LAUSR

BACKGROUND The common recommendation for female abdominoplasty candidates is to conclude family planning before undergoing the procedure. However, there is no evidence demonstrating correlation between aesthetic outcome compromise, risk for fetal complications or risk for maternal complications when abdominoplasty is followed by pregnancy. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal, fetal, and aesthetic outcomes among pregnant females with a history of abdominoplasty. METHODS We conducted an online survey among women who became pregnant after having an abdominoplasty. Participants were recruited via social media groups related to abdominoplasty. The survey included demographic, aesthetic outcome and pregnancy related questions. We used a score from 1 (no effect) to 10 (worst effect) to assess abdominal aesthetic outcome compromise. RESULTS Thirty-two participants completed the online survey, 15 (46.8%) of which reported their pregnancy was unplanned. Pregnancy related findings included five (15.6%) late premature births (between gestational week 35 and 37), one miscarriage and one emergency C-section. Compromised aesthetic outcomes following pregnancy included new abdominal stretch marks (50%, N=16), widened abdominoplasty scar (28%, N=9), abdominal skin excess (37.5%, N=12) and abdominal bulge (25.8%, N=8). A new hernia was reported by two participants (6.3%). The average abdominal aesthetic severity score was 2.7 (range 1-8), and only three scores were above 5 (9.3%). Two women (6.2%) underwent abdominoplasty revision, and eighteen (56.2%) stated they would recommend others to undergo abdominoplasty before pregnancy (56.3%). CONCLUSIONS Our survey shows there is room to reevaluate whether future pregnancy should be considered a relative contraindication for undergoing abdominoplasty.