The Science Behind Post Pregnancy Plastic Surgery
You hear a lot in the media about Hollywood superstars bouncing back to a more-beautiful-than-ever appearance in what seems like an instant after they’ve given birth. As many women know, bouncing back after baby is rarely easy. There are in fact, many dramatic physical changes that accompany pregnancy and childbirth. Sometimes, even following a healthy diet and regularly exercising is not enough to reverse these effects. To restore a pre-baby appearance not attainable with exercise and diet, Atlanta Plastic Surgery offers post-pregnancy plastic surgery.
A woman’s body must gain sufficient weight to be able to support the life growing inside her. Not only does the baby gain weight as it grows, but the woman’s body gains weight because of the addition of the placenta, amniotic fluid, and breast tissue, as well as an increase in uterus size and blood supply. In terms of added fat, during a healthy pregnancy the body stores an additional 5 to 9 pounds of fat to help supply itself with energy during delivery and breastfeeding.
Cosmetic surgery after pregnancy helps women who have had children to reclaim their bodies and return to their previous silhouette. Specifically tailored to each individual patient, post pregnancy plastic surgery can include a combination of cosmetic procedures to help each patient achieve her desired look.
As the uterus expands to accommodate the baby, the abdominal muscles also stretch. However unlike the uterus, the abdominal muscles have a harder time returning to their normal size once the baby is delivered. During a tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty) one of Atlanta Plastic Surgery’s plastic surgeons can remove sagging skin around the stomach area and retighten stretched abdominal muscles to produce the patient’s desired look.
Liposuction can also help treat and reduce stubborn, exercise-resistant pockets of fat and improve the contours of the body enlarged by the aforementioned increase in body fat during pregnancy. Performed in more than just the abdomen, liposuction can help sculpt the thighs, hips, buttocks, and love handles. Generally, liposuction involves a small incision where fluid is injected into the area to reduce pain and bleeding. Then, the fluid and excess fat are removed via suction through a small metal tube called a cannula.
Post-pregnancy plastic surgery can also help with the changes associated with breastfeeding during the first months of motherhood. Depending on the mother’s needs and desires, surgery can include a breast reduction where tissue and skin are removed from overly large and pendulous breasts, breast lift that helps return sagging breast to a more aesthetically pleasing position, and/or breast augmentation surgery which enhances the breast size, proportioning the breasts with the body.
Because cosmetic surgery after pregnancy is so specialized, a consultation with one of Atlanta Plastic Surgery’s cosmetic surgeons allows you to discuss your needs and receive a recommendation for the appropriate procedure(s) to achieve your desired look. For examples of our surgeons’ results, check out our before and after gallery.
If you’d like to know more about post-pregnancy cosmetic surgery or other procedures we offer, feel free to contact us for more information or a consultation.
