For many women, having a child is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experience of their lives. The birth of a child brings joy to the mother and all those around her but also has a very profound physical impact on the body. It is normal for some women to feel conscious about the effects that pregnancy had on their bodies. Stretching of the skin on the abdomen, breasts, thighs and other areas of the body during pregnancy can lead to sagging, stretch marks and areas of isolated deposits of fat.
These changes can lead to dissatisfaction with the body and lower self-esteem. To counteract these changes, some women choose from a variety of procedures to address the unwanted physical changes of pregnancy that cannot be reversed through diet and exercise. These procedures include a tummy tuck or liposuction or can be combined with a breast augmentation for a “Mommy Makeover.”
Tummy Tuck
With the weight gain of any type comes the possibility that a person will develop a protruding abdomen that is a result of weakened abdominal muscles and excess skin. Tummy tuck surgery, also known as abdominoplasty is a procedure that corrects this problem by removing excess fat and skin, tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall and rectifying the navel. In may cases, the restoring of weakened or separated muscles creates an abdominal profile that is more smooth and firmer.
A flat and well-toned abdomen is something many of us strive for through exercise and weight control. Sometimes these methods are not enough to achieve our goals. Anyone can develop this problem, even individuals of otherwise normal body weight and proportion can develop and abdomen that protrudes or is loose and sagging.
Liposuction
Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty and commonly referred to as “lipo” is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures available today. Liposuction surgery can easily help patients with stubborn pockets of fat that exercise will not handle. The surgery slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess fat deposits, improving body contours and proportion and ultimately it enhances the patient’s self-image.
With medical advances, it is now a straightforward matter to use liposuction or “liposculpture” techniques to contour the body. It is also used to reduce or remove fat deposits in those areas, including the chin, neck, jowls, cheeks, arms, inner and outer thighs, buttocks, knees, calves, ankles, hips, and abdomen. There is no faster, more efficient way to remove that unsightly “muffin top” or “jelly roll” that spills over the side of the top of the jeans.
Mommy Makeover
Many moms consider the option of having a Mommy Makeover, which is a uniquely personalized treatment plan; your doctor will help you select which procedures are best suited to your cosmetic goals. It is a combination of a tummy tuck and breast augmentation with or without a lift and can help bring a mother’s figure back to her pre-pregnancy state. The procedure is often combined with liposuction on the thighs or other areas as well.
Things to Consider
Before committing yourself and your body to plastic surgery, it is important to be sure that you are in good mental and physical health. While having a baby after plastic surgery will not be a threat to you or your baby, it is possible that your results will be reversed. It is advised not to have a tummy tuck or liposuction until you know you are done having children.
Besides a Mommy Makeover, one of the best gifts you can give yourself is the time to recover properly from cosmetic plastic surgery. If you are not committed to bouncing back slowly, you could compromise your health and the results you were hoping to achieve.
Most tummy tucks are performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. You can expect to be off work for at least a week, with no heavy lifting for at least two weeks. A full recovery usually takes six weeks.
Under most circumstances, when liposuction is an outpatient procedure, recovery is usually quick. Some people return to work within a few days and to normal activities within a few weeks. You should expect some bruising, swelling and soreness for about a week. However, as with other procedures, every person’s outcome will vary based on factors such as the volume of fat cells removed and area of removal. Your doctor will discuss what results you can expect to achieve and how to best maintain your new body shape.
During your liposuction recovery, a compression garment may cover treatment areas once the procedure is completed. These help control swelling and compress the skin to your new body contours.
Coastal Plastic Surgeons is a highly acclaimed plastic and reconstructive surgery practice located in Del Mar, California with offices located in Temecula, Vista, and Kearny Mesa. Dr. Batra and Dr. Cameros have over 30 years of experience combined and do over 100 of these combined procedures annually.
If you’re ready to lose the post pregnancy belly and get back to your pre-baby body, you can schedule your complimentary consultation on our website. You can also schedule by calling one of out four offices to assist you.
San Diego, Del Mar – (858) 365-3558
Temecula – Murrieta – 951.296.9622
Kearny Mesa – (858) 365-3558
Vista – North County – (858) 365-3558