Pregnancy is a beautiful journey in a woman's life. But becoming a mother is not that easy. It comes with a package of physical, psychological, and emotional challenges. A study revealed that approximately 30–70% of women experienced low self-esteem after childbirth. 

The most common physical changes that a woman goes through are sagging or enlarged breasts, fat deposits and loose skin around the belly, and stretch marks. Dietary and habitual changes can help you to restore your normal body structure to some extent. 

However, some parts of your body may not respond well to diet and exercise. If you are the one battling with the same situation. 

Do not worry you are not alone. You can regain your pre-pregnancy body shape and confidence with a technique popularly known as “Mommy Makeover”. 

So, let's get deep down into these unique techniques.

Mommy Makeover

A mommy makeover is a personalized set of cosmetic procedures. It is a combination of surgical and non-surgical procedures mainly focused on areas such as the breasts, abdomen, waist, genitalia, and buttocks done to attain your pre-pregnancy body shape and contour. 

The procedures help to restore your breast by reducing breast volume and sagging, and body shape after childbirth, by getting rid of unwanted belly fat. A review has concluded that these surgical procedures can be safely and effectively combined to correct postpartum physical changes. You can opt for this procedure after six months of discontinuing breastfeeding.

Here are some possible procedures that are included in a mommy makeover:

1) Breast Augmentation

Is also known as a boob job. Breasts are made up of connective tissues, lobules, and ducts. Lobules and ducts produce and transport the milk. Connective tissues hold everything together and provide support to your breasts. During pregnancy, elevation in hormone levels cause the tissues to stretch and swell. 

There is an accumulation of fluid that makes your breast heavy, large and saggy. Breast augmentation addresses this sagging of your breast and helps to correct it. It helps you to achieve your desired size, shape symmetry, and volume of the breasts. Breast implants range from about 150cc to 800cc or larger.

Breast augmentation is largely classified into two categories: breast implants and fat transfer augmentation. Based on your need the board-certified plastic surgeon will recommend the procedure.

Breast implants

  • Saline breast implants: It is an FDA-approved procedure for women 18 years of age or above. These are implants filled with sterile saline commonly known as salt water. They help to achieve a uniform shape, firmness, and feel. In scenarios such as the implant accidental breakage inside your breast, your body has the capability to absorb the saline and automatically get rid of it. 
  • Structured saline breast implants: These implants are composed of sterile salt water.
  • Silicone breast implants: It is an FDA-approved procedure for women 22 years of age or above. These implants are of silicone gel. In scenarios such as, if the implant were to break, the gel remains inside its shell or leaks into your breast. After the silicone implants, your plastic surgeon will regularly monitor the proper functioning of your implants. So do not miss any scheduled visits.
  • Form-stable breast implants: They are composed of thicker silicone gel and are firmer as compared to traditional implants. Their ability to maintain their shape even if the implant shell is broken has given them a common name as gummy bear breast implants. This procedure requires a slightly longer incision in the skin. This implant can rotate in some cases as they are more projected at the bottom and are tapered towards the top. Which can lead to an unusual appearance of the breast and will require a separate procedure to correct.
  • Round breast implants: These implants give your breast a fuller look. They do not typically change their shape if they get rotated out of place. They have a smooth exterior and can be composed of either saline or silicone. You can achieve more projection in higher profile options.
  • Smooth breast implants: They are made up of shiny and slippery soft silicone shells. They are the softest as compared to other implants. They impart a natural movement to your breast.

    • Fat transfer breast augmentation

    This method includes a procedure known as liposuction. Liposuction is a process of transferring fat from one area of your body to another. Your plastic surgeon will take out fat from one area of your body, usually the belly, flanks, back or thighs, and inject the fat into your breast. This procedure is applicable in case you want a relatively small increase in your breast size.

    2) Mastopexy

    Is commonly known as the breast lift. Pregnancy takes a toll on your breast tightness. All the hormonal changes, fat and fluid accumulation contributes to the sagging of your breast. mastopexy can be your rescue to address this physical change. Mastopexy is a surgical procedure performed to address sagging breasts caused due to reasons like pregnancy, significant weight loss, or genetics. 

    It is done mainly for three purposes such as tightening the skin, lifting the breast tissue to a higher position on the chest wall and proper positioning of the nipple-areolar area. This procedure is usually recommended for individuals between the age of 30 and 60.It brings back the youthful appearance of your breast.

    3) Abdominoplasty

    It is commonly known as a tummy tuck. During pregnancy to accommodate the growing baby the abdominal skin stretches. This results in a sagging tummy following childbirth. Proper diet and exercise recommended by your doctor may prevent sagging. But in some cases, the tummy does not bounce back to its original shape. If you are having trouble getting that flat tummy back with diet and exercise, you can always get it back with abdominoplasty  under the proper guidance of a plastic surgeon. This procedure improves the shape and appearance of the abdominal area, removes excess fat, and repositions the remaining skin to give you a more toned look. It gives a boost to your body image.

    4) Vaginal Rejuvenation

    During childbirth, your vagina stretches out and becomes thin to prepare itself for the delivery of the baby. This whole process of giving childbirth causes your vagina to tear, internal and exterior tissue to stretch, damages the pelvic floor, and disturbs the mucosal tone of the vaginal wall. The vagina is able to regain its shape and tightness. However, not in every case, the vagina is able to bounce back to pre-pregnancy muscular tone. 

    Vaginal Rejuvenation includes a broad range of vaginal corrective treatments. These are labiaplasty (reshaping your outer vaginal lip), vaginoplasty (tightening the sagged vaginal canal after delivery), clitoral hood reduction (separating extra tissue that surrounds the clitoris), monsplasty (removing unwanted fatty tissue and skin from the pubic bone area), perineoplasty (strengthening the space between your anus and vagina), etc. 

    These procedures consist of both surgical and nonsurgical treatments. In addition to rejuvenating the vaginal tissues, the procedure also addresses issues such as sexual dysfunction, sagging skin, lack of sexual pleasure, urinary incontinence, and vaginal dryness. Your plastic surgeon will recommend the best approach to meet your demand.

    To rejuvenate, improve and bring back your vaginal function, health, and beauty vaginal rejuvenation is the best option to opt for. 

    5) Facial Skin Procedures

    Nowadays everyone is aware of the fact that the skin is the largest organ of the body. 

    However, there are many circumstances when your skin is not able to perform its function properly. And affects your overall health, looks, and self-confidence. Melasma commonly known as the mask of pregnancy is a most common skin condition. Elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone contribute to this condition. About 50 to 70% of pregnant women go through this condition. But there is no need to get anxious there are skin procedures to get back your baby's skin. 

    These procedures are

    • Microdermabrasion: Helps in removing age spots and lightening acne scars. 
  • Chemical peels: Help in correcting your skin texture, reducing fine lines, irregular color tone, and spots due to sun damage. 
  • Laser Resurfacing: Helps in reducing wrinkles and fine lines on the face and neck. It helps in stimulating the production of collagen (the prominent protein found in the skin) and new skin cells.

    • In general, these procedures address skin conditions such as melasma, acne scars, age spots, wrinkles, and sagging skin. And your plastic surgeon will customize these procedures as per your skin requirements. 

    Right Time To Consider Mommy Makeover

    The perfect time to consider Mommy Makeover is after six months of discontinuation of breastfeeding.

    If Planning For Your Next Pregnancy

    You are advised to go for the Mommy Makeover only after your family planning is complete and you are not expecting any child in the future. Because pregnancy will sweep away all the desired results of the makeover.

    Take home message - Pregnancy is the most beautiful event of a woman's life filled with all motherly emotions. However, your body also goes through tremendous physical changes. And not every time you are able to handle those physical changes properly. But do not ever get anxious or feel alone. Put off that mental toll once and forever. Mommy Makeover is always for your rescue. 

    Your plastic surgeon will customize all the procedures as per your desired body image. With the guidance of your surgeon and proper follow-ups, you can once again flaunt those pregnancy curves, sculpt, and have younger-looking skin. Finally, get your self-esteem and self-confidence back.

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