Mommy Makeover
Get Your Confidence Back
Some women may consider plastic surgery because they wish to feel more comfortable in a swimsuit. Others may choose to do it because they want their clothes to fit again. No matter the reason, mommy makeovers have become a very popular topic among mothers.
Returning to Your Pre-Baby Body
Being a mother is a beautiful experience, but pregnancy and breastfeeding can change the body. These changes primarily affect the silhouette of the abdomen and breasts.
A mommy makeover with post-pregnancy body contouring specialist Dr. Anureet Bajaj will give you back your youthful, pre-childbirth body, making that long-awaited desire a reality and getting you poolside ready.
A mommy makeover is not a single surgery, but the name dubbed for a combination of body and breast procedures designed to help mothers regain the contour they enjoyed prior to having children. We know not all mothers are the same, so no two mommy makeovers are alike. Mommy makeovers are tailored to meet each mother’s individual aesthetic wants and wishes. Patients have the option to choose from a tummy tuck, liposuction, breast lift, breast augmentation, and/or breast reduction, and each procedure is customized to address that mother’s specific case. And even though the aforementioned are the ‘standard’ mommy makeover procedures, you are welcome to add facial treatments or procedures as well for an overall makeover.
When a woman is pregnant, many changes occur to our bodies. The abdomen stretches to allow the baby to grow, and the breasts become larger as they become engorged with milk. Once the baby is born, hormonal changes will occur again and the skin will contract to varying degrees to return to the pre-pregnancy contour. Some women may be left with excess lax skin on the stomach, stretched abdominal muscles that exercise cannot tighten, and deflated, sagging breasts from breastfeeding. These are the exact aesthetic concerns that a mommy makeover is designed to battle when diet and exercise do not produce the desired results. And we know that time is precious, so with fantastic advances in cosmetic technology and surgical procedures, moms can get back to caring for and chasing after their children in no time!
It is never too soon to think about it, but mothers seeking a mommy makeover should be done having children, finished breastfeeding, and wait for their breasts to go back to their natural shape and size before scheduling a mommy makeover consultation – usually about 6 months after they have stopped breast feeding. These moms should be close to their ideal weight for optimal results since these treatments aim to improve definition and figure, not weight loss. Patients considering a mommy makeover must also take into consideration the time they must take off from work and caring for the kids to fully recover. It is important to have a family member or friend help look after the children and house during this time.
It is also important that patients have realistic expectations of what these procedures can accomplish. A mommy makeover is not a weight loss solution, but rather body sculpting. You may lose a little bit of weight inadvertently, but that is not the goal of a mommy makeover. These procedures are meant to enhance your figure and restore your body to its pre-childbirth and breastfeeding state.
Specific recovery protocol is dependent on your individual case. Once your mommy makeover is complete, any breast procedures will require dressings and a support bra to help your new bust size and shape comfortably form to its new contour. In some cases, drains are placed for excess fluids. Abdominal procedures require dressings and a compression garment wrapped around the treatment area, and drains are generally used as well. Most procedures are performed as an outpatient. Recovery time varies depending on your anatomy, the surgeries you underwent, and the extent of each procedure.
Mothers can generally expect to be out of work for 1-2 weeks, depending on the individual case. Please make sure you have someone to help at home to watch after your kid(s), and also help you with your mommy makeover recovery protocol (cleaning drains, etc.) Swelling will take several weeks to subside, but some results can be seen immediately. Make sure to exercise regularly and eat a proper diet for lasting results. Becoming pregnant after your mommy makeover may alter your results.
Procedures for a Mommy Makeover
Tummy Tuck Procedure
After pregnancies, the abdominal muscles can stretch to a point where it is sometimes impossible to repair by diet and exercise alone. And in most cases, the skin on your stomach never seems to fully contract to its pre-pregnancy elasticity. A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that tightens the weakened abdominal muscles and removes lax skin that results after childbirth. This procedure can additionally remove small localized fat deposits and stretch marked located in the lower abdomen region. A tummy tuck alone will not remove large amounts of fat deposits, so it is often paired with liposuction. Tummy tucks are designed to slim and define your midsection, raising your confidence to maybe throw on that form-fitting dress hanging in the back of the closet.
Liposuction Procedure
While fat plays an important role in our body, we do not need to live with a surplus amount. And despite the hours spent at the gym, or chasing after your toddler, these stubborn localized fat deposits never seem to diminish. Liposuction is a body sculpting procedure that removes unresponsive fat deposits via suction from almost anywhere in the body. Popular liposuction areas that are prone to storing excess fat include hips, waist, abdomen, thighs, and arms. Liposuction works best on those who are close to their ideal weight; it is not meant to replace exercise and proper diet.
Breast Lift
After breastfeeding, your breasts may have fallen to a very low elevation on your chest. Breast lift is specially designed to lift drooping breasts to create a youthful-positioned bust. This procedure does not address decreased breast volume, so it is often paired with breast augmentation for a lifted, full bust.
Breast Augmentation
The breasts become curvaceous and full when mothers become pregnant, but generally return to their normal size, if not smaller, once the infant no longer breastfeeds. Many mothers seeking a mommy makeover wish to get back their augmented bust long-term, in which case breast augmentation is a great solution. A breast augmentation procedure surgically places implants into the breasts to increase their size. Breast augmentation is an extremely customizable surgery as you have many options to choose from in regard to the implant itself. Dr. Bajaj will gladly review these options with you during your private consultation.
Breast Reduction
Considering all plastic surgery procedures, breast reduction patients are some of the most satisfied with their end results. Breast reduction surgery excises breast tissue and skin to create smaller, more proportionate breasts. A breast reduction can alleviate both physical and emotional strain by reducing tension in the neck and shoulders, as well as ceasing unwanted stares. Most women claim their chronic pain dissipated after they got the surgery, improving quality of life for both mother and child.
Contact Us to Set Up Your Consultation
At your initial consultation with mommy makeover specialist Dr. Anu Bajaj, you will share the cosmetic concerns you have with your altered breast and abdomen contour. She will examine your areas of concern, and offer her recommendations. Both you and she will then come up with a custom surgery plan that will meet your specific goals. Please share your past surgeries, routine medications, and medical history as this can affect your surgery plan. You will be able to view before and after photos of mothers who underwent a similar surgery so you can see potential results, but please remember results will vary among each patient. Questions are highly encouraged; we know this is not an easy decision to make, so Dr. Bajaj wants to make sure you are comfortable with the entire process.
Oaklahoma City Mommy Makeover FAQs
What is a mommy makeover? A mommy makeover is a combination of procedures that will address the effects pregnancy and child-bearing can take on a woman’s body. Most commonly these procedures include an abdominoplasty and breast procedure (breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction).
What does a mommy makeover include? Most commonly, a mommy makeover includes an abdominoplasty, liposuction, and a breast procedure (breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction). Some women may also add additional procedures such as a labiaplasty.
What is the recovery time for a mommy makeover? Most women are able to drive after about 5 days and return to work after about two weeks. You will not be able to start working out for about 3-4 weeks, although you will be walking right away.
Do I need to lose weight before a mommy makeover? For the best and most long-lasting results, it is important that you are at your goal weight prior to surgery.
How long does a mommy makeover surgery take? The length of the surgery will vary based on the combination of procedures that you desire. However, typically, the surgery will take between 3-5 hours.
When can I start to exercise after a mommy makeover? You will be walking immediately after surgery. During the first two weeks after surgery, you will continue light walking around your home. After three weeks, you may begin more vigorous cardio exercise and light arm and leg weights. It will be about two to three months before you will be able to resume abdominal crunches.
How should I prepare for a mommy makeover? The best preparation is to take care of yourself. You will want to make sure that you eat a healthy diet high in protein and drink plenty of fluids. If you have young children, you will also want to have a plan as to who will help you with your children after surgery.
How safe is a mommy makeover? If you are healthy, a mommy makeover is a safe procedure. Risks may include bleeding and infection, but these are relatively uncommon. The most concerning risk is a DVT (a blood clot in your legs that can travel to your lungs). This risk is also rare, and the best way to minimize this risk is to walk frequently after surgery and stay well-hydrated.
What should I wear after a mommy makeover? After your mommy makeover surgery, you will wear a compression garment for 4-6 weeks. Immediately after surgery and during the early recovery, you will want to wear loose, comfortable clothing.
How do I sleep after a mommy makeover? Most women find that it is easiest to sleep in a recliner for the first week or two after a mommy makeover.
Should I wait until I’m done having kids before getting a mommy makeover? Yes, since a mommy makeover involves an abdominoplasty, it will be best to wait until you have completed having children. If you do become pregnant after a mommy makeover, the previous surgeries will not interfere with your pregnancy. However, you may require additional surgeries later because of the changes that can occur to your body with pregnancy.
How soon after giving birth can I get a mommy makeover? Since pregnancy, the post-partum period, and breast feeding can cause hormonal changes to your body, I would recommend that you wait about six months to one year after delivering your baby before having a mommy makeover. If you are breastfeeding, it is probably best to wait 3-6 months after you have stopped breastfeeding as well.
Who is a good candidate for a mommy makeover? A good candidate for a mommy makeover is someone who is healthy, at her goal body weight, and understands that surgical recovery is a process.