In the words of Pablo Picasso, “youth has no age.” At the very core, age is a numerical representation of how many years we’ve lived on this Earth. What’s great about aging is that we get to experience many things in a lifetime and whether good or bad, we still have the capability to embody a youthful spirit even as we tack on years. Plastic surgery is an art, one that helps sculpt patients into a form that can positively impact their life and give them a real sense of looking as young as they feel. I’ve been a double-board certified plastic surgeon for nearly 22 years now and I still get the question, “am I too old for a mommy makeover procedure” more times than you may believe.
Whether you’re 30, 40, 50 or 60, if you truly believe that age is just a number, then the answer to this question is easy – no, you’re not too old for a mommy makeover. As a society we tend to get stuck on the nomenclature of just about everything and can lose sight of the real goal that we’re trying to achieve. The current procedure names that we know today are just identifiers we use to describe the type of plastic surgery procedure we’re performing. Tummy tucks cover the abdomen, breast enhancement works with breasts, and facial rejuvenation to refresh your look.
Since physical changes to the abdomen and breasts commonly arise after women experience childbirth, mommy makeover is the name used to describe a combination breast and body contouring procedure to correct patients’ concerns for multiple areas at once. This also means that it’s not a procedure exclusively for mothers; it’s for all women. It’s for the 55-year-old single woman who lost significant weight and wants to get rid of excess skin and fat around the stomach and on her breasts. It’s for the 36-year-old mother of two who is finished having kids and wants her pooch, caused by weakened abdominal muscles, gone and larger breasts to fill out a bikini. It’s for the 60-year-old grandmother who has aged gracefully in the face but would like the rest of her body to exhibit the same youthfulness (but if she wanted to combine a face procedure she would be a better Grammy makeover candidate).
As your surgeon I can examine if you’re in good mental and physical health to undergo a mommy makeover. Age is factored into the equation to increase your safety as the patient and to decrease any unforeseen risks that arise with any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure. If those two check out then the only person who can answer the “am I too old?” question is you. Plastic surgery is about improving upon what you were already gifted with because it will make you feel better in the clothes you wear, appreciate the reflection in the mirror more, or simply increase your overall happiness. Having the mommy makeover results of your dreams could be just the gift you needed for yourself and no age or misconception of what’s appropriate or not according to society’s standards should get in the way.
Each month we feature a cosmetic procedure by offering special savings to our Atlanta-area patients. Two popular procedures included in the mommy makeover are featured for December and we encourage you to check out our plastic surgery specials page if you’re interested in exploring breast enhancement and body contouring procedures. We are here to help in any way we can so give Southern Plastic Surgery (SPS) a call at 770-622-9100 or get to know more about the SPS team during your consultation with me, Dr. David Whiteman, when the time is right for you.