It is truly amazing how many big changes can occur to your body after carrying one little baby for nine months. Couple those pregnancy changes with the consequences of breastfeeding and suddenly you are looking in the mirror at a body you don’t recognize. Is there any way to get your pre-baby body back, short of logging multiple hours at the gym daily? The good news is there is a solution that will help restore your more youthful shape and appearance. It is a surgical procedure commonly referred to as a “mommy makeover.”
THOSE DREADED BABY CHANGES
You adore the little one you brought into the world, but you don’t love the havoc wreaked on your body during those nine months. Some of the changes you might experience include:
- Sagging breasts
- Breasts that look deflated
- Stretched abdominal muscles
- Loose skin around the midsection
- Areas of fat that don’t respond to diet and exercise
- The formation of stretch marks
With so many ways that little bundle of joy can affect your body, it’s no wonder you don’t recognize yourself when you look in the mirror! Fortunately, components of a mommy makeover can address and reverse all of these pregnancy-related issues.
COMPONENTS OF A MOMMY MAKEOVER
A mommy makeover is actually a customizable set of surgical procedures designed to work with the specific needs of each patient. Common components of a mommy makeover might include:
TUMMY TUCK
Also known as abdominoplasty, this procedure tightens up lax abdominal muscles while removing loose skin and excess fat to create a leaner, smoother look to the midsection. A full tummy tuck will also remove stretch marks that formed on the lower portion of the abdomen along with the loose skin.
BREAST AUGMENTATION
The perfect treatment for breasts that have been deflated over the size changes of pregnancy and subsequent breastfeeding, breast augmentation adds fullness and volume to the breasts. Synthetic implants are placed into the breast tissue in a size and shape that are complementary to your other body proportions. The surgery can also address asymmetry between the breasts and perk up breasts with a minimal amount of droop.
BREAST LIFT
A breast lift can be performed with breast augmentation or alone to restore sagging breasts to a more youthful position on the chest. This procedure removes excess skin and may reposition the nipple and areola if necessary. A breast lift may be recommended if your breasts are sagging below the breast crease, nipples are pointing downward or your overall body shape is making you look older than you feel.
LIPOSUCTION
The abdomen isn’t the only place that might harbor stubborn areas of fat after pregnancy. Those extra pounds can also leave their mark around the hips, thighs and flanks. For this reason, liposuction is sometimes included with a mommy makeover to remove those isolated fat deposits and create a smoother body contour. Liposuction is also frequently used during the tummy tuck to remove excess fat cells from the midsection and enhance the results of that procedure.
