Mommy Makeover

Pregnancy is associated with a number of physical changes that occur during the pregnancy and often persist after delivery. There are fluctuations in weight and significant changes in the quality of the skin. Some mothers are lucky and lose the “baby weight” and have nice skin tightening after pregnancy; others are not so lucky and can’t seem to lose the added weight and also have sagging skin in the abdomen, breasts and elsewhere. This has prompted a growing number of mothers to undergo cosmetic surgery following childbirth.

The term “mommy makeover” is used to describe a combination of cosmetic surgery procedures designed to restore or improve a woman’s body shape after pregnancy.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM A MOMMY MAKEOVER?
As your weight increases during pregnancy, your skin stretches to accommodate the growing fetus. After delivery, the skin may remain flaccid and loose and stubborn pockets of fat may persist long afterwards, despite a regular diet, an exercise routine and weight loss. A mommy makeover is designed to help you reclaim your figure.

You may be a potential candidate for a mommy makeover if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• You are at or near an ideal body weight for your height
• You are dissatisfied with post-pregnancy changes to your body
• You are in good overall physical and psychological health
• You have realistic cosmetic goals and expectations

A mommy makeover aims to improve several areas of the body in one safe surgery. Through various surgical techniques, a mommy makeover can restore youthfulness, reduce excess fat, tighten loose abdominal tissue, restore breast volume and perkiness, improve overall self-confidence and promote a sense of physical and emotional well-being.

A mommy makeover may not be for everyone, especially women who desire more children. But a mommy makeover will not prevent you from having children in the future; it simply addresses these issues at the present time to help you feel better about yourself. If you do have additional children in the future, you may desire a “touch-up” procedure after the pregnancy as the results of the initial mommy makeover may be reversed during the childbearing process. The best way to determine if a mommy makeover is right for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gotkin at Cosmetique.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR MOMMY MAKEOVER
A mommy makeover is a combination of one or more body enhancing procedures, custom tailored for each individual patient. The most common procedures performed during a mommy makeover include breast augmentation, breast lift, liposuction, and Ipanema Tummy Tuck.

Mommy makeover procedures can be performed in a single surgery or in stages. The length of your surgery and the methods utilized will be influenced by your desired cosmetic outcome and selected procedures.

AFTER YOUR SURGERY
The recovery time for a mommy makeover will greatly depend on the number and complexity of the cosmetic procedures performed. Dr. Gotkin will provide you with specific aftercare and hygiene instructions that, like the surgery, are custom-tailored to your specific set of procedures. It is common for mobility to be limited for the first few days of recovery. Supportive garments are often worn to minimize swelling and encourage proper healing.

The final results of your surgery will become gradually apparent over several weeks to several months as swelling begins to subside. Most patients are able to resume most normal activities, including work, within two weeks of surgery. More strenuous activities may be restricted for 6-8 weeks.