believe that we are competitively priced for the expertise and professionalism that we provide for every patient.
• We offer a range of different abdominoplasty surgical techniques
• Our Cosmetic Surgeons will recommend the most suitable procedure for the results you wish to achieve.
• 5 Star Trustpilot Rating.
• View our Abdominoplasty before and after photos.
• Read our extensive abdominoplasty FAQs.
• See our Tummy tuck patient stories here.

Best Tummy Tuck Surgeons

Working with only the very best surgeons ensures that we can produce the results you want safely. We’re proud to have some of the UK’s most respected doctors as part of our Tummy Tuck team, including:

• Mr William Van Niekerk, MB ChB, MSc, MRCS, FRCS (Plast), FCMI, RAF (qs). GMC Number: 4362791
• Ms Helena Antoniadou, MBBS, MD & Surg (Hons), FRCS (Eng). GMC Number: 3700956
• Mr Maisam Fazel, MA(Cantab), MB BChir, MSEd, FRCS. GMC Number : 4767420
• Mr Giuseppe Di Taranto, MD. GMC Number: 7614248
• Sandip Hindocha – Consultant Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon, MD, MPhil, MBChB, MRCS, MFFLM, FRCS (Plast). GMC Number: 6122218
• Ms Rieka Taghizadeh, MBChb, MRCS (Glas), FRCS (Plast), GMC Number: 4743910
• Mr George Samouris, MD. GMC Number: 7064009

Get in touch

Tummy tuck consultations are available in London, Birmingham, and Northampton

If you would like to discuss tummy tuck options please call 03339209135 or use our tummy tuck online contact form to book a consultation with one of our surgeons or advisors.