Becoming a mother is one of the biggest life milestones for many women, and bringing a new life into the world is one of the most life-changing. It also changes your body. After having children, many women want to get back to their pre-baby bodies and may need a little help. A Mommy Makeover is a popular solution. Call the office of Dustin C. Derrick, MD, the lead plastic surgeon at Cosmetic Surgery of DFW for Mommy Makeovers in Fort Worth, TX.
What Is a Mommy Makeover?
Mommy Makeovers are intended to help women feel confident about their bodies again after pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Pregnancy and childbirth put an enormous amount of stress on your body, so as your hormones return to their normal levels, you may be left with areas of your body that don’t reflect your commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
A Mommy Makeover is a combination of body contouring procedures. When these are done together, women feel all the negative physical changes they experienced after childbearing have been addressed. Each makeover will depend on the areas of concern of the patient and what she and her doctor decide is the best course of action to achieve the best results.
What Is Included in a Mommy Makeover?
Women may find they have pockets of excess fat that have become diet and exercise-resistant. Breastfeeding can leave their breasts looking a little deflated and droopy, lacking the firmness of their pre-baby bodies. Their skin may have loosened on certain areas of the body and even the labia may have changed its shape. A Mommy Makeover encompasses a suite of procedures to help women look and feel their best.
Breast Lift
Women, especially those in their 30s and 40s, will want a breast lift as part of their makeover. Throughout pregnancy and after childbirth, the breasts expand and contract dramatically during milk production. Women may increase several cup sizes during breastfeeding and then drop back down when it’s over. All this stretching and shrinking can leave their breasts saggy and flatter than they were pre-pregnancy.
After spending time breastfeeding, the nipples may end up down-turned instead of in their perkier, upturned position. A breast lift can address all these issues. There are no implants with a lift, nor is there a fat transfer. This is purely a lift of existing tissue.
Breast Augmentation
Sometimes women will feel their breasts aren’t as full as they were before they had children. If you feel your breasts are smaller or not as full as you’d like, breast augmentation can help you achieve the shape and size you’re looking for. This procedure can be done with the use of implants or fat transfer, depending on your situation and your doctor’s recommendation.
Breast lifts and augmentation are often done together. This allows a woman to get a fuller size and still get the lift and nipple position she prefers. If you’re done having children, you and your surgeon can achieve the look you had pre-baby or the one you’ve always wanted.
Tummy Tuck
Also known as abdominoplasty, this procedure removes excess fat and skin from the abdomen area. After pregnancy, some women can see their once smooth abdomen protrude or be loose and sagging. Even women who are a normal weight, eat well and exercise often have a frustrating time achieving the shape they want.
While a tummy tuck isn’t a weight-loss tool, if you manage your weight without large fluctuations, you can maintain these lasting results. Tummy tucks can’t eliminate stretch marks, but sometimes their appearance can be improved if they’re on the areas of excess skin that will be removed.
Liposuction
Liposuction has transformed since it first became popular. Many top surgeons are using SAFELipo technology. SAFELipo is a three-step process that combines elements of fat shifting, fat grafting, and liposuction to help patients achieve a smooth and even contour.
Separation
This is the first step in the process. Power-assisted liposuction is used to separate pockets of fat from surrounding tissue. The rapid vibration of the liposuction wand gently dislodges the fat which then emulsifies without damaging the surrounding tissue.
Aspiration
In this next step, the fat cells are removed. Because the first step dislodged much of the targeted fat, removal is gentler, leaving the tissue and blood vessels intact. This method of fat removal still leaves behind a thin layer of fat and reduces the bruising, swelling and internal scars experienced in other liposuction methods.
Fat Equalization
This final step allows the surgeon to even out the remaining layer of fat using equalization probes. It’s this layer of fat that produces a smooth, toned and natural-looking result. This extra step protects the patient from contour irregularities that can occur because the skin attaches to the muscle layer when there’s no layer of fat left for it to adhere to.
Fat Grafting
This is a type of breast augmentation that can be used in a Mommy Makeover. This is done by taking fat from one part of the body and moving it to another. When done during breast augmentation, the results are natural and ideal for women who want just a small increase in breast size.
This is also a helpful tool in correcting breast asymmetry that may be present after childbearing or could be a carryover from before. This procedure allows the surgeon to use only the amount needed to achieve the patient’s goal. Discuss all your concerns with your surgeon because fat grafting can be used to replace lost volume to areas of the face too.
Brazilian Butt Lift
This popular procedure adds shape, lift and contour to the buttocks by transferring fat from another part of the body. As with fat grafting for breast augmentation, this procedure is notable because the results are so natural looking. The first part of this process is to remove, via liposuction, excess fat from an area on your body such as:
- Stomach
- Thighs
- Hips
The fat is then purified before it is returned to your body. Your surgeon will inject the target areas of the buttocks with the processed fat to achieve the desired shape. Typically, there will be three to five incisions made depending on the amount of fat being transferred and the desired shape. This procedure can help address multiple concerns a patient may have with the shape of their buttocks:
- Better proportion
- Inflate flattened buttocks
- Firm up sagging buttocks
- Add shape
- Achieve a curvy silhouette
- Help clothing fit properly
Labiaplasty
When a woman gives birth, her vagina is stretched, and while most of the elasticity will come back, sometimes childbirth coupled with age and genetics can leave her with an uncomfortable situation. The inner labia minora is supposed to be encapsulated and protected by the outer labia majora. When the labia minora hangs lower than the labia majora, this can be painful for the woman.
Activities like riding bikes, intercourse, or even sitting can become uncomfortable or painful as the labia minora are pinched, twisted, and tugged. This procedure will reduce the labia minora so it does not hang below the labia majora. This effectively relieves the discomfort of stretched labia.
When Should I Get a Mommy Makeover?
A consultation with your surgeon is the best way to know if you’re at the right stage of your life for this kind of makeover. There are some general guidelines most surgeons follow, though each situation is different. In general, it’s the right time for you if:
You’re Finished Having Children
This is the best time to talk about this makeover. You don’t want to achieve all these improvements to get your pre-baby figure back only to do it all over again. This doesn’t mean it can’t be done, but it will require a more in-depth consultation for your surgeon to decide if this is the right option for you.
You Are at a Stable Weight
If you are in generally good health, follow an exercise routine, and eat well, you’re probably a good candidate. If you’re still carrying 30 extra pounds from your pregnancy a year ago, you’ll want to lose that weight first. Most surgeons will recommend you be as close to your goal weight as possible before getting this makeover.
The reason your ideal weight is so important is that the laxity of your skin will change if you lose even more weight afterward. It’s always best to shed pounds first. Your weight will fluctuate naturally somewhat throughout your life after these procedures, but if you keep it within a healthy range, you can maintain your results.
You Have Realistic Expectations
Yes, you will look amazing after your makeover. If you’re a 40-year-old mother of three, you won’t look 20 again—it’s impossible. It’s important for you and your doctor to talk through realistic expectations. Ask to see before and after photos of women who are about your age and body type.
This makeover is transformational and life-changing in the best of ways. Managing your own expectations will allow you to fully enjoy the results. The goal is always to enhance a woman’s natural beauty; not to make her look different from herself. If you’re picturing the best you can be, you’re on the right track.
Results
Some results you will see immediately and others will take time to become fully clear. Most women report their results continue to improve for months after their procedures. As your body settles and heals, you’ll see a firmer, shapelier and more proportionate figure appear.
Each patient will have different results, and it’s important to have a consultation with a reputable cosmetic surgeon so you can understand what to expect and when.
The Consultation
This is the most important first step in the process. You’ll want to do some research so you feel informed enough to ask questions as they come up. Your surgeon will want to discuss:
- Your goals
- Your medical history and drug allergies
- Any over the counter or prescription medications you take, including supplements
- Current and past alcohol, tobacco, and drug use
- Previous surgeries
The consultation is also the appropriate time for your surgeon to do a physical examination of your areas of concern and even take reference photographs if you agree on a treatment plan. The physical examination can include:
- Breasts
- Abdomen
- Buttocks
- Genitalia
- General skin thickness and quality
- Other areas of concern
Choosing the Right Surgeon
If you’re unhappy with the way any part of your body looks after having children and want to make changes, this makeover could be the perfect way to get back your pre-baby figure and recapture the self-confidence that comes with it.
If you have questions regarding a Mommy Makeover and would like to schedule a consultation, call Dustin C. Derrick, MD at Cosmetic Surgery of DFW in Fort Worth, TX at 817-529-4314. We believe in making a difference in our clients’ lives by helping them achieve the positive outcomes they desire.
