Improve confidence and self-esteem with a mommy makeover

October 4, 2018

Jeffrey Kenkel, M.D. Plastic Surgery

Person pinching their abdominal fat while wearing a black top. — A mommy makeover can help women get their pre-baby bodies back.

After pregnancy, many women are eager to get their pre-baby bodies back, but sometimes diet and exercise are not enough. One solution many moms turn to is a mommy makeover – a procedure that’s helped thousands of women get the bodies they desire.

A mommy makeover helps reverse the physical changes women can experience during pregnancy, such as:

● Droopy or saggy breasts

● Diastasis, or the separation of abdominal muscles from pregnancy

● Loose skin on the lower abdomen

● Stubborn fat on the waist and hips

For women interested in having a mommy makeover, we recommend they wait at least three months after finishing breastfeeding and to return as close to their pre-pregnancy weight as possible. It takes that amount of time for breast tissue to recover from hormonal stimulation needed to produce milk, and by that time their bodies have had the necessary time to heal after delivery. Ideally, women should be sure they are finished having children, because going through another pregnancy would negate many of the results from mommy makeover surgery.

During the initial consultation, a doctor will assess the patient’s health and draw up a plan based on her goals. If a woman is healthy, we often can address these areas in one surgical procedure. The three most common mommy makeover procedures we perform are breast-augmentation and lift, liposuction, and tummy tuck.

"After pregnancy, many women are eager to get their pre-baby bodies back, but sometimes diet and exercise aren’t enough. One solution many moms turn to is a mommy makeover – a procedure that’s helped thousands of women get the bodies they desire."

– Jeffrey Kenkel, M.D.

Mommy makeover options

Breast-augmentation and lift

Breastfeeding and the extra hormones produced during pregnancy can cause sagginess and a loss of breast volume. Breast-augmentation with lift can reverse sagging, improve asymmetry, and increase the size and volume of the breasts. The breast-lift portion can raise and reposition the breasts, tighten the skin, and/or reduce the size of the areola, or the darker skin surrounding the nipple.

We can change the shape and size of the breasts by reshaping existing tissue and/or adding breast implants. Breast implants come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials that can be tailored to a patient’s goals. Breast procedures can take one to three hours.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a procedure that surgeons use to remove excess fatty tissue to help achieve a smoother, slimmer look. Liposuction requires good skin tone to allow for the best possible result. It also may be combined with a tummy tuck to help achieve the best possible result in the abdominal area. It is important to note that liposuction is not a treatment for obesity, as patients typically are within 15 to 20 pounds of a healthy body weight. Surgery generally takes one to three hours.

Tummy tuck

Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a surgical procedure that addresses fat, loose skin of the abdomen, and separation of the abdominal muscles from pregnancy. This procedure allows the patient to achieve a flatter, firmer abdomen. The procedure can last one to three hours, depending on the amount of skin and fat to be removed. We’ll make a discreet incision below the bikini line, tighten the abdominal muscles, perform liposuction and pull down the excess skin, and remove it. The scar will be hidden so the patient can get back to wearing her favorite clothing.

What to expect during recovery

As with many surgical procedures, patients should have help at home, particularly during the first week after a mommy makeover – for example, assistance taking care of their children and running errands. With our new rapid recovery program, our goal is to take our patients off of pain medication within a week and clear them to drive again 10 to 14 days after surgery. Many patients can return to work two weeks after surgery.

Patients can resume light exercise three weeks after surgery but should avoid doing abdominal exercises or high-intensity activities such as running for five to six weeks.

A mommy makeover can offer transformative results and help you feel like yourself again. Find out whether a mommy makeover is for you! Call 214-645-2353 or request an appointment online.