Women’s bodies are capable of some awe-inspiring changes both during and after pregnancy. A woman’s body magically transforms to carry, deliver, and nurture her newborn child within one year. Although this metamorphosis is one of the most beautiful miracles of nature and can be the most meaningful experience of a woman’s life, she may also feel as though she doesn’t recognize her own body after childbirth. Loose skin, stretchmarks, stubborn pockets of fat, and deflated breasts are common concerns for women after delivering a baby. Although a healthy diet and exercise can help many women “bounce back” after childbirth, it may take more than a commitment to a healthy lifestyle to feel confident in your body again. Mommy Makeover surgery can help address women’s specific concerns about their bodies after childbirth and help them feel and look their best again!
What is a Mommy Makeover?
“Mommy Makeover is simply a term used to describe a combination of plastic surgery procedures that focuses on rejuvenating specific areas of a woman’s body after childbearing,” explains Dr. Christine Stewart, a board-certified plastic surgeon and partner with Edina Plastic Surgery. “Most Mommy Makeovers focus on a woman’s breasts and abdomen, as these are the areas of the body most altered by pregnancy and breastfeeding. By combining multiple procedures into a single surgery, a woman can reduce the cost of her surgery, the length of her downtime, and achieve a superior aesthetic result.”
What Areas of a Woman’s Body Does Mommy Makeover Address?
“At Edina Plastic Surgery, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all Mommy Makeover,” says Dr. Stewart. “Each surgery is entirely customized to the unique needs and desires of each woman. During your initial consultation, you will discuss your aesthetic goals with your surgeon, who will then thoroughly assess what your body may need and most benefit from. Then, they will create a personalized combination of two to three procedures to help you achieve your goals and the best aesthetic result.”
5 Major Benefits of a Mommy Makeover
#1 – A Mommy Makeover Can Restore & Create Beautiful Breasts
“Breastfeeding can significantly alter the appearance of a woman’s breasts, especially in her 30s and 40s,” says Dr. Stewart. “Breasts expand and contract dramatically during pregnancy and milk production. During this time, it is not uncommon for a woman to increase several cup sizes and then drop back down after her baby is done breastfeeding. As a result of the skin stretching to accommodate milk production, many women are left with deflated and sagging breasts. If this is the case, a Mommy Makeover that includes a breast lift to remove excess skin and may be recommended. Some women also opt for breast augmentation with implants during their Mommy Makeover to restore volume and shape to deflated breasts. Although a breast lift and augmentation can be performed independently, they provide the most significant correction when performed together during a Mommy Makeover.”
#2 – A Mommy Makeover Can Transform Your Tummy
Along with the breasts, a woman’s abdomen may experience the most dramatic changes after childbirth. Loose, hanging, excess skin in this area is a top concern for most women, as this skin cannot be tightened or diminished with diet and exercise alone. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, makes a long incision along a woman’s bikini line. Excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is pulled down to tighten the front of the stomach. Scars are discreet; once the area is healed, the abdomen appears smoother, flatter, and more toned.
“Your abdominal muscles, which run parallel from your ribs to the pubic area, are held together by a band of tissue known as fascia. During a woman’s pregnancy, the facia thins and stretches to allow the muscles to spread and make room for the baby as it grows,” explains Dr. Stewart. “Often, the facia moves back to its original shape in the months after childbirth, but if it is too weak and has been stretched too far, it remains lax, resulting in a condition called rectus diastasis. During a tummy tuck, your plastic surgeon can retighten the muscles and fascia of the abdomen to correct this condition.”
#3 – A Mommy Makeover Can Reshape and Recontour Your Body
Liposuction is often performed during a Mommy Makeover to remove stubborn pockets of fat on the abdomen, hips, flanks, and even thighs to reshape the body and restore attractive contour. Having liposuction in tandem with a tummy tuck can dramatically improve the appearance of a patient’s midsection as excess skin and fat are simultaneously removed. Your plastic surgeon will advise you on which areas of your body may benefit most from liposuction during your Mommy Makeover and how much fat can safely be removed during your surgery.
#4 – A Mommy Makeover Can Correct Concerns Above AND Below Your Bikini Line
“Some women find it difficult or embarrassing to discuss some of the changes they feel and see in their genitalia after childbirth,” says Dr. Stewart. “But these are very important to discuss with your plastic surgeon if they are affecting how your body functions or how you feel emotionally,” she advises. “It is common for a woman’s labia minora and majora to swell dramatically during childbirth. These may remain stretched after the swelling goes down and the flaps of the labia minora may protrude beyond the outer labia majora. This can be uncomfortable and make women feel self-conscious, especially when being physically intimate with their partner, exercising, or wearing tight clothing. During labiaplasty, your plastic surgeon carefully trims the excess skin of the labia minora and closes the area with sutures. Once healed, the labia minora will again be protected by the labia majora, increasing a woman’s comfort and confidence.”
#5 – A Mommy Makeover Can Make You Feel Like YOU Again!
Ideally, a woman should wait to have Mommy Makeover surgery until her body has had adequate time to heal from childbirth, she is no longer breastfeeding, and she has resumed a routine of healthy eating and regular exercise. Depending on how long she breastfeeds, this could be as early as one year after her last child.
“As a woman and a mother myself, I find Mommy Makeover surgeries incredibly rewarding to perform,” shares Dr. Stewart. “It is so easy for me to identify with my female patients because I had many of the same concerns after giving birth and intimately understand the impact they can have on women’s self-esteem. A Mommy Makeover can correct these concerns and get you back to feeling like YOU, so you can enjoy your life and family and feel confident in your appearance again.”
Have you been considering Mommy Makeover surgery? Schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your concerns with Dr. Christine Stewart or another board-certified plastic surgeon at Edina Plastic Surgery by calling (612) 688-3177, texting (952) 925-1765, or CLICKING HERE.
