Posted September 18, 2023 in Body Procedures
Having children is a beautiful experience, but the effects pregnancy has on a woman’s body can be frustrating. While the bodily changes associated with childbirth are nothing short of miraculous, it’s often difficult for skin and tissues to return to their original state.
If you have had children and want to restore a fitter, more youthful appearance, a Mommy Makeover might be the procedure for you.
What Is a Mommy Makeover?
Plastic surgeons understand that most mothers who seek cosmetic surgery have more than one procedure in mind.
A Mommy Makeover combines cosmetic procedures targeting and enhancing the areas most affected by childbirth and breastfeeding: the breasts and midsection.
However, even within those categories, there’s significant variation in which procedures best suit your needs.
For instance, one woman may have lost breast volume and have localized fat pockets around her abdomen but tight, elastic skin. Another woman may struggle with significantly sagging breasts, diastasis recti (separated abdominal muscles), and unresponsive fat in their hips, thighs, and upper abdomen.
These women require two significantly different treatment plans to reach their goals.
A Mommy Makeover gives women the chance to personalize their plastic surgery so they can achieve the results they desire.
What Are My Mommy Makeover Options?
Mommy Makeovers often incorporate tummy tucks, liposuction, and some form of breast surgery. However, the great thing about the Mommy Makeover is that it’s intended to be customized — you are in control!
If you are interested in a Mommy Makeover, you might be overwhelmed by all the options.
Below, we’ll detail some popular procedures for Mommy Makeovers so that you can get an idea of what combinations are best for you.
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles stretch, and often don’t return to their normal state. This condition is called diastasis recti, and it is almost impossible to rectify through exercise alone. Diastasis recti, combined with pockets of fat and excess skin, can result in a “stomach pooch” that doesn’t budge without surgery.
Abdominoplasty, more commonly known as tummy tuck surgery, is the only procedure that targets all these issues, making it a very popular procedure for Mommy Makeovers.
During this procedure, Dr. Boll will make an incision along the lower abdomen, typically in the same area as a c-section, where she will surgically repair separated abdominal muscles and remove excess skin and fat. The result is a smoother, flatter midsection.
Liposuction
As the female body changes to support a pregnancy, it stores fat more efficiently. This can result in stubborn pockets of fat throughout the body that resist diet and exercise.
Liposuction is a diverse surgical procedure that can permanently remove pockets of fat to smooth and contour the body. Many women combine liposuction and tummy tuck surgery to combat multiple issues in one operation with stunning results.
Liposuction requires your surgeon to make small incisions around the treatment area before inserting a small tube (cannula) beneath the skin that will remove fat cells. Your surgeon will then massage and contour the treatment area to create a smoother surface.
Liposuction can be performed on virtually any area of the body with enough fat, such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, arms, or neck.
Cosmetic Breast Surgeries
A woman’s breasts go through many changes due to pregnancy and breastfeeding. As the breasts expand for milk production, the skin can become stretched.
After breastfeeding, many women lose that breast volume (if not more), resulting in sagging or stretched breasts. Additionally, the nipples can stretch and elongate after breastfeeding and hormone fluctuations.
If you are unhappy with your breasts due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, or the natural aging process, you may want to consider adding one or more breast surgeries to your Mommy Makeover plan.
- Breast lift surgery: Breast lift surgery is one of the most common cosmetic breast surgeries for Mommy Makeovers. This procedure is designed to lift and reshape sagging, stretched, or misshapen breast tissue.
During this procedure, your plastic surgeon will make a predetermined incision (based on the extent of correction needed) that allows them to tighten and lift the breast tissue higher on the chest. Your plastic surgeon can also manipulate the tissue to create a more pleasing shape and perky roundness.
Breast lift surgery cannot restore lost volume to the breast tissue. If you are experiencing deflated, sagging breasts, you can combine your breast lift with a breast augmentation.
- Breast augmentation: For some, breastfeeding not only removes the volume they gained with pregnancy but also makes their breasts smaller than before they got pregnant. In this case, they may be interested in breast augmentation, which restores volume through silicone or saline implants.
Many women choose to combine breast augmentation with a breast lift, a very simple procedure that will not only lift the breasts to a more perky position, it will give the patient rounded, voluptuous breasts.
- Breast reduction: If you’ve had large breasts your whole life, pregnancy can complicate the look and feel of your chest even more.
Regardless of your natural breast tissue, pregnancy causes your breasts to swell. For women with naturally large breasts, this means very large and heavy breasts throughout their pregnancies. Breast reduction surgery can help eliminate heavy, pendulous breasts that might be uncomfortable. Many women with young children want to simplify their lives with smaller, more manageable sizes.
During a breast reduction, your surgeon will make an incision similar to a breast lift. Then, she will remove your excess tissue to create a smaller appearance. Not only will you have lighter breasts, but by removing skin and tissue, your breasts will have a moderate lift and a more pleasing shape.
Vaginal Rejuvenation With ThermiVa®
Regardless of whether you’ve had a vaginal delivery or are seeing the signs of aging, the vaginal wall can change. ThermiVa® is a non-surgical treatment that can restore the appearance of the vulva and tighten the interior of the vagina with no downtime.
Using radiofrequency (RF) energy, ThermiVa® heats the skin and tissue of the treatment area, stimulating collagen production to create new, healthy tissue.
Ready to Start Your Mommy Makeover Journey?
You have a lot of options to consider, so the next step is to schedule a consultation with your Arizona board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jennifer Boll.
During your consultation, Dr. Boll will listen to your questions, concerns, and goals and help you create a customized Mommy Makeover plan.
If you were recently pregnant, it’s important to note that you must be completely healed and have finished breastfeeding before undergoing any elective procedures. Additionally, if you are interested in abdominoplasty, you should be near your goal weight.
A Mommy Makeover is a fantastic gift to yourself — you’ve done the hard work, and now it’s time to enjoy your body again!
Interested in Mommy Makeovers in Tempe, AZ?
If you have questions about Mommy Makeovers or any other body contouring procedure we offer, schedule your consultation today by calling (480) 800-8295 or filling out our online contact form.