Thinking About a Mommy Makeover? 5 Things You Need to Know

It’s no surprise that pregnancy does a number on your body that no amount of diet and exercise can fix. Stretched tummies, sagging breasts and hanging skin make some moms wish for the body they had in the days before children. If you’ve been thinking about a “mommy makeover,” a new trend in the field of plastic surgery, you probably have questions about what it entails and what to expect. Here are five things you need to know.

#1 What Exactly Is a Mommy Makeover?

Mommy makeovers typically address the physical changes a mother’s body undergoes during and after pregnancy. Common mommy makeover surgeries include tummy tucks, breast augmentation and the removal of small bulges of fat, a procedure called liposuction. Not everyone needs all three procedures. Each mommy makeover is customized to fit your individual needs.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of each procedure:

• Tummy Tuck: Pregnancy stretches the abdomen causing stretch marks and hanging skin that doesn’t bounce back after delivery. A tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, surgically flattens the abdomen by removing hanging skin and fat and tightening abdominal walls. According to a tummy tuck Seattle WA based practitioner, moms who plan to become pregnant again or are following a weight-reduction plan should delay getting the procedure to attain the best outcome.

• Breast Augmentation/Lifts: Breastfeeding moms in particular often suffer from sagging and shape loss. Breast augmentation and breast lifts are designed to restore shape and volume. Breast augmentations require the use of saline or silicone breast implants to restore or enlarge previous volume. In a breast lift procedure, the surgeon removes excess skin and tightens the bust area to lift breasts. The procedures can be done individually or together depending on your individual needs. Breast reductions are also available for those who are experiencing discomfort.

• Liposuction: Liposuction takes care of those little pockets of fat that won’t go away no matter what you do. Most often done on the abdomen, hips, thighs, face and buttocks, liposuction is not a cellulite remover, but a fat remover. Liposuction can also shape and contour different areas to create a more pleasing look.

#2 When’s the Best Time for a Mommy Makeover?

You need to time your mommy makeover right to get the most benefits and maintain the results. Before surgery, you should already be at your target weight. You should be eating a healthy and nutritional diet. Make sure you’ve been exercising 30 minutes a day. Reduce alcohol consumption to two to three drinks per week. Stop smoking. You have to be free of nicotine for at least six weeks before surgery as well as six weeks after.

Also, develop a two-week long support system for after your surgery. If you have young children, it’s going to be tempting to do the laundry, pickup up toys and do some heavy lifting. Make sure you have someone who can take care of the children while you recover and focus on taking care of yourself. No heavy lifting for at least six weeks!

#3 Here’s What a Mommy Makeover Is Not

Mommy makeovers are not replacements for taking care of yourself nutritionally or exercising. A mommy makeover is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle.

#4 Find the Right Doc

Make sure the surgeon you choose is board certified and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

#5 Risks

Serious mommy makeover surgery complications are rare and satisfaction rates are typically high. As with any type of surgery, however, there are risks. Speak with your doctor about any health issues you may have.