A woman’s body experiences many changes as a result of pregnancy and breastfeeding. The more children one carries, the greater the toll on one’s body in many cases. A mommy makeover is a coordinated set of surgical treatments designed to restore a woman’s body after having children. It can also help women that have seen changes due to weight fluctuations or the aging process.
The mommy makeover is one of Dr. Pearl’s most popular procedures. Women choose this surgery for themselves. They have made sacrifices for their children and for their families. Their spouses or husbands still love them the way they are, but they want to look and feel the way they did before pregnancies.
A mommy makeover means different things to different patients. No two women are alike and each has different needs. For Dr. Pearl, a mommy makeover addresses the precise correction each individual patient wants; no more and no less. Some patients have breasts that deflate and lose their youthful volume after breastfeeding, while others have breasts that stay larger than desired and sag considerably. A woman’s abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy and never return to their original position. The changes in a woman’s abdomen and hips after pregnancy often result in a permanent bulge. There is also often excess skin on the abdomen as well as isolated fat pockets at the breasts, hips and abdomen.
A mommy makeover can address all these above-mentioned issues, with a customized set of procedures that can usually be performed in one session. The single surgery approach means you enjoy an optimal outcome with just one time under anesthesia and one recovery process. Dr. Pearl will spend time with his patients and their families helping them plan for the procedure to ensure all concerns have been addressed.
Is a Mommy Makeover Right for You?
Women who choose to undergo a mommy makeover do so for a variety of reasons. Some are unhappy with the changes to their appearance after pregnancy. Others want to capitalize upon the surgery to produce an outcome that enhances their original look. Some find the extra skin and fat deposits left behind after pregnancy, as well as the ptosis (sagging) of the breasts, leaves them feeling physically uncomfortable as well as self-conscious about their appearance. A mommy makeover is an opportunity to rejuvenate the body, reverse unattractive changes associated with pregnancy, help clothing fit better, and renew your self-confidence when you look in the mirror.
There are different factors Dr. Pearl will carefully weigh when determining whether a mommy makeover will be a safe and successful procedure for you. Some of those factors include:
- Good general health without underlying medical conditions that could complicate your surgery or recovery process.
- Tobacco use (this is particularly critical for this procedure, as nicotine can significantly compromise the ability of the incisions to heal properly on the breasts and the abdomen).
- Understanding that there will need to be sufficient time for recovery to prevent possible complications after surgery.
- Openness to discussing all post-pregnancy concerns so that desired corrections can be made according to your specifications.
- Healthy reasons for wanting the operation performed and realistic expectations about the outcome.
Your safety and comfort are Dr. Pearl’s top priorities. He will carefully assess your medical history and listen to your concerns and aesthetic goals before determining if a mommy makeover is the right procedure for you. There are times when patients desire more changes than Dr. Pearl feels are safe at one operation. If this is the case, staged surgical procedures may be required.
Mommy Makeover Options
There are many different choices when planning your mommy makeover. Some of the most common procedures that might be included are:
Breast Augmentation
This form of breast enhancement uses implants to create additional fullness to breasts that have lost their shape or volume over time. This procedure provides a bevy of options, allowing Dr. Pearl to work with each patient to match unique body proportions and desired results.
Breast Lift
Some women find that the size of the breasts isn’t the only thing that changes after pregnancy. Sagging, drooping breasts can be addressed with a lift procedure that restores the breasts to a more youthful projection on the chest wall. The nipples may also be reduced or repositioned to create a natural, proportionate appearance. Dr. Pearl may recommend the lift alone as part of your mommy makeover, or in conjunction with breast augmentation or reduction to produce an optimal outcome.
A breast lift begins with an incision around the areolas, where scarring will be hidden within the pigmented area of the nipples. Depending on how much lift you need, a second incision may also be made vertically in the center of the lower half of the breasts or a horizontal scar at the inframammary folds. Through the incisions, Dr. Pearl will remove and reposition tissue and excise loose skin to create a firmer, perkier breast shape. After surgery, incisions will be treated with scar gel to assist with healing and minimize postoperative scarring.
