Introduction
Pregnancy initiates various anatomical changes in a woman’s body in preparation for the growth and development of the fetus. These modifications in the female outline are unflattering and may subsequently cause her to suffer from low self-esteem. The most common physical changes that are associated with pregnancy include drooping breasts, sagging of the abdominal area, a protruding abdomen, excess fat around the waist, and stretch marks.
Although several women strive to return to their pre-pregnancy figure through diet and exercise, many of them are still unable to correct the sagging skin and to tone stubborn fat deposits. It is fairly easy to lose the weight gained during pregnancy through a consistent workout schedule, but the inability to rectify the loose skin around the breasts and abdomen can be very frustrating. Fortunately, there are surgical procedures designed for helping mothers to get back in shape. These procedures are collectively known as the Mommy Makeover.
The Mommy Makeover involves several different surgical procedures that are done all at the same time to sculpt the body and attain a more proportionate figure. The combination of techniques will depend on the overall condition of the patient. This operation usually involves a breast lift with or without an augmentation, and a tummy tuck. The breast implant surgery and liposuction can also be performed in this procedure.
Due to the extensive nature of the procedure, it is expected that the recovery will be a little difficult. Mild bruising and swelling can be uncomfortable, but the body eventually heals and the results will start to become more apparent.
For moms who want to go through a Mommy makeover, it is important to conscientiously ponder the idea. Doing a lot of research on the procedure can help you make a decision. If you are determined to push through with the surgery, then you should promptly search for an experienced and licensed plastic surgeon.
Unwanted Changes In The Body Due To Pregnancy
Giving birth can be a fulfilling experience for a woman because her body was able to nourish and give life to a baby that completes her family. Although having a baby can provide happiness to a couple, it can also lead to unfavorable changes in the mother’s body. One of the most distressing of all is weight gain. As your weight increases, the shape of your body changes accordingly.
Most of the time, it can be very difficult to get back to your pre-pregnancy body shape. Here are some pregnancy-induced changes that remain no matter how intense your diet and exercise regimen is:
- Sagging breasts: The sagging of the breasts is commonly observed after pregnancy. This is characterized as having the nipples or areola lie below the inframammary fold. During the later months of pregnancy, the breasts are likely to increase in size because the glands begin to produce milk for the baby. When the breastfeeding already stops, the breasts will eventually reduce in size and the subsequent loss of fullness will lead to the sagging appearance of the breasts. The sagging can also be attributed to the stretched skin that lost much of its elasticity, thus, failing to tighten.
- The sagging appearance of the abdomen: Like the breasts, the abdomen stretches to accommodate the growing baby. Loose skin is still the cause of a sagging belly.
- Protruding belly: Aside from the sagging skin, some women may also have a protuberant tummy or bulge that doesn’t seem to go away no matter what exercise and diet they do. This condition is caused by the separation of the abdominal muscles and is known as diastasis recti.
- Excess fat in the waist: One of the most difficult fat tissues to remove from the body are those found in the waist area. This produces a muffin like shape around the waist when you wear tight pants or a tight belt.
- Stretch marks: As the name implies, these are produced when the skin is stretched enough to damage to the collagen fibers of the deep skin. It initially appears reddish then lightens into a pale color.
The Mommy Makeover
It can be very upsetting to see the effects of pregnancy on a woman’s body. She may lose the confidence that she once had because she may start feeling insecure about her body. Luckily, a surgical intervention was devised to correct the influence of pregnancy on a woman’s physique.
The Mommy Makeover is a combination of different surgical techniques that was conceived to surgically help the body get back into a more desirable shape. The arrangement of the procedures will depend on the capacity of the woman’s body. Here are the different surgical methods that can be combined to comprise the Mommy Makeover:
- Breast lift: The sagging of the breasts is corrected through this procedure. There are several ways to perform this procedure but it will all depend on the extent of sagging. Through this procedure, the excess skin, tissue and fat can be removed and the breasts can be reshaped.
- Breast augmentation: There are some women who may want to get the fullness of their breast back so they can opt for a breast augmentation too. The breast implants help fill up the spaces left by the glands after they have stopped producing milk.
- Tummy tuck: A tummy tuck surgery removes all the excess skin and fat to achieve a flat abdomen. Some also have their loosened muscles repaired at the same time but those who do shouldn’t have future pregnancies as these will only offset the results obtained through this method. It is also possible that the belly button will be moved to a different position during the procedure.
- Liposuction: This procedure is used to remove other excess fat located above the belly button after a small-scale tummy tuck was done. This will help eliminate the muffin top that can be evident when wearing jeans. If a full tummy tuck is performed, there is no need for a supplementary liposuction procedure.
- Treatments for stretch marks: With the procedure, some of the skin with the scars will already be removed. The ones that are left can be treated with a laser treatment. This is not done at the same time as the Mommy Makeover but is done after recovery. Although laser treatment may help lighten and reduce the size of the scar, it won’t completely disappear.
Recovery After A Mommy Makeover
Due to the comprehensive nature of the surgery and the combination of multiple surgical procedures, an uncomfortable recovery should be expected. During the first week, you will certainly feel discomfort because you have to walk while slightly bent over to make sure that the incisions of the tummy tuck do not stretch. There will also be some pain and soreness over a lot of areas. Taking a bath can also be challenging especially if you still have drains attached to you. A sponge bath is a great alternative to taking the usual shower.
Although it can be difficult to move, surgeons will ask their clients to walk in order to make sure that the blood circulates properly through their legs. This prevents the formation of clots. Your family and friends can greatly help in providing you with support through the first few weeks.
You will eventually feel better in the weeks following the first seven days of recovery. Some surgeons may already allow you to perform light exercises as early as the third week. Before doing any exercises, you should first make sure to discuss it with your surgeon to prevent any untoward effects on your recovery.
Towards, the second month, the swelling may begin to recede. During this time, you may be able to enjoy and see the results in their entirety. Although some slight swelling may still be present, it will ultimately heal on its own.
Getting A Mommy Makeover
Electing to undergo surgery should be taken seriously. Before you come to a decision, you should make sure that you have done your research. It would also help to consult a reliable, certified and experienced surgeon so that they can also inform you about the benefits and risks involved.
You can also ask the opinions of other moms who had the procedure done. In this way, you get to know their first-hand experience with the procedure. If you don’t personally know anyone who has gone through the procedure, you can look up forums where moms would post about their experiences with the mommy makeover. You can read about positive and negative experiences and it is up to you to weigh them and take them into consideration when making your final decision.
Conclusion
Although bearing a child brings joy and happiness, it can also cause some undesirable changes to the body of the mother. Such unwanted changes may include the sagging of the breasts, loose skin on the belly, protrusion of tummy, stretch marks and excess fat around the waist. It can be frustrating for a mom to see all this, especially when she does her best to follow an exercise and diet plan.
A possible solution to this problem would be to undergo a Mommy Makeover. This is a combination of surgical procedures that addresses the unattractive effects of pregnancy. The procedures conducted could be a combination of a breast lift, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and liposuction. Due to the process of simultaneously performing multiple surgical procedures, patients should also expect that the recovery would be uncomfortable. The time it takes for the final results to become noticeable will also vary because the body heals differently for every individual.
The decision whether to go through the Mommy Makeover is a tough one. It should be meticulously evaluated and research should be done to know the risks involved as well as the actual experiences of moms who went through with it. Careful selection of a certified and experienced surgeon should also be done in order to increase the chances of having a successful surgery.