A mommy makeover is a series of treatments that are used to rebuild a woman's body after giving birth. Pregnancy takes a huge toll on the body, and it often alters the appearance of the legs, tummy and breasts.
While diet and exercise can help to get rid of some of these changes, it typically is not enough to eliminate all of them. For example, when a woman is pregnant, it is not uncommon for the left and right side of her abdominal muscles to be separated. This leads to a condition commonly called a "muffin top." It leads to a very noticeable bulge developing on the woman's belly, and there is no amount of dieting or exercising that can get rid of it. The patient's abdominal muscles have to be sutured back together to restore the appearance of a flat belly.
A mommy makeover aims to eliminate issues like this during a single surgery. Some patients might have to come in for more than one surgery depending on the issues they are trying to eliminate. Mommy makeovers combine popular plastic surgery procedures like:
This plastic surgery procedure is performed to improve the way a patient's belly looks. It is an effective way to reduce the size of the belly after pregnancy. During the treatment, excess fat and skin are extracted from the stomach. The tissues that keep the different parts of the abdomen together are sutured tight and the remaining skin is tightened to create an improved tone.
A woman's stomach is more likely to stick out after her abdominal fascia has been stretched out by a pregnancy or drastic weight changes. The tummy tuck removes the excess fat, removes loose skin and sutures the abdominal muscles together. It can also help to get rid of stretch marks in the lower abdomen. These are all things no amount of dieting and exercising can eliminate.
The plastic surgeon might recommend a tummy tuck if:
Breast augmentation is used to increase a patient's breast size. It involves inserting breast implants into the person's chest or breast tissues. It is normal for a woman's breasts to shrink after pregnancy. This leads to saggy breast and it can lower a person's confidence.
Breast augmentation can be combined with a breast lift to restore the fullness of the patient's breasts and give them a perkier appearance. If the patient was initially unhappy with the size of her breasts prior to the pregnancy, that can also be addressed during breast augmentation. Many patients report improved confidence once the appearance of their breasts has been restored.
Liposuction is used to improve the shape and contours of the body. The hormonal changes that occur during and after pregnancy make it difficult to remove fat from certain parts of the body, like the belly. When diet and exercise fail to get rid of problematic layers of fat, liposuction can provide better results.
The treatment consists of inserting a cannula (a thin tube) into an incision made by the plastic surgeon. The cannula is connected to a vacuum and it is used to suck out layers of fat. Three popular types of liposuction are:
Liposuction is typically reserved for people who do not have any chronic issues, like diabetes or heart disease. They should also be done with breastfeeding before the procedure is performed. The benefits of liposuction include:
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Mommy makeovers utilize a series of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures to effectively address pregnancy related changes to the breasts and tummy. The first step is a consultation with a plastic surgeon who specializes in mommy makeovers. The doctor will talk to the patient about their goals and desires. They will be asked about their medical history and any medications they are currently taking.
The doctor will then educate the patient about their options and what they should expect from the treatments. The doctor and patient will then decide which treatments to go with. These procedures will determine if it will be an outpatient procedure or if the patient will need to be hospitalized.
General anesthesia is typically used during a mommy makeover so the patient will be unconscious throughout the treatment. Most mommy makeovers last somewhere between three to six hours.
The treatments the patient decides to go with determines how long the recovery period will be. There will be some swelling, pain and soreness for the first few days after the procedure, but those should quickly begin to subside. The surgeon might prescribe painkillers to help manage the pain and antibiotics to prevent infection. Drains might be attached to the surgical sites to manage fluid accumulation.
It is best to make arrangements for help around the home especially for the first few days after the surgery.
Most patients are able to return to their usual activities within a couple of weeks after their mommy makeover. Patients should refrain from physically demanding activities and heavy lifting for at least six weeks after their treatment.
The results of a mommy makeover typically last a long time if the patient maintains their weight with diet and exercise after their body has been restored.
If you are thinking of getting a mommy makeover, give our office a call so that we can provide you with more information or schedule an appointment for a consultation. We can help your body get back to its pre-baby form!