One of the most common procedures that is now performed is affectionately known as the “Mommy Makeover.” The goal of this surgery is to correct the many changes that can affect a woman’s body after childbirth. Most often, this procedure combines a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) with breast surgery known as a breast augmentation.
The breasts often droop or “deflate” after having children (especially after breast feeding) and the abdominal wall (the abdominal muscles and overlying skin and fat) can become permanently stretch out, causing a bulging belly and stretch marks. Finally, excess fat can accumulate on the love-handle area as well as the hips and thighs.
Several plastic surgeons market a “Mommy Makeover,” but it is important to understand that it is not one specific procedure – it is a combination of plastic surgery procedures done at the same time to correct the problems mentioned above. Which exact procedures are performed and based on customizing the needs for each individual patient.
With regard to breast enhancement some patients simply need breast augmentation to refill a breast that appears “deflated,” while others may need an implant in combination with a breast lift (mastopexy) of some kind. Other women actually need a breast reduction with a lift.
In the abdominal area, most patients need body contouring procedures such as a full abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with tightening of the muscle layer as well as removal of the excess skin and fat. When we perform tummy tucks we can perform a modified procedure, called a mini-abdominoplasty, if a woman’s problem area is limited to the region below the umbilicus (bellybutton).
Finally, many patients need liposuction of the hips, flanks (love-handle areas), or thighs in order to smooth out their contours and lengthen the appearance of the torso area.
Although the “Mommy Makeover” is a significant surgery, the advantage of this procedure is a dramatic improvement of the post-pregnancy body (which usually cannot be corrected with exercise and diet alone) with only one trip to the operating room and a single recovery period. There are very few surgeries provide this level of immediate cosmetic improvement, and patients are usually thrilled that they can once again (or for the first time) feel comfortable wearing a bikini.