Mommy Makeover refers to a combination of procedures in a single surgical act, relating to breast plastic surgery and abdominal plastic surgery. It is a surgical intervention to improve the contour of the breast and abdomen, which are often altered after pregnancy.
After one or more pregnancies and the breastfeeding period, women undergo significant physical and psychological changes. Changes in breasts, sagging, excess skin and accumulation of fats in various parts of the body are common. And often, these changes are difficult to be corrected only with diet and exercise. Thus, Mommy Makeover aims to bring back self-esteem and body shape, making it look like it was before pregnancy.
Faced with this situation, many women dissatisfied with the changes in the body, resort to aesthetic procedures, involving corrections in breasts – augmentation mammoplasty, mastopexy or breast reduction; abdomen – liposuction, miniabdominoplasty or abdominoplasty. In addition to these, procedures for correction in the thighs, hips and abdomen can be associated. A strengthening of the abdominal wall muscles can also be made, which is very common in cases of multiple pregnancies.
Mommy Makeover comes down to two or three different surgeries in the same surgical act. One of them may be plastic surgery in the breast region, and mastopexy is often indicated, because of sagging. Another is abdominoplasty, recommended for abdominal sagging, and liposuction for the accumulation of fat and skin located in the abdomen region.
When should I consider Mommy Makeover?
One of the crucial points is a woman’s self-esteem. Thus, when breastfeeding or gestation period, cause a negative change in the shape of the breasts; if excess skin, sagging, fat and stretch marks in the abdominal region are causing discomfort leading to a worsening of self-esteem; if the shape of the hip, trunk, arms or thighregions bother, one can think of performing the surgical procedure for body remodeling.
After pregnancy it is very common for women to suffer these changes in the level of the breast and abdomen, which do not improve either with physical exercise or with a balanced diet. In these cases, plastic surgery is a resource to be taken into account.
What guidelines when thinking about performing the procedure?
This type of plastic surgery should be considered when the patient is not pregnant, so as not to lose the results achieved. After pregnancy, it is recommended to wait at least six months after delivery to perform the procedure, but this period may vary according to the health and recovery of the patient.
Before the decision by Mommy Makeover , it is very important to make an initial appointment. It’s time to discuss the best treatment options. During the consultation, the patient should present all the desired aesthetic changes and the doctor should indicate the most appropriate combination of surgical procedures. Although it is considered a “package” of procedures, it is up to the doctor to evaluate the patient. The best way to clarify doubts and adopt a more calm and confident posture in relation to the procedure is by talking about your plastic surgery that will be performed.
Ask your questions, a surgery should be done safely and your health should always be placed first. Each patient has its particularities, which should be treated with all care and attention.
What plastic surgeries can be performed in the same surgical procedure?
The type of technique will depend on the patient’s need.
Among breast surgeries, the plastic surgeon may indicate an augmentation mammoplasty (breast augmentation) with prosthesis or mastopexy (elevation) with or without prosthesis in cases of breasts that presented sagging after breastfeeding (“drooping and empty”). To correct breast augmentation after breastfeeding, reduction mammoplasty is indicated.
Any of these procedures can be associated with plastic surgery for remodeling of the abdomen. For the removal of excess skin and fat from the abdomen, abdominoplasty, mini abdominoplasty or liposuction are indicated, procedures that can restore the woman’s abdominal appearance.
Abdominoplasty is indicated in cases where there is a large excess of skin and fat. In these cases, the navel transposition is also performed and if a detachment of the reabdominal muscles is also made to approach.
Mini abdominoplasty is indicated in women with a weight close to the ideal for their height and biotype and who have small excess skin and fat and sagging in the lower abdomen.
Finally, liposuction is indicated in women with a weight close to ideal, with excess abdominal fat, but without excess skin and whose skin has good elasticity. Usually, no stretch marks of pregnancy and no sagging.
When the complaint refers to the accumulation of fats in hips, thighs, waist and other parts of the body this can be solved with liposuction. There are several techniques available for performing the surgery, each with a specific benefit and that are indicated according to the characteristics of the patient’s skin.
What will the scars look like?
Like any plastic surgery, Mommy Makeover will have scars.
Nevertheless, the latest techniques allow you to easily hide the scars, so that they are not visible when wearing underwear or swimwear. In addition, they become less evident over time, depending on the patient’s healing.
The size of the scar is proportional to excess skin and fat and skin sagging. The higher the excess skin, the greater the scar.
Often, patients do plastic surgery without knowing how the scar will look and get upset when they get bigger than expected. Generally, scars evolve to become very discrete. However, healing is dependent on each organism and very personal, only your plastic surgeon will know how to advise you on how best to treat your scars.
Is it a safe procedure?
Like any other plastic surgery, Mommy Makeover can present risks.
Every type of surgery has risks, even if they’re rare. The medical evaluation made before plastic surgery is very important to better define how the procedure will be, and determine whether the risks are greater than the benefits. You should talk openly with your doctor, ask all questions, clarify your goals and expectations and listen to the possible results, the necessary postoperative care and possible complications. A careful initial evaluation, with preoperative examinations, and the use of the most appropriate surgical technique will ensure the expected results with lower complication rates.
The first step is to consult a reliable Plastic Surgeon. In addition, you should choose a clinic/hospital with an appropriate environment for consultation and surgery.
It is also important to choose the appropriate time to perform the surgery, whether socially, personally or professionally.
Are there any adverse effects?
In view of this type of plastic surgery, the most frequent adverse effects are frequent and disappear spontaneously. The most frequent are ecchymosis (“purple area”) and edema (“swelling”). Usually, ecchymosis disappears between 2 to 3 weeks and edema progressively improves in the first 4 weeks.
The feeling of tighting in the abdomen may be present, especially if the muscle wall is correct. It is also common to experience breast tension, especially if increased mammoplasty or mastopexy is performed with implants. This voltage is transient, normally lasting 2 or 3 weeks.
In the postoperative period it is common to feel more tired and trapped in movements, the first time you get out of bed and so should do it gradually and with help.
Hence the importance of consulting with the plastic surgeon to clarify all doubts.
When to return to daily routine after Mommy Makeover?
The return to daily routine depends on the characteristics of the patient’s type of activity and the extent of the procedure. All patients are advised to walk early. The return to work is oriented after 4 to 6 weeks after the intervention. The period to return to physical exercise is a little longer. All these orientations will be passed on in postoperative consultations and depend on the individuality of each patient.
When will I see results?
The expected result of Mommy Makeover is the improvement of the contour and shape of the breast and the reduction of excess fat and/or skin in the abdomen, the improvement of the waist contour and the main, the improvement of self-esteem.
However, the final result will only be visible between 4 to 6 months after surgery, when the skin has acquired its usual tonicity.
To obtain the expected result, it is essential to comply with the postoperative recommendations. Small touch-ups or corrections of scars may be required, especially if weight increases or decreases after surgery. Therefore, it is essential to control weight and practice of physical activities, in addition to adequate nutrition.
These procedures are able to change not only the shape of the body of the moms, but also rescue their self-esteem and bring more satisfaction with the body itself.
Thus, all the information mentioned here does not replace your consultation, where your doctor will explain and detail each item of the procedure, in addition to restraining all your specific questions. Seek medical plastic surgeon, schedule your appointment and pass specialized evaluation.
