What Is A Mommy Makeover?

A woman’s body can go through massive changes during pregnancy. Pregnancy will literally impact the entire body over the nine-month period you carry your little bundle of joy. With changing hormones, weight gain and just the fact that there is another human being growing in your abdomen, your body will become a stranger to you. Some lucky women bounce right back after the birth of their children, while others struggle to lose the weight. Some have stretched and sagging skin that will not return to normal after months of diet and exercise. It is frustrating. It is depressing. It can even make you a little (or A LOT) angry.

A mommy makeover is a series of procedures designed to help you get your body back after pregnancy. The procedures are often performed together so that you are able to recover more quickly than you would if you had each of them separately. A mommy makeover addresses common problem areas such as the breasts, the abdomen and the thighs, but can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the patient. We are going to look at the most common procedures done in a mommy makeover: a breast augmentation, an abdominoplasty and liposuction.

Breast Augmentation

A breast augmentation is a procedure that increases the volume of the breasts by inserting silicone implants under the skin or behind the muscle. The placement of the implant is dependent upon the size of implant you choose and your specific body type. You and your surgeon will determine the right cup size for you during a consultation. Most women choose to stay natural, only going up a full cup size, but you can discuss your wishes with your surgeon if you are looking for a larger enhancement.

Breast augmentations are a surgical procedure, so you will have scarring afterwards. Most surgeons will use an inframammary incision which will be located under the curve of the breasts. This type of incision is easily hidden underneath bras and bikini tops. Your breasts will be swollen and sore after your procedure and you will go home in a compression garment that keeps them supported during the first few days of healing.

Abdominoplasty

An abdominoplasty is known by most people as a “tummy tuck.” It is a procedure that removes excess skin from the abdomen and flanks. Depending on the severity of your condition, your surgeon will suggest either a mini tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck. In a mini-tummy tuck, an incision is made at the panty line and is the length of the pubis. For a full tummy tuck, the incision is made in the same general area but will extend from hip to hip. This is similar to a C-section scar that some women get during birth. The skin is then stretched tight and removed from the abdomen.

An abdominoplasty is not a weight loss mechanism. You have to have sagging skin with little visceral fat for a tummy tuck to work for you. After your procedure, you will be swollen and in a compression garment. You will be bent over at the waist for at least the first week and you will have drain tubes for at least 7 days. It is important to have someone to stay with you and help you during that first week of recovery.

Liposuction

Liposuction is used to remove extra fat from the body. During the procedure, small, thin tubes are placed under the skin and fat is suctioned out through the tubes. The surgeon will move the tubes around to specifically target fat deposits in the abdomen, thighs and flanks. Even though liposuction removes fat cells, it is once again, not a way to lose a large amount of weight. If you have been dieting and exercising regularly and you just can’t seem to get rid of that last little bit of fat, then liposuction is right for you. There is not as much downtime with liposuction as there is with an abdominoplasty, but many times, the two procedures are done together for the best results. It can take up to six months for your skin to tighten after liposuction.

A mommy makeover combines these procedures in an effort to reduce the amount of time that you will spend in recovery and to give your body an all-over enhancement after pregnancy. You should only get a mommy makeover if you are done having children. If you get pregnant after a mommy makeover, your results are not guaranteed to last. A mommy makeover is a great way to regain confidence and feel beautiful about your post-partum body. If you have any questions about a mommy makeover or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Huddleston, please contact our office today!