How Does a Mommy Makeover Work?

Are you struggling to love your post-natal body? Do you wish your clothes fit more comfortably? Do you feel like you’ve done everything you can to restore the contours you had before pregnancy? If so, you may need a mommy makeover at Northstate Plastic Surgery Associates in Chico, CA. Keep reading to find out how it works and how it can benefit you.

How Does a Mommy Makeover Work? 

A mommy makeover improves the appearance of mothers conveniently and effectively by addressing several cosmetic and medical concerns in a single appointment. Most mothers get liposuction to remove excess fat from one or more regions of their bodies. Mothers also commonly get procedures to improve their breasts and abdomen.

What Procedures Could Benefit Me? 

Liposuction

Every mommy makeover is different because every mother has unique concerns and goals when they come to us for help. However, liposuction is one of the most commonly requested procedures. What’s great about liposuction is that it is incredibly versatile. It can be used to remove excess fat from virtually any part of the body as long as the fat is subcutaneous. Some of the most commonly targeted areas include the: 

• Abdomen
• Buttocks
• Upper arms
• Thighs
• Lower back
• Bra line

Typically, when determining who qualifies for this procedure, we look for women who are in relatively good health, have at least an inch of pinchable fat in their trouble regions, and have not nursed recently. Exceptions can be made, though. For example, liposuction can be used to remove excess fat from the underarms or knees, even if there isn’t a whole inch of pinchable fat.

Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty, known colloquially as a tummy tuck, is another one of the most popular procedures requested by mothers seeking a mommy makeover. This procedure, like liposuction, is pretty versatile. Depending on the scope of the procedure, it can address weak or damaged abdominal wall muscles, pelvic floor muscles, loose skin, excess skin, and a small amount of excess fat.

Many people seek a tummy tuck after giving birth to correct cosmetic concerns. However, this procedure can also be used to address medical concerns. For example, if you get a full tummy tuck, you can treat stress urinary incontinence. You can also treat ventral hernias, diastasis recti, and lower back pain caused by poor posture.

Brachioplasty

Women can gain excess fat anywhere during pregnancy. The upper arms are one of the most common parts of the body to store excess fat. If you gained a lot of fat in your upper arms during your pregnancy, brachioplasty combined with liposuction may be ideal for you. To reiterate, liposuction is a fat-removal procedure. It’s great if you have a moderate amount of excess fat. If you have a lot of excess fat, you may have loose or excess skin once the fat is removed.

That’s where brachioplasty comes in. Also known as an arm lift, this procedure can remove excess skin, tighten loose skin, and tighten the supportive upper arm tissue. Whether you’re dying to rock your little black dress again or you’ve been eyeing a super cute halter top at the local boutique, you’ll be able to wear whatever you want with confidence. Even better, you don’t have to worry about rashes or infections caused by your excess skin folds.

Breast Lift

If you feel self-conscious about the current position of your breasts, you should strongly consider getting a breast lift as part of your mommy makeover. During this procedure, one to three incisions will be made in your breast, and any excess skin you have will be removed.

The remaining skin will be tightened, and your nipple and areola will be moved if necessary. It bears noting that up to half a cup of tissue may be removed during this procedure. You may want to also get a breast augmentation to achieve your ideal appearance.

Breast Augmentation

If you are pleased with the current size of your breasts, you may want to get a modest breast augmentation in addition to a breast lift. If you are concerned about asymmetry or want more than a modest increase in breast volume, a breast augmentation may still be right for you. Typically, implants range from 350 to 500 cc in volume. This can give you an increase of roughly one or two cup sizes.

One of the greatest things about breast augmentation is its customizability. Most women opt for silicone gel implants or saline implants. However, you can also opt for augmentation through fat transfer. Breast augmentation through fat transfer involves using liposuction to harvest excess fat from one or more donor areas. Then, that fat is injected into the breasts to increase their size.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that a mommy makeover works by surgically removing excess fat and skin, tightening loose skin, and addressing other concerns during a single appointment. If you find that diet and exercise alone aren’t enough for you to achieve a body you can be proud of, we can help. Contact us now at Northstate Plastic Surgery Associates in Chico, CA to schedule an initial evaluation.