A “mommy makeover” is kind of an umbrella term that’s used to describe a combination of procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, that are meant to address a woman’s aesthetic concerns following pregnancy.
This isn’t exactly newsfeed material, but pregnancy and the early months of motherhood can have a pretty dramatic effect on a woman’s body, leaving breasts sagging and abdominal muscles stretched out. Not to mention the excess skin and host of subtler concerns.
But every woman is affected differently, and so a mommy makeover is meant to be adapted to a woman’s particular needs and wants. An experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon will guide you in those directions, but it always helps to arrive for your consultation with at least a basic idea of what you want. These are a few tips to help you with that.
Consider the big picture
There’s a tendency to enter these consultations focused on one or two especially-concerning areas. Say you’re just a few weeks removed from breastfeeding, and you’re having a hard time seeing anything other than smaller, drooping breasts. Or, you stand in front of a mirror most nights and wonder why your tummy isn’t as flat as it was after your first child.
We can be so focused on these things that our entire self-esteem becomes tied to them. But we are not a single feature. In fact, enhancing one or two without regard for the whole body can trigger a cascade of effects that can distort the silhouette.
So, instead of beginning the consultation with your concerns, start with your goals for your mommy makeover. Who is the woman you see six months or a couple of years from now looking back at you in the mirror? Rather than simply troubleshooting, you’re then preparing yourself mentally for a complete transformation.
Be open to interpretation
The majority of mommy makeovers have at least one surgical procedure, and it usually involves the breasts. Breasts are one of the most common areas of concern women have after pregnancy and early motherhood.
There are a number of available procedures to help enhance the size, shape, and position of your breasts, though, typically, a combination of procedures yields the most comprehensive results. In other words, breast augmentation can help create larger, more-shapely breasts, but it may be necessary to pair it with a breast lift in order to fully achieve the youthful silhouette you’re after.
I like to say that plastic surgery is equal parts science and art. The science addresses the concern, but it’s the art from which the satisfaction is derived. Which is why knowing what you want, entering the consultation, is even more important than knowing which procedures you think you need.
Try subtle enhancements, too
Non-surgical and less invasive treatments are becoming much more common in mommy makeovers. While the results of a tummy tuck may be long-lasting, it’s also most effective once you’re done having kids. Non-surgical procedures, such as HALO laser, or injectables by comparison, afford much more flexibility. So they become a good option for women who are planning to get pregnant again, as well as those who simply can’t afford to spend a few weeks recovering from surgery.
The results aren’t quite as dramatic as they are with surgical procedures, but non-surgical treatments can still provide noticeable improvements in reducing fat and cellulite, tightening loose skin, and clearing up fine lines and wrinkles, among other issues.
At the heart of every rejuvenating mommy makeover is an open and honest dialogue between doctor and patient. So, it’s great if you arrive for your consultation with an understanding of what procedures you want, but it’s even better if you come with a clear idea of what you want for yourself.