Body Procedures
Pregnancy and motherhood are some of the most joyous times in a woman’s life. But no matter how much happiness they bring, it’s normal for a new mother to want her pre-pregnancy body back. And one way to do that is with a mommy makeover.
The mommy makeover is a popular solution for women who want to regain their confidence following childbirth. It refers to a collection of different procedures performed together to address common changes in new motherhood: breast sagging, loose abdominal skin, excess abdominal fat and vaginal laxity.
But is the mommy makeover for everyone? While some women may benefit from this treatment, others are better off choosing alternatives. And there are also patients for whom this treatment may be risky.
What Does a Mommy Makeover Involve?
The mommy makeover is not a single procedure but a combination of two or more performed simultaneously. Because every woman goes through unique changes after giving birth, this type of treatment needs to be highly individualized.
With that said, procedures that are part of the mommy makeover are:
- Tummy tuck
- Liposuction
- Arm lift
- Breast lift
- Breast augmentation
- Breast reduction
- Thigh lift
- Brazilian butt lift (BBL)
- Vaginal rejuvenation
Pregnancy can sometimes cause changes that are impossible to reverse with diet and exercise. Examples include sagging breasts, stretched abdominal skin and separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti). The mommy makeover is intended to improve post-pregnancy body contours when diet, exercise and other conservative approaches don’t work.
Who Should Get a Mommy Makeover
Most healthy women interested in this procedure can be candidates, regardless of whether they’ve given birth. If you have stubborn pockets of fat, loose skin, breast sagging and similar aesthetic concerns, this treatment may help.
However, the mommy makeover is an invasive procedure, requiring a lot of planning, preparation and downtime. That’s why the best candidates need to meet specific criteria so we can make sure they can go through with the procedure. When choosing candidates for the mommy makeover, Dr. Vasisht will see if patients tick the following boxes:
Good Overall Health
A mommy makeover involves general anesthesia, incisions, excisions and other steps that are stressful for the body. Patients must be in relatively good health to avoid complications during surgery and after recovery.
Not a Heavy Smoker or Drinker
Smoking and excessive intake of alcohol can both impede post-surgery healing and lead to complications like poor wound healing and bleeding. It’s recommended to stop smoking for six weeks before surgery and after and to limit alcohol for at least 24 hours before your appointment.
Near or at Your Ideal Body Weight
Reaching your ideal body weight before undergoing this treatment is a good idea. Weight fluctuations after having a mommy makeover can alter your results. Losing weight first can also make it easier to create predictable results.
Finished with Childbearing
Women are advised to wait until they are done with having children before getting a mommy makeover. Subsequent pregnancies will cause further issues that may require additional surgeries.
Have Realistic Expectations
Cosmetic surgery has its limitations in what it can achieve. A mommy makeover may not completely reverse the effects of pregnancy, but it can improve your appearance. Scars are typical and should be expected, but are a trade-off for your new figure.
Who Isn’t a Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
Patients who are generally healthy and emotionally stable with realistic expectations can usually get any plastic surgery. However, we need to factor in risks when assessing patients, which include certain health conditions, lifestyle habits and expectations. A mommy makeover is not recommended if you have any of the following:
Chronic Health Conditions
High blood pressure, diabetes, lung or heart disease and bleeding disorders are contraindications for many forms of surgery. Having severe allergies, especially to anesthesia and other drugs used during surgery, is another contraindication.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or planning future pregnancies, you want to postpone having a mommy maker at a later time in your life.
Certain Mental Health Conditions
Body dysmorphia and certain eating disorders affect how you see your body, and getting cosmetic surgery, such as a mommy makeover, can make matters only worse. That’s why it’s essential to be in relatively good mental health to benefit from this treatment.
Outside Pressure
There are many valid reasons to get plastic surgery, but societal pressure is not one of them. If you feel you must change your appearance to please people other than yourself or to fit into what “society” expects, it’s worth reconsidering your decision.
Mommy Makeover Alternatives
Plenty of less invasive alternatives exist for patients who are not candidates for a mommy makeover. At South Shore Plastic Surgery, we offer other nonsurgical options to patients who are not candidates for a mommy makeover or could benefit from a different approach.
Liposuction, for example, is a relatively simple procedure where we remove excess fat deposits to create slimmer contours. Incisions are smaller with this procedure; some are performed under local anesthesia. Downtime is also shorter: one week with liposuction compared to two weeks for most mommy makeovers.
A less invasive alternative is CoolSculpting. During this in-office procedure, applicators cool areas with excess fat to freeze and thus destroy fat cells. The body gradually removes the fat cells over several weeks, leaving you with a slimmer, sculpted silhouette.
We also offer EndyMed 3DEEP, a noninvasive treatment that uses radiofrequency energy to tighten skin. Radiofrequency works by heating the deep layers of loose and sagging skin, which causes controlled injury that leads to new collagen formation.
Schedule Your Mommy Makeover Consultation in New Jersey!
If you are ready to get your pre-baby body back and think the mommy makeover is just what you want, contact South Shore Plastic Surgery. Dr. Vasisht has many years of experience performing mommy makeovers on a wide selection of patients with remarkable results.
