Motherhood can be amazingly enriching to a woman’s life, but sometimes the effects of pregnancy and all that goes with it can take a toll on body contour. If your body didn’t bounce back to its original shape as well as you may have hoped, a “mommy makeover” can help.
What is a mommy makeover?
Mommy makeovers are designed to correct many of the problems that come from being pregnant. These include body contour issues such as loose skin of the abdominal area, a loss of fullness in the breasts, sagging of the breasts and breast skin, and even hard-to-get-rid-of fatty deposits. The results can be quite dramatic and restore a feeling of self-confidence by giving you back your best body contour.
A mommy makeover generally consists of a tummy tuck combined with cosmetic breast surgery, such as a breast augmentation, breast lift or both. The most common combination in our practice is a tummy tuck and breast augmentation with a mini-lift.
How do you know if you’re a good candidate for a mommy makeover?
In general, a mommy makeover is best for those who have a combination of excess skin of the tummy and the desire to enhance the appearance of their breasts. It’s helpful for your weight to be as stable as possible. Optimal candidates have a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or less. If you have a history of breast-feeding, it is recommended to wait at least three months after breast-feeding to decrease the risk of breast milk complicating the breast surgery. Obviously, better candidates also don’t have any major medical illnesses.
Deciding which procedures may be best for you is something that will be determined after consultation with your plastic surgeon. Most plastic surgeons like to design the procedures that are best for your particular needs. By the end of your consultation, you should have a good idea of what procedures may be used for you to achieve your best body contour.
How long is the recovery time?
The surgical procedures are performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient. Because this is a combination surgery, recovery can be challenging. You will need help around the house and help with your children in the first week after your surgery. After the first week, most people are able to resume their light activities of daily living. By two weeks, you will definitely be more active, caring for your children and driving a car. Light exercise can resume as early as three weeks after the procedure.
To ensure that you get the best possible care, it is crucial that you are evaluated and treated by a board-certified plastic surgeon. A mommy makeover is considered major surgery and your safety is the most important factor for an optimal outcome. Make sure you choose a doctor with whom you feel totally comfortable and ask as many questions as you need to feel satisfied that you are getting the best of care. This will also help to prepare you for the surgery.
To see before and after photos of some of our actual patients, please visit the Galleries on our website at GeorgiaCosmetic.org.
The West Georgia Center for Plastic Surgery, a Tanner Medical Group practice, is located in Carrollton, Ga. For more information about a mommy makeover or to schedule a consultation, call 770.834.6302 or visit GeorgiaCosmetic.org. This practice also specializes in a wide range of aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery procedures, as well as skin care health and aesthetic laser procedures,including laser skin resurfacing.