Pregnancy and breastfeeding can be some of the most precious joys of a woman’s life. At the same time that mothers revel in the love of their children, the changes in her body that these natural processes may result in can negatively affect her self-confidence and pride in her appearance.
Despite working hard on post-baby weight loss, it can be difficult for new mothers to restore the pre-pregnancy look of their bodies. There is an alternative, however; mommy makeover procedures at Cold Spring Plastic Surgery can help women to rejuvenate the look of their bodies after pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. A mommy makeover combines different plastic surgery procedures to produce beautiful, natural results.
Why Choose a Mommy Makeover?
There are a number of changes that a woman’s body undergoes throughout pregnancy and childbirth. These include hormonal changes, physical changes caused by the growth of the baby during pregnancy and the effects of breastfeeding.
In addition, the breasts also change during pregnancy and nursing. During pregnancy, breasts frequently enlarge; breastfeeding can also cause the breasts to become enlarged as they become engorged with milk. After breastfeeding, many women’s breasts return to a smaller size. However, the skin of the breasts has expanded during pregnancy and nursing and does not necessarily shrink back following these changes.
This can mean that a woman’s breasts can appear saggy or shrunken, even when they are the same size that they were before pregnancy. In other cases, women’s breasts that expand during pregnancy and breastfeeding can remain at their larger size without losing volume.
Weight gain is also a common part of pregnancy and can be accompanied by the development of stubborn fat deposits in the hips, thighs and stomach that remain despite weight loss programs, dieting and exercising. These stubborn deposits can be difficult to lose even for very fit women after pregnancy.
Because of these changes and others that can happen, many women who are otherwise delighted with their experience as mothers long to reclaim their pre-pregnancy bodies. The skilled plastic surgeons at Cold Spring Plastic Surgery can help to design a mommy makeover procedure that can restore the appearance and feel of your body before birth.
What Procedures Are Part of a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover combines multiple plastic surgery procedures to address areas of concern. Some of the most commonly involved aspects of a mommy makeover in Long Island include:
Breast Augmentation & Lift
For women who want a fuller appearance in their breasts, breast augmentation with implants can be part of a mommy makeover. This procedure can also include a breast lift to improve the perkiness and projection of your breasts, restoring their pre-pregnancy appearance. Some women could choose other breast procedures as part of a mommy makeover, including breast reduction for women whose breasts grew uncomfortably large during pregnancy.
Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty
A tummy tuck helps to restore the pre-pregnancy look and feel of your abdominal area. A tummy tuck includes tightening the muscles of the abdomen and removing excess skin for a flatter, toned appearance. Abdominoplasty can restore the tone and muscular feel of the abdominal area as well as its aesthetic appearance.
Liposuction:
For those stubborn fat deposits in the hips, thighs and abdomen that remain after pregnancy and childbirth, liposuction can be an efficient, effective solution that restores the smooth, slender appearance of your body.
A mommy makeover traditionally includes breast lift and/or augmentation, tummy tuck and liposuction, but women can also include other procedures that fit into their goals for the appearance of their body. This can include liposuction in other areas of the body like the upper arms, vaginal rejuvenation procedures, or non-surgical facial procedures like injectables and dermal fillers.
What Happens During Mommy Makeover Surgery?
When you are interested in a mommy makeover, come to see one of our Huntington Long Island plastic surgeons at Cold Spring Plastic Surgery for a consultation. The surgeon will discuss in detail your goals for your body and the outcomes you wish to achieve from your mommy makeover. They will go over before-and-after photos to present realistic outcomes for your procedures and recommend a plan of action that encompasses your goals for your body.
The surgery itself is performed under general anesthesia and lasts around three to five hours; in general, a breast lift and augmentation take between one and two hours, while a tummy tuck takes between two and three hours to complete. You may choose to have your full mommy makeover in one surgical session or spread out your treatments over a second session.
What is Recovery Like After a Mommy Makeover?
Because a mommy makeover is an intensive procedure, you will need to set aside one to two weeks for recovery. For the first few days after your procedure, you may feel some pain and discomfort, but you can expect to eat and drink normally and get up to go to the bathroom. It can be helpful to have assistance caring for your children during this time. After several more days of rest, you can return to work and your regular daily routine.
However, for the first six weeks after the procedure, you should refrain from heavy lifting and intensive exercise. Your surgeon will give you detailed guidelines for your recovery timeline, and you will come back for a post-surgery checkup. You can wear a compression garment and special surgical bra for the first few weeks after your surgery to help reduce swelling and support your breasts and abdomen as they heal and recover. While you’ll begin to see the effects of your mommy makeover right away, within two to three months you will see how your body will look when fully healed.
Schedule a Mommy Makeover Consultation
At Cold Spring Plastic Surgery, our experienced, Long Island plastic surgeons hold daily free consultations with our patients from across the region, nationally and internationally. Call our office or use our online contact form to get in touch with our office. We look forward to scheduling a consultation with you to discuss how a mommy makeover can help you achieve your goals for the look and feel of your body after pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.