What Can a Mommy Makeover Do to Enhance Your Body?

Your body undergoes many physical changes throughout pregnancy and after childbirth. To restore your body so that it looks more like it did in its pre-baby days, you can choose any of a number of plastic surgery procedures—or several combined into a Mommy Makeover. The Philadelphia area’s Dr. Kevin Cross and Dr. Jackie Lyons see many patients who adore being mothers but are unhappy about the ways pregnancy has changed and left their body.

Many of these changes are permanent and can include gaining extra weight, breasts growing or shrinking, sagging breasts, loose and stretched-out skin on the belly and elsewhere, or diastasis recti, which is an abdominal separation that creates a gap between the stomach muscles. These physical changes can potentially have a negative effect on a woman’s confidence and lifestyle.

Happily, a Mommy Makeover is a highly transformative procedure that can restore a slimmer, more youthful appearance by addressing all of these changes and more.

The ultimate goal of a Mommy Makeover is to restore features on the body that were affected by pregnancy as well as to correct changes that persist long after pregnancy. By doing so, the procedure can take a post-pregnancy body back to its pre-baby state.

Although the procedure can enhance your appearance, patients may be surprised by the other medical, psychological, and emotional benefits the surgery can have. Traditionally, it involves procedures to improve the breasts and abdomen, but additional components can also be added.

Continue reading to learn about the major benefits of having a Mommy Makeover if you’re considering this option.

A Customizable Technique

A Mommy Makeover is not a strictly defined procedure, unlike some other forms of cosmetic surgery. “Mommy Makeover” is actually a catch-all phrase used to describe a treatment that includes a combination of techniques. It’s a popular combination plastic surgery technique since multiple surgeries are performed at the same time and the procedure is tailored specifically to each patient’s unique situation. One of the main reasons for the surgery’s popularity is the way it can be customized to fit the needs of every patient—and result in a single recovery period instead of several.

Removing and Tightening Skin

Loose skin on the abdominal area and breasts is a common problem after pregnancy. This is because the skin stretches on the belly area to accommodate the growing bump and on the breasts to accommodate growing milk glands and breast tissue. After the baby is born and the milk glands are no longer need, the skin retracts—in theory. Your weight, genetics, and age will affect how quickly the skin returns to normal after the surgery, if it returns at all. If other methods haven’t helped, you can have the excess skin removed surgically with a Mommy Makeover. The results from this surgery will be permanent as long as the patient maintains a stable weight.

Better Self-Confidence and Satisfaction

A Mommy Makeover corrects many physical concerns women may have relating to pregnancy. Because of this, the surgery may allow them to enjoy a newfound sense of confidence.

More Dramatic Results

The results from some types of cosmetic procedures complement others. The overall results of combining several procedures such as a tummy tuck and a breast lift will often be more dramatic and comprehensive compared to having them done on their own. For instance, there will be a greater contrast between the breasts and abdomen if you combine breast surgery with a tummy tuck.

Clothes Will Fit Better

Another advantage of having this procedure is that many patients find that their clothes fit better and look more flattering after the surgeries are done. The skin will become tighter, and the abdominal area will be leaner if you have a tummy tuck. You’ll be able to expand your clothing options and wear smaller sizes.

Medical Benefits

If you have a tummy tuck as a component of your Mommy Makeover, the surgery can even have functional benefits, such as repairing ventral hernias, strengthening abdominal muscles, improving flexibility, and reducing lower back pain.

Improved Physical Comfort

By addressing the size and shape of the breasts, many patients report that a Mommy Makeover provides relief from physical discomfort during some activities and positions. Furthermore, by restoring the breasts and abdominal area during a Mommy Makeover, your posture is improved, and this can provide relief for discomfort in the neck or back area.

For more information about what you can expect from a Mommy Makeover, contact the Main Line and Philadelphia area’s Cross Medical Group. Call (215) 561-9100 or submit a contact form to request a consultation if you would like to find out more about body contouring options.