Getting a Post-Pregnancy Lift with a Mommy Makeover
Bearing a child can undoubtedly be an extremely rewarding, life-affirming experience. Unfortunately it can also be an experience that can bring about numerous changes to a woman’s physique. Significant fluctuations in weight and physical dimensions can leave many muscles and tissues, particularly those in the abdomen and breasts, stretched and distorted to the point that they can no longer return to their original condition, even long after the child has been born. This can ultimately result in body contours that sag and droop, resisting the efforts of diet and exercise to restore them to their original shape. This particular group of related concerns can often be addressed with a mommy makeover.
A mommy makeover is actually a combination of several cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed at one time, both to reduce the overall surgical recovery period and to allow the individual procedures to complement each other and achieve more aesthetically pleasing results. While the specific components of a mommy makeover can vary depending on the particular needs of each individual patient, it most commonly includes a tummy tuck, liposuction, and some form of breast procedure.
The process of carrying a child and giving birth obviously causes massive changes in the size and shape of the abdomen. In fact, pregnancy can put so much pressure on the belly that sometimes the muscles in front can no longer maintain their shape. When these rectus abdominis muscles separate it results in a condition referred to as “Diastasis Recti.” Once this occurs, the uterus, bowels, and other organs have only a thin band of connective tissue in front to hold them in place. Ultimately this can result in lower back pain, constipation, and urine leaking. In rare cases the tissue may even tear, resulting in a hernia. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, addresses this issue by re-tightening the muscles of the abdomen, allowing them to return to their pre-pregnancy shape.
Pregnancy and breast feeding can also cause the breasts to undergo extreme changes in size, often resulting in less firm, downward-pointing breasts with excess, sagging skin. A breast lift, or mastopexy, can often restore the breasts to a more youthful and lifted position by tightening the supporting tissue and removing excess skin. Women undergoing a breast lift will often also choose to have the breasts either enlarged with saline or silicone breast implants or reduced in size through a breast reduction procedure, depending on their individual needs and preferences.
Lastly, many mommy makeovers incorporate some degree of liposuction to help treat the stubborn pockets of fat left behind in areas traditionally resistant to diet or exercise. This finishing process helps sculpt the body’s natural curves, leaving behind a more finely contoured physique.
If you’re interested in learning more about one of the procedures we perform at Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C., contact us at one of our Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, or Newnan offices to schedule a consultation. Additionally, we provide a variety of options for financing, including CareCreditSM and Alphaeon®, in order to assist you. Please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery with any questions you may have concerning the financial planning of your procedure and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest news.
