Love being a mom, but aren't so happy with the loose abdominal muscles, excess skin, stretch marks, and sagging breasts that came courtesy of pregnancy and childbirth? A mommy makeover may be the perfect solution to help you restore your appearance, comfort and self-confidence.
Following pregnancy and childbirth, many women are frustrated to find that even after working hard to get back to their pre-baby weight, effects of childbearing such as stretch marks, sagging breasts, and loose skin on the abdomen remain. Unfortunately, no amount of dieting and exercise will improve these issues, but a mommy makeover can.
This popular plastic surgery option combines breast and body contouring procedures to help you restore—or improve upon—your pre-pregnancy shape. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gunnar Thors is experienced in a wide range of surgical techniques, and he will tailor your mommy makeover to address your specific concerns and achieve the results you desire.
Pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding can leave the breasts sagging and deflated, the abdomen loose and lacking tone, and new pockets of fat on the body. While these changes are perfectly normal, they aren’t necessarily something you want to live with. By removing excess skin, lifting and reshaping the breasts, and restoring a tighter, more youthful body contour, a mommy makeover can help you feel more confident in your appearance.
Because a mommy makeover combines multiple procedures into a single operation, it can help you achieve dramatic improvements in your appearance with only one recovery period.
No two patients have the exact same needs and goals, so Dr. Thors customizes each mommy makeover to address a patient’s unique concerns. Many patients choose to concentrate on restoring their breasts and tummy, while others opt to include facial rejuvenation in their procedure plans. Common procedure options in a mommy makeover include:
Appropriate timing is important to ensure a safe surgery and optimal mommy makeover results. It’s best to wait until you are finished having children before undergoing any lifting procedures, such as a breast lift or tummy tuck. Becoming pregnant after a mommy makeover is safe for you and baby but is likely to diminish the improvements made with these surgeries. You should also be able to agree with the following:
Dr. Thors typically performs mommy makeovers as outpatient procedures; however, more extensive procedures may require a short inpatient stay. General anesthesia is administered by a board certified anesthesiologist. Because each mommy makeover procedure plan is customized, the time in surgery and techniques Dr. Thors uses will vary. At your personal consultation, Dr. Thors will discuss your options, help you select the appropriate procedures to achieve your goals, and explain the details of your surgical plan.
Recovery time after a mommy makeover will depend on the procedures you have as well as your individual healing rate. Post-operative discomfort typically peaks 3 to 5 days after surgery, and will be more pronounced if you have a tummy tuck or other more extensive body lifting procedure. Most patients require 1 to 2 weeks off of work and 4 to 6 weeks away from strenuous activity. Lifting and straining are off-limits during the initial recovery period, so if you have younger children, you will need full-time childcare help for 2 to 3 weeks.
Bruising and swelling should begin to subside about 2 to 3 weeks post-op. Results are close to final about 3 to 4 months after surgery, and continue to improve subtly for up to 12 months. With proper care, scars should fade significantly.
Dr. Thors uses advanced surgical techniques that are designed to ensure long-lasting, natural-looking results. As long as you maintain a stable weight, your improved breast and body contours will look great for years to come. Keep in mind that nothing can stop the natural aging process, and eventually your breasts may begin to sag somewhat as skin loses elasticity. Additionally, while breast implants are very durable and last for many years, they are not considered lifetime devices; if you have breast implants placed as part of your mommy makeover, you will probably need to replace them at some point.