Women are equipped with superior bodies that make reproduction possible. With body parts to house and develop the growing embryo and supply the newborn with nutrients, the bond between a mother and her children is merged so closely that each body changes form because of the other. Though motherhood is a defining role in many women’s lives, a woman has the right to reclaim her body as her own when she is through having children. While mothers may revel in their new role as a parent, there are permanent changes to the body that may require surgical correction to restore them to the pre-pregnancy or pre-birth state.
A mommy makeover is a catch-all term that describes plastic surgery of the body (and in some cases the face) that is performed on a mother following the birth of one or more children. Women may feel less satisfied with their appearance and less attractive than before they had children, and regaining the pre-pregnancy body can be difficult if not impossible.
Today, more and more women are turning to body plastics to restore their figures after pregnancy. Typical changes include breast implant and lifting procedures, liposuction, abdominoplasty, and Brazilian butt lift surgery. While these may be the most popular corrections, Dr. Rubinstein can meet with prospective patients to develop unique treatment plants to suit each of her aesthetic concerns.
Breast Surgeries as Part of a Mommy Makeover
The breasts grow in size during pregnancy, along with many other areas of the woman’s anatomy, to provide for the new baby. Hormones surge at this time and may create sensitivity, changes in the appearance of the areolas and nipples, and even stretch marks due to the quickly stretching skin. When the baby arrives and begins breastfeeding, the breasts will continue producing milk and remain enlarged. Once the child is weaned from the breasts and milk production ceases, the breasts will decrease in size. Because the skin expanded to accommodate the increased volume of the breasts, as the tissues deflate the skin may still be stretched.
A breast augmentation (mammoplasty or mammaplasty) can create a larger chest, while a breast lift (mastopexy) can create a lifting and repositioning of the tissues. Women may opt for one surgery or the other, but often these procedures are performed together during the same surgical session. There are different methods available for breast contouring procedures, which Dr. Rubinstein can cover in-depth during the initial doctor-patient meeting.
The Mommy Makeover with Liposuction
Liposuction, also called liposculpture is a permanent fat removal procedure that will redefine areas of the body that have stubbornly accumulated this soft tissue. It can be performed almost anywhere, even on the neck and submental (under chin) areas. The doctor can use different sized cannulas to add definition to the body and face.
During a mommy makeover, women commonly request that the doctor focus on their love handles, lower abdomen and back, and thighs during a liposuction procedure. While pregnant, the muscles of the midsection can become permanently separated and may create fat accumulation in certain areas. Liposuction is a one-time procedure, but if women regain the weight, fat may once again be stored in the treated areas.
Tummy Tuck during a Mommy Makeover
When a woman is pregnant, the most changes occur within the abdomen to accommodate the growing baby. As previously mentioned, this can permanently alter the underlying muscles, changing the look of the stomach. After abdominal separation, the only way to enhance this area is through plastic surgery. This change is possible through tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery.
The doctor can suture the muscles closer together and trim away extra skin of the belly. Remaining skin is pulled taught and the incision is closed. The incision is typically located in a hidden location like below the bikini line. This procedure may also include liposuction to certain areas where fat excision is not the best option. The patient is left with a smoother, flatter stomach with corrections in the anatomy below the skin.
Undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift with a Mommy Makeover
After weight gain during pregnancy, women may notice that their rear ends change shape. The once rotund feature may now appear flattened, but can be altered during this surgery. Women can undergo a butt augmentation, better known as a Brazilian butt lift, to restore a youthful contour to the butt. This surgery is most commonly performed through fat redistribution to the butt, from a harvest site on the patient’s own body. Liposuction must first be performed in areas such as the abdomen, lower back, or love handles to provide the material for a butt lift. The back side can also be moved to a higher position and, less commonly, extra skin can be trimmed away from this feature.
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Women who have dedicated their lives – and bodies – to raising children can lose their identity while caring for others. It is important that she continues to care for herself, and the mommy makeover creates the perfect opportunity to once again enjoy a feminine figure. Motherhood is an important role, but it is not the only role in a woman’s life. She may be a girlfriend, fiancée, wife, or partner and seeks to restore her love life. She may be reentering the workforce and wants to look the part of a confident career woman. It is also most possible that the mommy makeover patient wants to feel like herself again, and improve her self-esteem during the physical journey of womanhood.
Please note: While a mommy makeover is the term for surgeries commonly performed on mothers following childbirth, these surgeries can benefit women who have not had children, as well as men.
To contact Dr. Rubinstein, please call 845-863-1772. Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists is located at 200 Stony Brook Court #2 in Newburgh, New York.
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