In the recent years, mommy makeover procedures have become more and more popular. The main reason behind this is that during one procedure, the cosmetic surgeon can address multiple problems. This is a great advantage, given the fact that we don’t have a lot of spare time and we are looking for efficient ways to rejuvenate ourselves.
However, we need to be aware that not all mommy makeovers are the same and not every procedure can be combined.
Mommy makeover isn’t standardized for all patients
Unfortunately, with mommy makeover procedures, there’s no “one size fits all” policy. Just like with the majority of cosmetic surgeries, this one too has to be customized to the patient’s needs, lifestyle and physical anatomy. Your body contour can drastically change because of:
- Pregnancy,
- Weight fluctuation
- Age
- Menopause
- Breastfeeding
Because of these natural changes, the skin on your body can stretch so much that it cannot ‘bounce back’ and you can end up with droopy or sagging skin.
Some patients might even lose a significant volume in their breasts and develop ‘fat pockets’ and no matter how hard they exercise they simply can’t get rid of them.
In order to achieve the maximum results i.e. good physical appearance and feeling happy about the results, it’s important to pick the right timing and procedures that will go into your mommy makeover journey.
What usually includes a mommy makeover?
Usually a mommy makeover consists of some form of breast augmentation and tummy tuck. As the name implies, the main goal of this procedure is to rejuvenate the woman’s body that was impacted by motherhood. But as time passed by, the procedure changed and now can include various combination of procedures:
- Breast lift
- Breast augmentation
- Breast reduction
- Liposuction
- Tight lift
- Arm lift
- Buttock augmentation and
- Tummy tuck
The aim of the procedure is to restore the previous, lifted and youthful look to your physical appearance. This can sometimes require excision of excess skin, removal of unwanted fat and even increasing the volume of your breast with the help of breast implants.
Breast augmentation and breast lift as part of the procedure
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, breasts usually deflate. That’s why breast surgery is a key component to a mommy makeover procedure. The simplest solution to this problem is breast augmentation, where the surgeon uses breast implants to restore the lost volume of your breast.
However, due to age, pregnancy and breastfeeding, the skin and breast tissue can stretch and sometimes breast augmentation isn’t the best approach.
When you stand in front of a mirror and your nipples aren’t facing forward, you will most likely need to have breast lift along with your augmentation. You may think that you will compensate for this if you get bigger implants, but that’s not always the case. Usually, bigger implants can cause additional problems down the road (back pain, saggy skin etc.). But when you combine breast augmentation with breast lift, your nipples will be restored back to the center of your breast, providing a younger look.
Tummy tuck
With or without motherhood, the abdomen can be a troublesome are for many women. Even though liposuction is used to remove excess fat, it cannot resolve the issue of saggy skin or loose muscles. Luckily, a tummy tuck procedure can help with all three issues.
There are two options that patients can choose from: a tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck. Usually patients opt in for the mini procedure, but they actually need the first one. Why? Well, mini tummy tuck is recommended only to patients that have saggy skin below their belly button. This is one of the main requirements.
Naturally, this rules out most women that went through pregnancy, menopause or lost a significant amount of weight.
Recovery
No matter if you have a regular tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck, a mommy makeover procedure will drastically change your life. And as with all other forms of surgery, it will require that you dedicate enough time for recovery.
You have to prepare not only for the actual surgery, but also how will you manage in the first month or so after the procedure. So plan accordingly.
During the first 3-4 weeks, you won’t be able to bend or lift things normally. So prepare your meals ahead, order in or have someone cook for you. And if you have young children, make sure you have someone who can help you out.
Good results after a mommy makeover require both a good and skilled surgeon, and a significant amount of time your body needs to heal.
If you became a mother recently, lost weight or went through menopause and want to rejuvenate your body with a mommy makeover, contact us today and schedule an appointment with Dr. Kotoske.
