A “mommy makeover” is when two or more plastic surgery procedures are combined to restore a woman’s figure after pregnancy.
Pregnancy, childbirth, and breast feeding can take a serious toll on a woman’s body. It is common for women to gain weight after pregnancy and develop permanent stretch marks over the skin on their breasts and/or abdomen.
During your mommy makeover consultation with Dr. Erika Sato, she will learn more about which areas of your body concern you in order to form a surgical plan specific to you. She will examine you and review your medical history in order to determine which procedures are safe and effective for you.
During pregnancy the breasts and nipple areola complex enlarge secondary to increased glandular tissue and later milk engorgement. Once the circulating hormones leave and moms are no longer breast feeding, the breasts shrink in size. The stretched out skin remains, leading to saggy breasts with no upper poll fullness and a disproportionately large nipple areola complex. With more than one pregnancy, the “damage” can be cumulative. Some moms find their body bounces back after one pregnancy, but not after multiple.
Genetics play a significant role in how our body handles a pregnancy. Some mothers will develop stretch marks over their entire abdomen while other will develop none. Stretch marks are permanent damage to the skin (thinning of the underside of the dermis) which leads to loose skin that is not able to tighten when the pregnancy is over. To allow the baby to grow, our abdominal muscles irreversibly separate in the midline. The resulting separation of muscle is called diastasis. This muscle laxity can leave women looking permanently bloated or even “pregnant”. Because of this, many moms find that no amount of diet and exercise can bring back their pre-baby figures.
Other characteristic changes seen after pregnancy include changes in the appearance of the belly button, also known as the umbilicus. An “innie” belly button can become an “outie”. This change may or may not be associated with an umbilical hernia and can repaired as part of your mommy makeover. An Umbilicoplasty is a cosmetic procedure that is designed to improve the appearance of an unsightly belly button.
After a cesarian section many women (even thin women) find that they develop a “pouch” at their lower abdomen. The loose skin and/or excess fat from pregnancy overhangs or sticks out further than the tethered flat scar. Almost as though the scar magnifies the “poochy” lower abdomen.
Because every pregnancy affects each woman’s body differently, Dr. Sato customizes the mommy makeover procedure for each individual patient.
A tummy tuck is one of the most popular procedures done as part of a mommy makeover. Excess skin and fat are removed, and the muscles of the abdominal wall are tightened to flatten and shape the abdomen.
Liposuction can be performed alone to remove excess localized fat or as part of an abdominoplasty.
Pregnancy and breast feeding can take a toll on the breasts, leaving them sagging and deflated. Many women choose a breast lift and/or breast augmentation as part of their mommy makeover. A breast lift raises sagging breasts higher on the chest and decreases the size of the areola, while a breast augmentation involves the insertion of breast implants to increase the overall size and change the shape of the breasts by giving volume back to the upper pole. These procedures can be performed simultaneously.
The labia minora can become enlarged or stretched from childbirth or hormonal changes. These changes may occur to one or both sides and asymmetry is common. Many women find this to be uncomfortable or unsightly and choose to restore their labia to their pre-pregnancy appearance. Pregnancy can also lead to atrophy of the fat in the labia majora giving the vaginal region a less youthful appearance.
If you are healthy, over 18 years old, and are unhappy with the changes in your body related to pregnancy, childbirth, and/or breast feeding, you may be a candidate for a mommy makeover. If you plan for future pregnancies, Dr. Sato may advise to wait before undergoing some of the procedures, as further pregnancies could diminish the results of the mommy makeover.
No two mommy makeovers are the same. Some procedures can be performed simultaneously, while others must be done separately. Dr. Sato will work with you to develop a surgical plan that takes your safety, aesthetic goals, family and/or work obligations into account.
Recovery is widely variable dependent upon the individual patient and the number and type of procedures performed simultaneously.
