As any mother can attest to, experiences like pregnancy and breastfeeding can wreak havoc on your body. Though some women have bodies that will not be physically altered after childbearing, not everyone is so fortunate.
What is a Mommy Makeover?
A Mommy Makeover is a set of surgical procedures that aim to reverse the changes a woman’s body undergoes as a result of childbearing, with an ultimate goal of returning a woman’s body to its "pre-baby" state. Since different women experience different changes there is no set Mommy Makeover. What surgical procedures are used depends on the individual patient’s needs and aesthetic goals.
Which procedures are most common?
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and childbearing most commonly affect a woman’s abdomen and breasts. During pregnancy the skin in the abdomen is stretched and some abdominal fat is accumulated. Most women can have this addressed using a simple abdominoplasty ( or "tummy tuck") which removes the stretched out skin, some abdominal fat and allows the abdominal wall musculature to be tightened. Women whose abdomens became very stretched out may require an extended version of the same procedure to remove the extra skin.
A woman’s breasts are also commonly affected by pregnancy, breast feeding and childbearing. Some women find that their breasts were their ideal size before or during breastfeeding, but that they have lost their volume once breastfeeding is finished. A simple breast augmentation can be used to restore volume. Breasts that were too large before pregnancy and shrunk during pregnancy, but have begun to droop can be addressed with a breast lift. If a woman’s breasts are larger than she desires after pregnancy she may consider a breast reduction.
What are the benefits of having a combination of procedures?
Though an abdominoplasty and breast surgery can be performed separately a woman can drastically reduce her recovery time as well as the number of doctor’s visits required if she elects to have the two procedures done together.
When is the ideal time to get a Mommy Makeover?
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and childbearing can undo or compromise the results of your Mommy Makeover and a second Mommy Makeover is never as successful as the first. Therefore you should be sure you are finished having children before undergoing the procedure. The second major concern for women is their children. Mother’s with young children will need to have someone, either a spouse or relative, who can care for her children while she is recovering. Be sure to discuss your childcare plan with your spouse or relatives in advance. An abdominoplasty typically requires 2-3 weeks for recovery. If you are working you will also need to arrange to take this time off. After 2-3 weeks you will be able to return to a non-strenuous desk job (no manual labour) but will likely find yourself very tired at the end of each day for at least a few more weeks.
Who is a good candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
Before you decide to undergo a Mommy Makeover there are a few things to consider. The first is that you need to be physically ready for the procedure, which means you should:
- Be healthy
- Be a non smoker who has not smoked in the last 6-8 weeks
- Be in shape (this means your body is better able to handle physical stress and will recover sooner)
- Be a healthy weight. Most surgeons encourage their patients to have a normal BMI (less than 25) and many will refuse to work on patients with a BMI higher than 30.
- Discuss it with your doctor and your plastic surgeon. They will be able to offer valuable insight regarding the state of your body, what options are available to you, and the sorts of results you can expect.
Dr. Brian Peterson is a board certified plastic surgeon based in Kelowna, British Columbia. His specialties include facial rejuvenation, body contouring, breast enhancement and non-surgical skin care. Contact Peterson MD at 250.868.9099 to book your consultation.
