If you’ve had your eye on the news lately, you may have heard of the “mommy makeover.” I actually had friends tell me about their experience with it a couple of years ago, and it has been on my mind ever since. The mommy makeover is an extensive plastic surgery procedure that “restores” a woman’s body after having children. All you moms out there know what I’m talking about! But what does a mommy makeover really entail? And would you ever consider having one?
In the media, we hear about celebrity moms bouncing back so quickly after having kids, and I have to say, I’m a bit envious. As a mom of 5, I know firsthand how pregnancy, childbirth, and even the day-to-day demands of raising kids can alter your body. Add twins the mix and boy will my skin never be the same. While setting a good example for your kids with a healthy lifestyle comes with the added bonus of being beneficial for you, loose skin and other “side effects” of pregnancy can’t always be exercised away. So I certainly understand the desire to improve our bodies by any means necessary. The changes we see as the result of pregnancy can affect so much from our confidence during everyday activities to our well-being.
As it turns out, the term “mommy makeover” doesn’t really have a set-in-stone definition. The majority of mommy makeovers usually involve at least 2 distinct procedures: breast enhancement and a tummy tuck, almost always performed at the same time. Here’s more about each:
Breast Enhancement
Although breast augmentation is generally thought of as a “young woman’s” surgery, it’s actually pretty popular with moms, too. That’s because pregnancy and breastfeeding do a number on the breasts, enlarging them and later causing them to shrink back up. This can leave breasts looking “deflated” and even smaller than they were pre-baby. Breast augmentation can definitely recreate the volume and shape of your younger days.
A breast lift is another super-common choice for a mommy makeover, as it takes care of the sagging that most mothers experience post-pregnancy. A lift removes stretched tissue and does just what its name implies, lifting breasts back to the way they used to be.
Many mothers get both of these procedures during a mommy makeover, if both volume loss and sagging need correction. It’s also not uncommon for a patient to choose breast reduction surgery in certain cases.
Tummy Tuck
Tummy tuck surgery, also called abdominoplasty, tackles the second area of the body most changed by pregnancy — the abdomen. Hormonal changes and aging can cause extra fat in this area to overstay its welcome, and we all know that skin that stretches to accommodate a growing baby rarely snaps back like a rubber band. A tummy tuck does what diet, exercise, and even liposuction can’t by removing excess skin as well as unwanted fat.
According to the website of Dr. Wayne Yamahata, a plastic surgeon who specializes in tummy tuck surgery at his Sacramento-based practice, a surgeon can also repair displaced or separated abdominal muscles during this surgery. Occasionally, these muscles can be damaged during pregnancy, creating that unmistakeable “bulging” look.
Other Options
Based on my research, the possibilities don’t end there. Some women choose to undergo facial procedures or liposuction in different areas, to round out their mommy makeover results.
There’s no doubt that plastic surgery is a polarizing topic, and many people are bothered by the amount of scrutiny applied to women’s bodies after having children. But many women who have had surgery say that feeling confident and comfortable helps them to be better mothers and is an important way to help them live their best lives. All things in moderation right?
So what about you? Now that you know more about the “mommy makeover,” would you ever consider surgical intervention to help reverse the changes caused by pregnancy?
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