Can You Get Plastic Surgery While Pregnant: Safety, Risks, and Disqualifications
Pregnancy is a transformative time, both physically and emotionally, leading some women to question whether plastic surgery is safe or advisable during this period. While the desire to address physical changes is understandable, it’s essential to consider the unique medical and ethical concerns involved.
This article offers an evidence-based overview of the risks, disqualifications, and rare exceptions associated with undergoing plastic surgery while pregnant, helping you make informed and responsible decisions.
Pregnancy and Plastic Surgery: The Basic Facts
Most plastic surgeons recommend against elective cosmetic procedures during pregnancy. The combination of anesthesia, medications, and the body’s altered state during pregnancy creates a complex risk profile that generally makes elective surgery inadvisable.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons takes a clear stance on this issue: elective cosmetic procedures should be postponed until after pregnancy and breastfeeding.
This recommendation stems from concerns about fetal development, medication risks, and the natural changes a woman’s body undergoes during and after pregnancy.
What Disqualifies You From Plastic Surgery
Several factors can disqualify someone from undergoing plastic surgery, with pregnancy being a significant one. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of common disqualifications:
| Disqualifying Factor | Why It Matters | Risk Level |
| 🤰 Pregnancy | Risk to fetal development; anesthesia concerns | ⚠️⚠️⚠️ |
| 💊 Certain medications | May interact with anesthesia or affect healing | ⚠️⚠️ |
| 🫀 Cardiovascular conditions | Increased complications risk | ⚠️⚠️⚠️ |
| 🚬 Smoking | Impairs healing and increases complication risks | ⚠️⚠️ |
| 💉 Autoimmune conditions | May affect healing and recovery | ⚠️⚠️ |
| 🩸 Bleeding disorders | Increases surgical risks | ⚠️⚠️⚠️ |
| 🧠 Unrealistic expectations | Psychological readiness concerns | ⚠️ |
Pregnancy stands out as perhaps the most significant temporary disqualification for elective cosmetic surgery.
Most board-certified plastic surgeons will not perform elective procedures on pregnant women due to the potential risks to both mother and baby.
Why Pregnancy Typically Disqualifies You From Elective Surgery
The primary concern regarding plastic surgery during pregnancy is the potential risk to the developing fetus. Here’s why pregnancy typically disqualifies patients from elective cosmetic procedures:
Anesthesia Concerns
General anesthesia, commonly used in many plastic surgery procedures, raises concerns during pregnancy. While modern anesthesia is generally safe, there are potential risks to fetal development, especially during the first trimester when major organ development occurs.
Surgeons and anesthesiologists are particularly cautious about exposing developing fetuses to medications that might affect growth or development. The research on anesthesia safety during pregnancy remains limited due to ethical constraints on conducting studies involving pregnant women.
Physical Changes During Pregnancy
A pregnant woman’s body undergoes significant physiological changes that can complicate surgical procedures and recovery:
- Increased blood volume and cardiac output
- Changes in blood coagulation
- Compromised immune system function
- Altered metabolism of medications
- Restricted positioning during procedures
- Increased risk of deep vein thrombosis
These changes can make surgery more challenging and potentially increase complication risks, even with routine procedures.
Recovery Complications
Recovery from plastic surgery typically requires medication for pain management. Many common pain medications are not recommended during pregnancy, limiting options for postoperative comfort. Additionally, the physical limitations during pregnancy may impede proper recovery positioning and increase risks of complications like blood clots.
Emergency Procedures vs. Elective Surgery
While elective cosmetic procedures are generally postponed, certain urgent or emergency plastic surgery procedures may still be performed during pregnancy when medically necessary.
When Surgery Might Be Necessary During Pregnancy
In cases of trauma, cancer, severe infections, or other medical emergencies, plastic surgery procedures might be unavoidable.
These situations are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, weighing the risks of surgery against the risks of delaying treatment.
For example, reconstruction after trauma or removal of skin cancers might be deemed necessary even during pregnancy. In these cases, surgeons take extra precautions:
- Timing procedures during the second trimester when possible (after major organ development but before late-term complications)
- Utilizing specialized anesthesia protocols
- Employing fetal monitoring during procedures
- Minimizing medication exposure
- Involving multiple specialists including obstetricians
Timing Considerations for Plastic Surgery Around Pregnancy
For women planning both pregnancy and plastic surgery, timing becomes an important consideration.
Before Pregnancy
Many surgeons recommend waiting at least six months after major cosmetic procedures before attempting pregnancy. This allows the body to fully heal and reduces the risk of complications that might affect fertility or pregnancy.
After Pregnancy
Most plastic surgeons recommend waiting at least six months after childbirth before undergoing cosmetic procedures, particularly those targeting areas affected by pregnancy such as the breasts or abdomen. For women who breastfeed, the recommended waiting period extends to three to six months after weaning.
This waiting period allows the body to return to its baseline state, providing more predictable and lasting surgical results. It also ensures that hormonal fluctuations have stabilized, reducing potential complications.
Common Procedures Women Consider Around Pregnancy
Certain plastic surgery procedures are particularly relevant to women concerned about pregnancy-related body changes:
Mommy Makeover
This combination of procedures typically includes breast surgery (augmentation, lift, or reduction) and abdominal contouring (tummy tuck or liposuction). Designed to address common post-pregnancy concerns, these procedures are only appropriate after completing childbearing.
A mommy makeover significantly reshapes areas affected by pregnancy. Undergoing these procedures and then becoming pregnant could reverse the results and potentially cause complications.
Breast Procedures
Breast augmentation, reduction, or lifts are commonly sought by women whose breasts have changed after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Future pregnancies can significantly alter breast tissue, potentially compromising surgical results.
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
This procedure tightens abdominal muscles that may have separated during pregnancy (diastasis recti) and removes excess skin. A subsequent pregnancy would likely re-stretch these tissues, undoing the surgical results and potentially causing complications.
Risks of Plastic Surgery During Pregnancy
The risks associated with plastic surgery during pregnancy affect both mother and baby:
Maternal Risks
- Increased risk of blood clots due to pregnancy’s hypercoagulable state
- Higher chance of infection due to altered immune function
- Unpredictable responses to anesthesia and medications
- Compromised healing due to diverted resources supporting the pregnancy
- Positioning limitations during surgery increasing complication risks
Fetal Risks
- Potential developmental impacts from anesthesia exposure
- Possible effects from surgical stress on maternal systems
- Medication exposure risks
- Complications from reduced maternal blood flow during surgery
These risks explain why board-certified plastic surgeons typically refuse to perform elective procedures on pregnant women.
Medical Necessity Exceptions
In some cases, plastic surgery during pregnancy may be medically indicated:
Trauma Reconstruction
After serious accidents or injuries, reconstructive plastic surgery may be necessary even during pregnancy. These procedures focus on restoring function and preventing further complications rather than aesthetic improvements.
Cancer Management
When skin cancers or other malignancies require surgical intervention, plastic surgeons may need to perform procedures during pregnancy. The risks of delaying cancer treatment often outweigh the risks of surgery.
Severe Infections or Wounds
Complicated wounds or infections might require plastic surgical intervention to prevent progression and systemic complications that could endanger both mother and baby.
In these medically necessary cases, a multidisciplinary approach involving the plastic surgeon, obstetrician, anesthesiologist, and other specialists ensures the safest possible outcome.
Pregnancy Testing Before Plastic Surgery
Most plastic surgery practices have strict protocols requiring pregnancy testing before procedures for women of childbearing age. This precaution helps prevent inadvertent surgery on early pregnancies that haven’t yet been detected.
Surgery centers typically conduct urine pregnancy tests immediately before procedures. Some surgeons request these tests even if patients report using contraception or believe pregnancy is impossible. This universal approach helps protect both patients and practitioners.
What To Do If You Discover You’re Pregnant Before Scheduled Surgery
If you discover you’re pregnant after scheduling a cosmetic procedure but before undergoing surgery:
- Contact your surgeon’s office immediately
- Do not discontinue any prescribed medications without medical guidance
- Schedule a consultation to discuss postponing your procedure
- Consider rebooking for an appropriate time after pregnancy and recovery
Most offices have policies regarding rescheduling fees in these situations and often waive them for pregnancy-related postponements.
Conclusion
Pregnancy and elective plastic surgery generally don’t mix well. The physical changes, medication risks, and ethical considerations around fetal development create a scenario where waiting is almost always the preferred option. Board-certified plastic surgeons typically refuse to perform elective cosmetic procedures during pregnancy to protect both mother and baby.
For women planning future pregnancies, discussing these plans with your plastic surgeon during consultation is essential. This transparency allows for appropriate timing recommendations and procedure selections that will provide the most sustainable results.
When medically necessary plastic surgery can’t wait, a multidisciplinary approach involving specialists from multiple fields can help minimize risks and protect both maternal and fetal health. In these rare cases, the benefits of necessary intervention typically outweigh the potential risks of surgery during pregnancy.
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