The Popular “Mommy Makeover” Needs Its Own Makeover
In the early 2000s, the “Mommy Makeover” was both a popular term and a popular procedure which generally consisted of a tummy tuck and breast augmentation performed to restore the look of a woman’s pre-pregnancy body.
At de Ramon Plastic Surgery Institute, that traditional model has been turned on its head! There are so many options available for moms looking for improvement after they have had children. Each patient will have a consultation with Dr. de Ramon in order to customize the procedures which are most appropriate for their needs and desired outcome.
For patients who are looking to improve their abdominal contour, there are several options ranging from non-invasive fat removal to surgery. If patients are younger and have good skin elasticity, CoolSculpting may be a great option. This non-invasive procedure targets specific areas of fat and can reduce them as much as 40-50% per treatment. (Average improvement is 22.5%.) Dr. de Ramon can treat the upper and lower abdomen and the flanks for a great all-around result.
Another fat removal option, SmartLipo MPX, can be performed in our office surgical suite where patients can have laser liposuction of these same areas with smooth, contoured results. Although this is an invasive procedure, Dr. de Ramon does not use general anesthesia. Results from SmartLipo MPX can be seen immediately, but final results may take 4-6 months. Recovery from SmartLipo is very similar to that for CoolSculpting.
In some cases, Dr. de Ramon will determine during an exam that a patient has less elasticity in their skin and/or requires work to repair the abdominal wall muscle. Achieving great results are still possible with a variety of options. In some cases, patients need a mini tummy tuck without repair of the abdominal wall muscles. This procedure would involve the removal of extra, hanging skin below the belly button. In other cases, a tummy tuck would need to be performed involving muscle repair in addition to skin removal. A full tummy tuck is performed under general anesthesia in an outpatient surgery center. In other cases, a tummy tuck is combined with liposuction for optimal results.
For many moms, there is a definite change to their breasts after pregnancy. They may become more “deflated” looking, they may get larger and stay larger or they may get smaller. Again, the “Mommy Makeover” no longer applies here. If a patient is happy with the volume of their breasts, a breast lift is a terrific procedure to tighten the skin and shift the nipples to a more pleasing position.
If patients want a larger breast due to losing volume, Dr. de Ramon can perform a breast augmentation with saline or silicone implants (see an earlier blog on implant selection). Alternatively, he can also perform fat grafting which involves removing fat with liposuction and then transferring that fat to the breasts. Some moms may struggle losing weight after pregnancy and find their breasts are too big or as a result of pregnancy their breasts may be larger than expected. In this situation, a breast reduction procedure can be performed to not only make the breasts smaller but also to make them more aesthetically pleasing and lifted. In each case, these procedures are done in an outpatient surgery center and require general anesthesia.
A change to a woman’s body after pregnancy can be a challenge and in some cases, options for plastic surgery can help with that challenge. Being a mom is rewarding, tiring and exciting, and women deserve a customized approach to improving the look of their abdomen or breasts.
