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From finding out you’re pregnant to watching your tummy grow, becoming a mother can be one of the most rewarding experiences in a woman’s life. Unfortunately, after your baby is born and you settle into a daily routine, it can be tough to find time or energy to hit the gym. Those once beautiful changes have now somehow transformed into fat deposits that refuse to budge, sagging breasts, and excessive abdominal skin laxity. The fact is that these changes require surgical correction for best results, so a mommy makeover is designed to optimize these positive changes in one procedure. Here’s what to know about it.

What is a Mommy Makeover?

Most women notice changes to their breasts, abdomen, buttocks, and waist after having a baby. While some women are able to get their pre-baby shape back with regular exercise and a healthy diet, others struggle and, even with the best intentions, simply cannot regain their pre-pregnancy shape.

The goal of a mommy makeover is to restore your body’s appearance and shape to what it was prior to becoming pregnant. Typically, mommy makeovers are performed as a single surgical procedure; however, it can also be done as a staged procedure. Just as every woman is different, so are the techniques used to restore your pre-baby body.

The most common concerns women have after giving birth include:

• Sagging or deflated-looking breasts
• Loose skin of the abdomen
• Diastasis recti of the abdominal muscles

Some women may also have stubborn fatty deposits of the hips, waist, thighs, and buttocks. Depending on your own concerns, a mommy makeover can restore your pre-pregnancy form by including a breast lift, a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), liposuction, and even vaginal rejuvenation.

Am I Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?

To be deemed a suitable candidate, a consultation with Dr. Shienbaum is the first step. Here, we can examine your areas of concern and suggest which procedures are best for you. We also look at the following factors as we discuss your best options.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is an important step in your child’s growth, so if you’re still breastfeeding it’s recommended that you postpone breast surgery until you transition your baby to the bottle. If breast surgery (augmentation, reduction, lift) is performed while you’re still breastfeeding, further changes to your breasts because of hormones can affect your results.

Weight

The best candidates for mommy makeovers are close to their pre-pregnancy weight. While it can be difficult to lose your baby weight, it’s always better to be as close to your ideal weight as possible. This helps ensure you can maintain your great results after surgery since you already have a diet and exercise regimen in place.

Future Pregnancies

Whether you plan to get pregnant again is also important. If you plan on getting pregnant in the near future, it’s best to wait until you are finished having children. If not, the results from your mommy makeover may not last as long as you wanted. Dr. Shienbaum can recommend non-surgical options in the meantime if you have more plans for children.

What are the risks of a Mommy Makeover?

As with any type of surgical procedure, there’s always the risk of potential complications. These risks can include infection, bleeding, problems with healing, possible fluid collections, and scar formation. However, Dr. Shienbaum has years of experience when it comes to mommy makeovers, so your risk remains low when you select a board certified plastic surgeon. Prior to performing any cosmetic procedure, we take a complete past medical history to make sure you’re healthy enough for an elective procedure.

Recovery From a Mommy Makeover

In most cases, mommy makeovers are completed as one surgery; however, it’s also possible to perform it in stages. Combining procedures means less downtime and only one recovery period. After your mommy makeover, depending on which procedures you have performed, you may require help at home for a week or two. Complete recovery usually requires several weeks. In fact, as with other types of cosmetic procedures, it may take up to six months to see the final results of your mommy makeover.

Schedule a Consultation

Getting your pre-pregnancy body back is attainable. If you’re ready to take the next step or simply would like more information about mommy makeovers, contact us at Brandon Plastic Surgery. Dr. Shienbaum can discuss the right mommy makeover for you.