Mommy Makeover Options: Liposuction, Tummy Tuck

November 21, 2012

Are you interested in a mommy makeover?

Those two little words have given many proud mothers reason to be thankful – for their fabulous plastic surgeons. Look, we know how thrilled you are with your little one; however, we also know that when you look in the mirror you may wonder where your pre-pregnancy body has gone. It’s OK to consider your options. It’s more than OK.

With the help of a board certified plastic surgeon you can figure out if a mommy makeover is right for you. When done correctly, mommy makeovers erase the signs of pregnancy most women find it hard to be thankful for, including:

• cellulite.
• stretch marks.
• excess fat or skin.
• droopy/sagging breasts.

You can’t imagine life without your children. But, it is possible to imagine life without cellulite, saddle bags and saggy breasts. A mommy makeover can help you reclaim your pre-pregnancy body.

What is a Mommy Makeover?

The term mommy makeover is used to describe a combination of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures that aim to address the common effects of pregnancy. Though the combination varies based on the patient and individual goals, a it typically includes some combination of the following:

• liposuction
• body contouring
• breast lift surgery
• breast augmentation
• tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

Liposuction

Liposuction (or lipoplasty) rids the body of excess subcutaneous fat. It’s especially helpful for removing fat in problem areas that are resistant to diet and exercise alone. Lipo can be preformed almost anywhere on the body. The best places are areas where fat collects into pockets like the lower stomach, thighs, arms and butt.

Body Contouring

Body contouring is essentially full body sculpting focusing on more than one area. The most typical combination is a tummy tuck and liposuction. Body contouring usually results in a body that looks slimmer, more youthful and proportionate overall. Combining procedures can sometimes help you save time and money.

Breast Lift

During pregnancy, the mammary glands start to produce and store milk, causing the ducts to grow in size and stretch the skin. After pregnancy and breastfeeding, the ducts shrink but the skin doesn’t, causing the breast to sag. Breast lift surgery corrects sagging, droopy or downward turning breasts and areola. Breast lift surgery may combined with breast augmentation with implants. You and your plastic surgeon should focus on making the best choice for your body.

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure to enlarge the breasts. This can be achieved with silicone or saline implants or fat transfer. Breast implants restore volume and fullness to post-pregnancy breasts.

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

In a tummy tuck, plastic surgeons reshape the stomach by tightening abdominal muscles and lifting and/or removing excess skin to create a trim waistline. Sometimes stretch marks can even be removed. Your plastic surgeon will suggest which areas of your stomach should be treated and whether you’d benefit more from a full tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck.

Why Are Mommy Makeovers So Popular?

It’s time to put mommy makeovers to the test…

• Can a mommy makeover eliminate stretch marks? Probably.
• Can a mommy makeover perk up your breasts? Definitely!
• Can a mommy makeover give you a sexier shape? Oh, yeah!
• Can a mommy makeover make you feel fabulous? Yes, yes, yes!

The primary reason mommy makeovers are so popular is that they’re designed to help you overcome nagging, post-pregnancy body image issues. If you want a better body, you can have one. But, like any cosmetic plastic surgery procedure, it should be taken seriously.

Women who rave about their mommy makeovers say they wish they’d done it sooner and typically cite similar benefits, which can include:

• saving money on plastic surgery with simultaneous procedures.
• reducing the costs for anesthesia, facility fees and pain meds, too.
• regaining their sense of self more quickly by combining recoveries.

Which Procedures Will Be Included in My Mommy Makeover?

Your personal mommy makeover should include a list of procedures you and your plastic surgeon agree are best suited to your unique body, goals and lifestyle. Since every mom is different, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to mommy makeover cosmetic plastic surgery.

The staff at your plastic surgeon’s office should give you the information you need to help your family understand your individual procedure(s), your recovery needs and anything else that will help them help you make the most of your mommy makeover experience.

Before you actually schedule a mommy makeover, find out:

• how long your recovery will take.
• what the cost of your surgery will be.
• what you can and can’t do during recovery.
• how you should prepare yourself and your family
• whether any of your procedures are covered by insurance.

Most plastic surgeons who perform mommy makeovers offer consultations in which you can ask to see mommy makeover before and after photos. Use them to give you a realistic idea of the kinds of results you can expect after surgery. Find a surgeon who is experienced performing all the procedures and verify his/her qualifications.

A mommy makeover is designed to make you feel better about yourself, not worse. Do your homework and find out everything you can to make the decisions that will work best for you – and your family. Then, start imaging yourself in a slimmer, sexier, more sculpted body!

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