Pregnancy is an incredible process that brings a new life into the world, but it can also bring about weight gain that can leave many new moms feeling insecure. The extra pounds that linger can be particularly challenging to lose considering your body is healing while you are now caring for a newborn around the clock – so understandably it is tough. For this reason, though, we are often asked about liposuction after baby and how soon a procedure can be scheduled.
How Soon Can You Have Liposuction After Having a Baby?
For an uncomplicated birth, we recommend waiting at least 3-6 months post-partum for liposuction. This recommendation will vary depending on several factors, such as, whether you had a vaginal delivery or a c-section, if you are currently breastfeeding, whether you plan to have more children, and if there are any other health issues to consider.
Your body goes through so many changes during pregnancy and the months following birth, so understandably it takes time for your body to heal and the uterus and abdomen to contract back to pre-pregnancy size. Once that has happened, you can then assess your liposuction goals more realistically.
How Soon After a C-Section Can You Get Liposuction?
We recommend waiting at least 6 to 9 months after a c-section delivery for liposuction. This allows your incision to heal and your uterus and abdomen to contract back to a pre-pregnancy size. However, the healing time after a c-section can vary widely, so it’s always best to meet with a liposuction surgeon for an in-person consultation to determine if you qualify and what an appropriate timeline would be for you individually.
Can Lipo Get Rid of a Mommy Pooch?
Yes! You can read more about that on our page about FUPA liposuction. Essentially, if your mommy pooch is mainly caused by excess fat (not skin), you may qualify for FUPA liposuction. But, if your mommy pooch is mainly caused by loose skin, then you may need to consider a tummy tuck vs liposuction. The best way to know for sure is to come in for a complimentary consultation with one of our surgeons.
Can You Get Liposuction While Breastfeeding?
It is not recommended to have liposuction while breastfeeding because anesthesia and other medications can potentially pass into your breastmilk, so it is usually best to wait. Furthermore, your body will continue to change while you pump/breastfeed, so it’s a good idea to see how your body responds once you have weaned your baby.
Should You Get Lipo if You Plan to Have More Children?
If you are planning to get pregnant in the very near future, then it would be wise to wait until after your final pregnancy and then evaluate your liposuction goals. But if a baby is not necessarily in the plans anytime soon, then you do not have to wait. Even if you do plan to have a baby at some point in the future, a future pregnancy will not “ruin” the results of liposuction. Once fat is removed via liposuction it is gone forever (read more about that here).
However, just like anyone else getting liposuction, you can still gain weight in the fat cells that remain in the surrounding areas of your body. That is why we encourage every patient to continue healthy lifestyle habits after their surgery to best maintain their results. So, while there will of course be weight gain during a pregnancy, as long as you continue healthy eating habits and resume exercise as soon as you feel ready and you are cleared by your doctor, then your liposuction results should remain intact.
