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Motherhood can be a beautiful thing: you get to watch your family grow and experience the unique joy of having children. But after dedicating so much to your family, you deserve to treat yourself, too.
Mothers just like you are choosing to undergo a “mommy makeover,” which is a set of procedures designed to rejuvenate the body after having children. If you’re ready to reverse the cosmetic changes caused by pregnancy, here’s everything you need to know about the mommy makeover.
A mommy makeover is a group of procedures that aim to restore a woman’s pre-pregnancy body. Women undergoing a mommy makeover have the freedom to choose whichever procedures would best suit their cosmetic needs. The most common mommy makeover procedures include the following:
The mommy makeover can have long-lasting, transformational results for women. However, it’s important to realize that these procedures are not designed to help you lose weight, nor should they be considered a solution for getting back into shape after having children. Patients who maintain a healthy lifestyle often achieve the best results from mommy makeover procedures.
For ideal results, you should be close to your goal weight. Gaining weight after your procedures can have a negative effect on your results. Overall, the goal of the mommy makeover is to help you address cosmetic issues that can’t be solved with diet and exercise alone, such as: separated abdominal muscles, sagging and asymmetrical breasts, and excess abdominal skin.
Your mommy makeover will require you to take time off from work and other obligations for about two weeks, depending on the extent of treatment. This downtime will allow you to rest and give your body the time it needs to fully heal. Maximizing your recovery will help you achieve an ideal outcome after surgery.
To make sure this important downtime is not disrupted, it’s a good idea to make arrangements ahead of time. Before scheduling your mommy makeover, make sure you can take enough time off from work. You should also think about hiring a caregiver or someone to assist with household duties. After a procedure like tummy tuck surgery, you won’t be able to run after your little ones for about a week or two, so it can be helpful to have someone else take care of your children and pets in the meantime.
It’s understandable that some women want to get their pre-pregnancy body back as soon as possible. However, that’s not always realistic. It’s recommended that you wait until your hormone levels have returned to normal, which is usually at around 6 months after giving birth and completing breastfeeding.
As mentioned above, it’s also a good idea to be close to your ideal weight. Be sure to have healthy, realistic expectations – here’s why: significant weight fluctuations may negatively affect your results. As a general rule, patients should be able to maintain their goal weight for about three months before undergoing a mommy makeover.
If you plan on getting pregnant again in the future, this is also something to think about. Pregnancy can reverse some of the effects of mommy makeover procedures. If you’re planning on having children again, you may want to think about postponing your mommy makeover until you’re completely done having children.
With its ability to totally transform the body, the mommy makeover remains one of the most popular options for mothers seeking cosmetic enhancements. If you’re ready to take the next step, Dr. Eric Desman of the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery would be happy to discuss your surgical options. Contact him today to schedule your personal consultation.