Mommy Makeover
General Information
On average, most women gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. This weight is stored as fatty tissue in the breasts, abdomen, flanks (love-handles), hips, lower back, buttocks, and thighs. The breasts also grow due to weight gain and to prepare for nursing.
Many new moms do lose the excess weight – eventually. Unfortunately, the weight loss is not proportional to the amount of fatty tissue in a given area. That means for some, more weight may be lost from the breasts or buttocks than the abdomen and waist. A Mommy Makeover can help you regain your pre-baby figure and help you look and feel your best again.
Most women experience a myriad of body changes resulting from pregnancy and nursing, including an accumulation of excess fat, reduced skin tone, and a loss of breast volume. Weight gain is also common, with many individuals gaining an average of 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. While additional weight is a completely natural effect of pregnancy, the weight women lose after having a child is often disproportionate to the amount of fatty tissue stored in a given area. This means that for some patients, weight may be lost in the breasts or buttocks rather than the abdomen and waist.
A Mommy Makeover is a series of plastic surgery procedures that can be combined into one treatment plan to address multiple aesthetic concerns at once. Dr. John Ayala, our board-certified plastic surgeon, understands that attempting to restore your pre-pregnancy figure in the midst of starting a family can be difficult. At our San Antonio practice, he offers a Mommy Makeover to help patients restore their pre-baby contours and undo the physical changes caused by pregnancy.
Who is a Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
Although this procedure is referred to as a “Mommy Makeover,” a combination treatment plan can be tailored towards any patient who wishes to address multiple aesthetic concerns simultaneously. In many cases, the options typically included in a Mommy Makeover can also benefit individuals who have just undergone massive weight loss or bariatric surgery. Those considering a Mommy Makeover should be:
- Healthy enough to undergo surgery, with no life-threatening illnesses or uncontrolled medical conditions
- Interested in more than one cosmetic surgery
- A non-smoker, or willing to stop smoking before and after the procedure
- Finished having children, with no future plans for pregnancy
After a consultation, Dr. Ayala will be able to confirm whether a Mommy Makeover is the best option to attain your desired look. In general, the most successful results are typically achieved when patients are at or near their ideal weight.
What are My Mommy Makeover Treatment Options?
A Mommy Makeover can include any or all of the following breast and body contouring procedures, depending on your wishes and needs. Based on the most optimal treatment options to address your concerns, Dr. Ayala can determine whether your Mommy Makeover should take place in one surgery or over the course of multiple procedures.
Breast Augmentation
After pregnancy and breastfeeding, the breasts often lose shape and appear flat or “deflated.” With breast augmentation, Dr. Ayala can place silicone or saline implants to improve the fullness, volume, and symmetry of the breasts.
Breast Lift
Increased breast ptosis, or breast sag, is also a common effect of pregnancy—particularly if women also experience diminished volume and stretched breast skin. Breast lift surgery is designed to reshape the breasts, lift them to a more rejuvenated positioning, and restore younger-looking breast contours. Implants can also be placed at the same time as a breast lift if desired to achieve a firmer, fuller, and more youthful look overall.
Tummy Tuck
Perhaps the most dramatic transformation caused by pregnancy is the development of a protruding or hanging abdomen due to stretched abdominal skin and musculature. This usually cannot be resolved with dieting and exercise alone, as no amount of weight loss can naturally repair the skin and muscles. A tummy tuck can be a highly effective procedure to tighten lax tissue and reshape the abdomen, resulting in a flatter, smoother, and slimmer body contour.
Buttock Lift
A more voluptuous and shapely buttock contour can be achieved with buttock augmentation—a procedure designed to combat a flat or sagging look caused by weight fluctuation during pregnancy. Dr. Ayala can create a plumper, rounder aesthetic through use of injectable fillers or fat transfer techniques, depending on your goals and preferences.
Liposuction
Liposuction is one of the most popular treatment options included in a Mommy Makeover. This suction-based fat removal technique can smooth bulges of excess fat in the upper arms, thighs, hips, waist, and abdomen, among virtually any other region of the body. Best of all, liposuction does not require extensive incisions or recovery time to reshape the body contours.
What is Recovery From a Mommy Makeover Like?
Each patient’s recovery period will vary depending on which procedures were included in their Mommy Makeover. Most individuals require one to two weeks of downtime, during which time additional child care assistance can be very helpful in allowing patients ample time to rest and heal from surgery. Less invasive procedures, such as liposuction, usually require a shorter recovery period when compared to a tummy tuck or breast surgery.
After any surgery, reactions like swelling, bruising, tenderness, and/or soreness are to be expected. Fortunately, discomfort can be managed with ice packs as well as over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications. Exercise, lifting anything heavier than five pounds, and strenuous activity should be avoided for at least four to six weeks. Dr. Ayala will fully inform you of what you can expect during the healing process at the time of your consultation.
Dr. Ayala performs a Mommy Makeover according to your unique concerns and individual needs to help ensure your treatment plan is completely personalized to achieve your goals. Don’t hesitate to contact our San Antonio office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ayala, or to learn more about the procedure.
