Having children can be one of life’s greatest gifts. However, it is also one that usually comes with some undesirable and permanent changes to one’s body. These physical changes frequently include breast drooping and/or volume loss, lax and excess abdominal skin, a disruption of abdominal wall musculature, stretch marks and unattractive fat accumulations, all of which are impossible to resolve through diet and exercise alone.
For a woman experiencing aesthetic issues after pregnancy – particularly those pertaining to the breasts and abdomen – a Mommy Makeover can help rejuvenate and somewhat restore the pre-pregnancy figure by comprehensively addressing one’s unique concerns. Customized to target the specific needs and desires of each patient, a Mommy Makeover can include (but is not limited to) the following procedures:
When considering a Mommy Makeover, timing is also an important factor to consider. For women who are planning to have more children, particularly in the near future, I generally advise waiting until after they are done having children because any additional pregnancies can have similar adverse impacts on one’s body and, therefore, negatively impact the outcome of a Mommy Makeover. Depending on the extent to which the results were affected, this could lead to the need and/or desire for revisional surgery or even a secondary Mommy Makeover.
For women who do not plan on having any more children, I typically recommend waiting between three to six months after the cessation of breast feeding and closer to six months after pregnancy before undergoing this procedure. This provides an ample amount of time for the elevated hormone levels associated with pregnancy to drop to more normal levels, allows the stretched out tissues to “tighten up” and enables the woman to lose much or all of her pregnancy-associated weight gain so as to allow for an accurate determination of the physical issues that will need to be addressed.
If you are considering this highly rewarding Mommy Makeover procedure, I strongly recommend that you seek the expertise of a reputable board certified plastic surgeon to help you in determining the best course of action for you and then making it happen.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D.
Scottsdale and Phoenix