Pregnancy After Panniculectomy Postbariatric Surgery: A Case Report

Panniculectomy and abdominoplasty are two forms of abdominal body contouring commonly performed. There are literature reports of healthcare providers citing abdominoplasty as a contraindication to future pregnancy due to potential risks to the patient and fetus. Panniculectomy, outside of the reduced risks from the lack of rectus muscle plication, would have similar effects on the patient and fetus in future pregnancies. Yet, abdominal contouring surgery is being performed in women of childbearing age with increasing frequency, meriting further research to explore the true safety profile of pregnancy after body contouring surgeries. Here, we present a case report of a woman who underwent two full-term vaginal deliveries after undergoing a panniculectomy due to massive weight loss from prior gastric bypass. While she had high utilization of healthcare services throughout her pregnancies, she experienced no significant adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our report is consistent with current literature, suggesting that prior panniculectomy should not be a contraindication to pregnancy.