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The Mommy Makeover
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For the rewards of pregnancy, women must often sacrifice their figures. Although pregnancy is a great gift and childbirth a great wonder of nature, pregnancy can forever change a woman’s body in a way that cannot be repaired with diligent exercise and careful dieting. After months or even years of working to get back into shape, moms realize that their tummies and breasts will never be the same. The mechanical effects of pregnancy stretch the skin of the abdomen and breasts; the hormonal changes compound the stresses on the skin contributing to the sagging, wrinkling and loss of elasticity. The good news is that we can make tremendous improvements through plastic surgery. Making Breasts Perky Again Although the breasts enlarge during pregnancy, the hormonal influences on the breasts after pregnancy cause the breast to shrink. Oftentimes smaller than they were before pregnancy, the breasts appear deflated. The volume can be restored with breast implants (breast augmentation), commonly placed through a small incision hidden under the breast in the crease. Recent improvements in technology provide the plastic surgeon with more implant sizes and shapes to better match and more precisely fit each woman individually. This means more natural appearing (and feeling) results. The new silicone gels approved by the FDA offer another choice and an attractive alternative to saline breast implants for women wanting to restore and enhance their breasts. When the breast is droopy and has lost shape from stretching of the skin, a breast lift (mastopexy) may be the answer. Newer techniques in breast lift reshape and lift the breast gland as well as tighten the skin. The results restore a more attractive shape, and improve the position of the breast and the nipple. If pregnancy has stretched the nipple and areola, we can reduce them to a more attractive size, as well. Combining the lift with breast implants (augmentation mastopexy) is a great solution for restoring shape and volume. The implants contribute volume to the upper pole of the breast, giving shape and fullness to the upper chest. Getting the Tummy Back Into Shape Many techniques can be customized to improve the tummy. Liposuction works best when skin tone is good, but there is unwanted fat. For most women after pregnancy, the skin has been stretched, and can appear loose and wrinkled. A tummy tuck is usually the best option for removing the extra rolls or droopy skin. In the process of removing the skin, many or all the stretch marks can be removed, as well. If sit-ups aren’t reducing the bulge of the tummy, it’s possible that a muscle repair may be needed to restore a flat tummy. The muscle wall of the tummy can get stretched out and damaged by pregnancy in a way that can be corrected only with surgery. Corset like sutures repair muscle gaps and separations in the stretched abdominal wall. The improved muscle alignment can contribute to making abdominal exercises like sit-ups much more efficient and effective. The “Mommy Makeover” In my practice, I see many moms for these procedures and commonly perform breast enhancement and tummy tuck at the same time. Doing both procedures in one operation is safe and cost-effective; combining the procedures into one recovery time is also a great benefit for busy moms. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Paul Zwiebel is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with over 23 years experience in private practice, and a reputation for expertise and integrity. To learn the best options for you, call Dr. Zwiebel for a personal consultation: 303-470-3400.
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