After pregnancy and childbirth, it’s common for women to feel dissatisfied with the changes their bodies have gone through. At our Denver, Colorado practice, we believe that motherhood shouldn’t mean giving up your confidence. Here, we respond to some of our patients’ most frequently asked questions about mommy makeovers to help you better understand your options for rejuvenating your figure.
When you’re ready, you can request a consultation or call 303-345-7476 to meet with board-certified plastic surgeon and mommy makeover specialist Dr. Francesco Campanile.
Q. What Is a Mommy Makeover?
A. A mommy makeover is a customized set of procedures designed to rejuvenate your figure after completing your family. While Dr. Campanile makes sure to address each patient’s unique needs and preferences in mommy makeovers, there are some standard procedures that are usually included:
- A tummy tuck can tone the abdominal muscles, remove excess fat and tighten the stomach skin for a more youthful midsection.
- Liposuction can treat persistent fat that lingers around the abdomen, love handles, thighs or virtually anywhere else on the body for a more streamlined figure.
- Breast enhancement can lift the breasts to a more youthful position, improve breast shape, provide a boost in volume or reduce breast size to improve your proportions.
Q. How Long Should I Wait after Pregnancy?
A. We recommend most women to wait a minimum of six months after completing their families before undergoing body contouring surgery. This is because your body needs time to adjust after pregnancy. Some skin laxity may resolve itself after a couple of months, while pregnancy hormones which can affect the way your body responds to surgery need to reduce to normal levels. Additionally, it’s important that you give yourself enough time after pregnancy to reach your goal weight.
Although body contouring can improve the appearance of your figure, the procedures offered as part of a mommy makeover are not intended as weight loss alternatives. Take a few months to get into a regular exercise routine and establish a healthy diet so that you are at or near your ideal body weight before your mommy makeover.
Q. Can a Mommy Makeover Resolve Diastasis Recti?
A. Yes. Diastasis recti is a very common condition among women who have undergone multiple pregnancies. It results from the abdominal muscles being stretched beyond their normal capacity, causing the two halves to separate. Treating diastasis recti is one of the most common goals of a tummy tuck. To do so, Dr. Campanile will pull the abdominal muscles together and use internal sutures to fasten them into place. This typically resolves any health risks you may have had as a result of diastasis recti and improves the appearance of the midsection. You are encouraged to maintain your results with regular abdominal exercises.
Q. What Are the Benefits of Including Liposuction with a Tummy Tuck?
A. The inclusion of liposuction in your tummy tuck procedure can deliver the most comprehensive midsection contouring results. Because many women have trouble shedding fat in the stomach, liposuction is a common requirement for reducing unwanted areas of fat.
By applying liposuction to the abdominal area before tightening the abdominal muscles and skin, Dr. Campanile can create a more carefully sculpted appearance. This is known as Dr. Campanile’s exclusive C.L.A.S.S.® tummy tuck, and negates the need for post-surgical drains during the recovery process. This benefit, in addition to improved contouring, is one of the most significant of combining procedures. The C.L.A.S.S. tummy tuck may also allow a quicker and more comfortable recovery than a traditional tummy tuck.
Q. Can I Combine a Breast Lift with Implants?
A. Absolutely. In fact, a combined lift and augmentation procedure is one of the most common requests in a mommy makeover. Because many women lose some volume in their breasts as a result of pregnancy and age, breast augmentation is common in mothers who would like to regain a boost to their figure. When combined with a breast lift, the procedure has the added benefit of reversing any sagging you may have developed from nursing or simply aging, as well as repositioning the nipples and resizing the areolas.
Q. How Long Do the Results Last?
A. All procedures typically included in a mommy makeover are designed to produce long-lasting results. However, your body will continue to respond to factors such as age, weight fluctuations and any future pregnancies. Dr. Campanile recommends that women wait until they have completed their families before considering a mommy makeover, as the results may be affected by future pregnancies.
