Mommy Makeover
Over the past decade, plastic surgeons have witnessed a sharp rise in the number of mothers electing to have breast and body sculpting surgeries to correct the aesthetic problems resulting from pregnancy and childbirth, and they have named this phenomenon a Mommy Makeover.
The joy of becoming a mother is something most women look forward to and cherish. Unfortunately however, pregnancy and breastfeeding usually take their toll on the female body. It’s all too common for women to emerge from childbirth with a very different looking body to the one they had before pregnancy.
When diet and exercise have failed and non-surgical treatments have had no effect, these changes can often leave women feeling self-conscious and embarrassed about the appearance of their bodies.
While some women are relatively immune from the effects of pregnancy and seem to return to their pre-baby bodies with ease, a number of women fall into the category of requiring cosmetic surgery to achieve their aesthetic goals.
A Mommy Makeover is a combination of cosmetic procedures designed to restore and invigorate a woman after her body has undergone the strain of childbearing. The goal is to return your body to its former self, or even a little better.
Changes to the abdomen
The changes that occur to the female body during pregnancy are often most evident on the abdomen. All women experience normal hormonal changes during pregnancy that mainly serve to allow the abdominal wall tissues including the muscles to relax (rectus diastasis) and accommodate the size of the baby as it grows within the uterus. Although some women’s abdominal tissues will return to a pre-pregnancy state, most women are left with loose, sagging skin (ptosis); disfiguring stretch marks (striae); bulging lower abdominal muscles; or possibly a combination of all of these effects. Many women also undergo a C-section (Caesarean section) delivery, or have had previous abdominal surgery, both of which can leave thick, unattractive and painful scars.
Changes to the breasts
Many mothers are concerned that nursing their baby will destroy the youthful appearance of their breasts. Changes in the breasts however, will occur during pregnancy whether or not a mother chooses or is able to breastfeed her baby. As the female body prepares for milk production (known as lactation), the milk glands in the breasts swell and replace the other fatty breast tissue. After childbirth, these glands often shrink, which can leave a loose skin envelope that lacks sufficient breast tissue to fill it. After pregnancy, a woman’s breasts therefore frequently have less fullness, tend to sag lower, and commonly develop stretch marks.
Changes to the body contours
Although most women are able to lose the weight that they have gained during pregnancy, many notice that they have a few persistent areas of fat on the hips, abdomen, back and thighs that will not go away, despite aggressive and sustained exercise regimens and a strict diet. Many of the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy result in permanent body defects such as these localized fatty deposits.
Who is an ideal candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
Women who may benefit from a mommy makeover include those experiencing physical discomfort or emotional distress because of the way pregnancy has changed their bodies and may have the following:
The ideal candidate for a Mommy Makeover is a healthy woman of any age who has stopped breastfeeding and does not plan any further pregnancies. A Mommy Makeover is not a good idea for women who intend to have more children, as further pregnancies post-Mommy Makeover will undo all the work that has been done.
The Mommy Makeover procedures
Pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding can create different problems for each woman, and so the Mommy Makeover will be unique for each patient. During your consultation, you will be provided with personalised guidance as to whether or not these procedures are in your best interest and how best to accomplish your precise and unique cosmetic goals.
Mommy Makeovers usually include a combination of breast and body procedures such as: Breast Lift, Breast Augmentation (with or without a Breast Lift), Breast Revision, Tummy Tuck, and Liposuction.
However, a Mommy Makeover can also be staged into multiple surgeries and may include other procedures such as a Thigh Lift, Arm lift, Butt Lift and/or Vaginal Rejuvenation.
Recovery varies with each patient. For patients who chose a breast surgery, recovery may range from 7 to 10 days.
If a patient chose to incorporate a tummy tuck with a breast surgery or alone, the recovery period varies from three to four weeks.
If a full abdominoplasty was performed, patients are generally admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay.
If liposuction was performed during the abdominoplasty, a compression garment must be worn for up to 6 weeks.
During the healing period, it’s highly suggested for mothers to get the assistance they need, (spouse, partner, family member or friend) for the first few days following surgery.
Proper resting and healing will allow a patient to make excellent strides in their recovery.
Cosmetic surgery is a journey. The transformations are wonderful, but patience is needed as your body adjusts to their new improvements.
"Cherish your body, forever and beyond."
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