Children are truly one of life's greatest joys. However when you
have a baby, weight gain and changes in your body occur that can be very
distressing and often impossible to correct with diet and exercise
alone. While controlling weight gain and working out can improve your
body after having children, some body changes do not recover no matter
how hard you try. Fortunately a modern Plastic Surgery procedure called
the Mommy Makeover can help you get in shape after pregnancy and recover
your original body. The Mommy Makeover is designed to restore the shape
of your Breasts and Tummy after changes that have occurred during and
after having a baby.
How Your Body Changes after Having Children.
There
are a host of normal physiological changes that occur in your body when
you have a baby. The most frustrating changes for many mothers however
occur in the Breasts and Abdomen or Tummy. Following the cessation of
breast feeding the Breast Gland (Mammary Gland) atrophies and becomes
smaller and sags down on the chest wall. In addition, the skin of the
abdomen becomes loose and sags downward and can develop stretch marks.
In addition, in many people there is excess fat under the Tummy skin and
Flank area. These changes can persist even after weight loss and
conditioning through diet, exercise and working out.
Mammary Ptosis
is the formal word for Sagging Breast when the Nipple Aereola is below
the Inframammary Fold, the fold beneath your breast. When the Nipple
Areola is above the Inframammary Fold but the Breast Gland sags below
the fold the condition is called Glandular Ptosis.
Abdominal laxity is
the term used to describe sagging of the lower Abdomen or Tummy. In
some people the two Abdominal Muscles that form the "six pack" split or
separate, a condition called Diastasis Recti, which is a separation of
the two muscles named Rectus Abdominus.
Stretch marks, red or pink areas of thin skin on the Tummy, are formally called Abdominal Striae.
Muffin Top or Excess Flank Fat
is the fullness and your sides above your hips, which can protrude over
a belt or tight fitting pants. Flank fat is often very difficult to
lose after having a baby.
What Causes Breast, Tummy and Body Changes after Having a Baby.
· Breast Atrophy-Loss-During
pregnancy a portion of your Brain called the Pituitary Gland secretes
Hormones which stimulate your Breast Gland to enlarge and begin
producing milk. After the cessation of Breast Feeding hormonal
stimulation stops and the Mammary Gland involutes or atrophies and
becomes smaller. The loss of Breast Fullness is called Post-Partum
Mammary Atrophy.
· Mammary Ptosis-The skin around
the Mammary Gland is stretched by the enlargement during pregnancy.
However the skin does not tighten in many people after Post-Partum
Mammary Atrophy has occurred. With less Breast Tissue inside an enlarged
skin envelope the Gland sags, not unlike letting air out of a balloon.
· Abdominal Laxity-The
Abdominal Skin is stretched to make room for the baby. After delivery
the skin does shrink and tighten but often not back to the original
shape of the Tummy. When adequate shrinkage has not occurred the
remaining loose skin sags down onto the lower Tummy.
· Excess Flank Fat-
The Fat around the waist or flank area is one of the most difficult to
lose after pregnancy. This area called the "muffin top" is very
frustrating when you want to wear clothing that reveals the midriff or
waist area.
· Stretch marks-Stretch marks or
Striae are caused by rupture or breakage of deep skin collagen which is
caused by the stretching of the abdominal skin during pregnancy. This
damage to the deep skin layer called the Dermis results in redness and
thinning of the skin in the area.
What Is A Mommy Makeover?
The
term Mommy Makeover can be applied to a variety of different Plastic
Surgery procedures designed to get your shape back after pregnancy.
However, most commonly Mommy Makeover refers to procedures done to
restore the Breast and Tummy to their pre pregnancy appearance. Most
commonly a Breast Lift and or Breast Augmentation with Implants and some
form of Tummy Tuck are done.
· Breast Lift-Dermal Mastopexy-This
procedure is designed to correct sagging.There are many different
varieties including the Anchor, Lollipop, Periareolar, Crescent,
Circumareolar, Donut, and Benelli Lifts. Check my January 2013 Blog for a
complete discussion of the different types.
· Breast Augmentation with Implants-Breast
Implants can be used to restore the fullness and cleavage lost after
Post-Partum Mammary Atrophy. For a thorough discussion of Breast
Augmentation see my website.
· Tummy Tuck- Tummy
Tuck can restore the Abdomen to a nice flat shape. Full Tummy Tuck
requires moving the "belly button", while a Mini Tummy Tuck or Bikini
Tuck only requires skin excision below the Navel and a scar hidden below
the underwear or Bikini.
· Liposuction- When
necessary Liposuction can be performed as part of a Mommy Makeover to
remove the "muffin top" or excess fat above the Navel in patients who
are candidates for a Mini Tummy Tuck.
· Laser Treatment of Stretch Marks-Recently
a new Laser Treatment for Stretch Marks that actually helps has been
developed. It involves the use of a specific laser called a Non ablative
1540 Fractional Erbium laser. Stretch marks are made smaller and white
but do not disappear entirely. See my website for more details.
What Is the Recovery Time after Mommy Makeover?
· Week one-During
the first week after Mommy Makeover you will be sore. The tightening of
the abdomen can cause discomfort if you straighten up your posture, so
you will be walking bent over for a few days. You may have drains which
are usually removed day one or two after which you can shower. We
encourage you to walk to prevent blood clots in the legs.
· Week two-
You will feel much better the second week and can usually return to
work that does not require lifting by the end of the second week.
· Week three-
At three weeks most patients are back at work and many can start
exercising again. If you had the repair of a Diastasis Recti you cannot
do sit ups until six weeks and only if cleared to do so by your Doctor.
· Week Six- By six weeks you should be enjoying your new body and your surgery should becoming a distant memory.
· Three Months- By three months the nearly final results of Liposuction should be seen.
· Six months- By six months any incisions should be matured and white.
Who Should Do Your Mommy Makeover?
In
my opinion only a Plastic Surgeon Certified by The American Board of
Plastic Surgery should perform this complex procedure. Experience is
very important, especially when multiple procedures are done at the same
operation.
Seek out the opinion of friends whom you know have had
the procedure. Search websites like Realself and Loveyourlook for
reviews on doctors that you plan to consult. Ask your doctor
specifically how comfortable he/she is doing this type of surgery and
multiple procedures. Ask to see photos of his/her results and if
possible to speak to patients who have had the procedure.
With an
experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with whom you feel
comfortable, the Mommy Makeover can be a very satisfying procedure and
help you regain your shape after pregnancy.
By Brooke R. Seckel, M.D., FACS
By Brooke R. Seckel, M.D., FACS
