Motherhood is a transformative experience in many ways. However, not all of the changes that occur after childbirth are desirable. Often, mothers find that their bodies change with pregnancy, and, despite their best efforts, they cannot regain their pre-natal bodies. Today, our aesthetic experts at Northstate Plastic Surgery Associates in Chico, CA are looking at how you can transform your body for the better with a mommy makeover.
How Does a Mommy Makeover Transform Post-Pregnancy Bodies?
How It Transforms the Abdomen
One way a mommy makeover can transform your post-pregnancy body is by enhancing the appearance of your abdomen. Often, mothers get a tummy tuck, sometimes in conjunction with liposuction to restore the abdomen to its pre-natal appearance and functionality. What benefits you can get from a tummy tuck depends on your concerns and the scope of your procedure.
If you opt for a full tummy tuck, we can remove excess skin from your upper and lower abdomen and tighten any loose skin you may have. Furthermore, we can significantly improve the functionality of your abdomen, treating stress urinary incontinence, ventral hernias, and separated abdominal walls if applicable. Usually, you can lose three to five pounds of fat after abdominal liposuction.
How It Transforms the Upper Arms
You can also drastically improve the appearance of your upper arms with this suite of procedures. If you gained a lot of upper arm fat during your pregnancy and subsequently lose it, you may feel self-conscious about loose skin or excess skin. You can get an arm lift to remove excess skin and tighten loose skin between your elbow and underarm. This procedure can also excise a small amount of fat.
Moreover, you can get upper arm liposuction if you have a fairly significant amount of upper arm fat. Individual results vary, but you can generally expect liposuction to remove around 26% of localized fat cells in each area of concern. This may equate to roughly one to three pounds of upper arm fat. As with abdominal enhancement, you can combine an arm lift and upper arm liposuction to help you achieve a body you can feel confident in.
How It Transforms the Breasts
A mommy makeover can also drastically improve the appearance of your breasts. If you feel like your breasts grew too large during pregnancy and nursing, you can get a breast reduction. Depending on your goals, you can lose a cup size or two. On the other hand, if you believe one or both of your breasts are too small, we can perform a breast augmentation to transform your breasts and restore your self-confidence.
If you opt for a breast augmentation, you can improve the size, shape, and symmetry of your breasts with saline implants, silicone gel implants, or fat grafting. Fat grafting may be right for you if you have excess fat in other areas of your body and already want to remove it. During fat grafting, liposuction is used to harvest excess fat from one or more donor areas, and, after processing, it is injected into strategic parts of the breast.
How It Transforms the Thighs
Additionally, you can drastically improve the appearance of your thighs during a mommy makeover. Many mothers get a thigh lift to tighten loose skin and remove excess skin after they have finished nursing. If you have several pounds of excess thigh fat, you can get liposuction to remove excess thigh fat.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
To determine if you are a good mommy makeover candidate, you need to attend an initial evaluation to discuss your health and goals. To be considered a good candidate for this type of body enhancement, it is essential that you are healthy. It is particularly important that your heart and lungs are in good health because you will need general anesthesia to remain comfortable during surgery.
If you have heart or lung problems, general anesthesia will not be safe for you. Furthermore, it is of the utmost importance that you comply with all pre-surgery guidelines. Moreover, you must be able to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery. Also, you need to be able to follow all post-operative guidelines.
What Preparation Steps Are Required Before Surgery?
Before you undergo your mommy makeover, it is essential that you stop smoking for at least two weeks. Similarly, it is vital that you do not drink alcohol or take blood thinners for two weeks before undergoing surgery.
Furthermore, it is vital that your stomach is empty when your general anesthesia is administered. Therefore, you must fast for several hours preceding your procedure. During the majority of your fast, it is permissible to drink clear fluids. However, dry fasting is required, too.
Start Your Journey to Restoring Your Confidence Today
A mommy makeover can transform your post-pregnancy body in many ways. Depending on your concerns, you can enhance the appearance of your abdomen, upper arms, and breasts. To learn more about the procedures you can receive and find out if you are a good candidate, contact us today at Northstate Plastic Surgery Associates in Chico, CA to schedule an evaluation.