Contrary to what the name may suggest, a mommy makeover procedure isn’t only reserved for those who are mothers. While it’s original intent was to identify a procedure that corrects common physical changes that a woman’s body experiences during/after carrying and delivering a child, similar effects can also occur to those who have never had kids themselves. Mommy makeover surgery consists of a strategic combination of body contouring and breast procedures to remedy effects that natural aging and weight gain/loss can have on the body. Don’t let a name fool you into thinking that it’s not an option for you, because it is. With the many benefits combination procedures have, let’s take a look at what mommy makeovers can be for all women.
Originally, mommy makeover was coined as a term to describe procedures that reverse the effects of pregnancy weight gain, weakened abdominal muscles and excess sagging breasts from breastfeeding. Each surgical plan is customized to give each patient mommy makeover results that mirror a pre-pregnancy body; one more proportionate to the patient’s frame, without all of the excess fat and skin. The two biggest areas of concern for moms tend to be the stomach and the breasts. As your child grows in the womb, the abdominal muscles can stretch and become separated from the abdominal wall, commonly referred to as diastasis recti. On top of weakened muscles, the abdomen can form a pooch and harbor excess skin and fat long after a child is born. Achieving a contoured waistline can be hard to do with even the most steadfast diet and exercise regimen, therefore tummy tuck surgery tops the list for procedures to re-sculpt the midsection and re-tighten the muscle.
Then we take a look at the breasts. After breastfeeding, the once enlarged breasts simply will not go back to the position they were once before; the extra skin sags and the breasts become more pendulous and less perky. We have several options to address these concerns. First we’ll figure out if you want to go bigger, smaller and possibly add a lift. With a breast augmentation, we’ll use a pre-determined breast implant to increase the bust and raise the breast higher up on the body. If you already have large breasts and want them to relieve some of the weight from your body, a breast reduction can remove the excess fat and skin. When combining a breast reduction with a breast lift we aren’t enhancing the breasts but raising them higher in position, one more proportionate to your body’s frame. For those that aren’t mothers, gravity takes its toll on the breasts and can cause the same pendulous effects when experiencing dramatic weight gain/loss. The same combinations would be beneficial to helping restore the breasts to a more youthful aesthetic.
A major benefit to combination mommy makeover surgery is that you’re minimizing several key factors: recovery, time and money. Having one comprehensive procedure versus say three (for example one procedure for a tummy tuck, another for a breast reduction and another for a breast lift) will reduce the overall amount of time you need to recover. Less time spent in the hospital means less time spent at home recovering and quicker time getting you back to your regular schedule. With each surgical procedure there are fees outside the cost of materials and labor like hospital stays, anesthesia, surgical fees and medications. Each time you have a procedure these are factored into your total costs; if you have one complete procedure, those fees apply to that one procedure versus multiple.
It’s really about when the timing is right for you. For mothers, the time should be when you’re finished having children because the same physical effects could reverse any results you’ve accomplished from your plastic surgery procedures before that point (the same goes for women who have a tendency to fluctuate in their weight gain/loss). If you’d like to learn more details on the benefits of mommy makeover or combination procedures, don’t hesitate to contact Southern Plastic Surgery. For the most up-to-date plastic surgery news and specials be sure to connect with me, Dr. David Whiteman, on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.