Having a baby is a beautiful, natural, and rewarding process. Still, you might have cosmetic concerns like uneven weight distribution and stubborn fat pockets after bringing a new life into the world. Vancouver plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Pugash offers mothers and women who’ve experienced significant bodily changes after childbearing an opportunity to regain their body outline with a mommy makeover.
Dr. Pugash incorporates various body sculpting procedures to minimize excess fat and skin after you have a baby or shed a dramatic number of pounds. He and his team employ advanced techniques and customized protocols to produce each patient’s desired results. Here, we’ll provide critical information for women interested in learning more about the possible outcomes of a mommy makeover, including how it may affect your self-esteem with or without clothing.
What Is a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is not a single surgery; rather, it’s an umbrella term that encompasses a combination of procedures designed to help women resolve multiple issues. Usually, it includes breast surgery, liposuction, and tummy tuck.
Mommy makeovers have become increasingly popular over the past decade, as they allow women to address multiple problem areas in one surgical session. Since time is a valuable commodity in today’s fast-paced world, a solution that safely and effectively rejuvenates your body with only one operation and recovery is an exciting option.
Not all mommy makeovers are the same. First, you must find a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon who is well-versed in breast surgery and body sculpting procedures. Dr. Pugash can tailor your procedure to address multiple issues and patient needs, lifestyles, and body types. In addition, it can resolve concerns associated with:
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Age
- Weight fluctuation
- Menopause
What Procedures Does a Vancouver Mommy Makeover Include?
Because the belly and breasts are the primary focus for mothers after childbearing, a mommy makeover typically includes breast enhancement and abdominal procedures.
During pregnancy, your breasts will grow, and your abdominal muscles and skin will stretch to accommodate a growing child. Once you lose your baby weight, you may experience significant sagging, as your skin does not return its tight, pre-pregnancy condition after childbirth.
A mommy makeover typically includes some combination of the following:
- Breast lift
- Breast augmentation
- Breast reduction
- Liposuction
- Tummy tuck
Breast implants restore fullness and lost volume, while a breast lift helps eliminate excess skin to improve shape. Today’s breast augmentation is a safer and more effective aesthetic enhancement, with advanced techniques available to reduce the risk of infection and capsular contracture.
To further improve your figure, frequently added techniques include a tummy tuck and liposuction. Depending on the individual needs and Dr. Pugash’s recommended procedures, he can perform a mommy makeover in one surgical session or spread it out over several stages.
Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Lift
Breast surgery is a fundamental component of most mommy makeovers. Unfortunately, pregnancy and breastfeeding may cause your breasts to deflate. Breast augmentation is a safe option for restoring lost volume. However, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and age can stretch breast skin and tissues, making breast augmentation not always the best solution.
Do your nipples fall below your breast crease? If so, Dr, Pugash can perform a breast lift with a breast augmentation to elevate tissue and restore lost volume. Using a larger implant to compensate for loose skin typically leads to complications later. Lax skin is a sign of weak tissue that doesn’t have the strength to support the implant sufficiently over time. A breast lift will restore your nipples so they point forward and create a perkier, youthful appearance.
Most Mothers Need a Full Tummy Tuck
The tummy is a problem area for many women. While liposuction is excellent for removing excess fat, it cannot address sagging skin or loose tissues, both common in mothers or women who’ve gained and lost significant weight. There are two options for women with a pendulous abdomen – a tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck. While many women may prefer the latter, they usually get better results with a more comprehensive approach.
The best candidates for a mini tummy tuck have loose skin only below the belly button, but that doesn’t apply to most mothers and post-menopausal women. Patients like the idea of any procedure with the word “mini,” as it implies a shorter incision. However, it is essential to understand that a mini tummy tuck is still an invasive procedure that requires downtime.
No patient wants to go through a stressful surgery and recovery and still not achieve their desired results. So, again, perform a simple mirror test. When you look at your stomach, do you have excess fat and loose skin above your belly button? If yes, you need a traditional abdominoplasty. The incision line may be a bit longer, but it is the best way to get a lean, fit-looking contour for your entire abdomen.
What Are the Benefits of a Mommy Makeover?
Because a mommy makeover is a comprehensive operation that involves multiple procedures, it offers numerous benefits to your aesthetics and self-esteem.
Increased Confidence
Most women experience a significant boost in confidence after a mommy makeover. Getting your pre-baby body back can make you feel younger and healthier. You may have renewed motivation to exercise and eat healthy foods when you see how much better you look.
Shorter Recovery Time
Though a mommy makeover requires a significant recovery period, it’s much more convenient to heal from combined procedures than committing to several separate recuperations.
Renewed Skin
Perhaps the biggest surprise about your post-baby body is that your skin doesn’t always bounce back after weight loss. For example, you may have stretch marks on your breasts, hips, abdomen, or thighs, or a flabby stomach. A mommy makeover removes excess skin and pulls your skin tighter, and softens or eliminates stretch marks.
Enhanced Cleavage
After pregnancy, you may notice your breasts aren’t as perky as they once were. A mommy makeover can enhance breast contours and restore your cleavage. In addition, if you choose a breast augmentation or a lift as part of your operation, you’ll benefit from a more youthful bustline.
Improved Wardrobe Options
If you’ve been living in yoga pants and baggy T-shirts since having your baby, you’ll be excited about your clothing options after your mommy makeover recovery. Fashionable clothes fit much better, and you may find your dress size goes down.
How Much Weight Will I Lose With a Mommy Makeover?
It’s a stubborn misconception that the primary goal of a mommy makeover is to help people lose weight. If you’re significantly overweight and need help losing it, consult with your primary care physician or a bariatric surgeon. These specialists can work with you to develop a treatment plan to help you reach your weight loss goals.
A mommy makeover procedure is ideal for women at or near their ideal weight who want to regain their pre-pregnancy body shape. By combining multiple procedures into one operation, you can achieve a more flattering, youthful appearance that can change your life. After your mommy makeover, you probably won’t notice much difference in the number you see when you step on the scale, but you will feel better about yourself in so many ways.
Is It Better to Lose Weight Before a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover can include any combination of breast lift, augmentation, tummy tuck, and liposuction. Losing a dramatic amount weight after any of these operations is likely to affect the results. For example, weight loss following breast surgery can cause your breasts to lose some of their fullness. This result might require a revision surgery to eliminate unwanted sagging.
Following a tummy tuck, weight loss could cause the skin on your stomach to appear looser. If you plan to get liposuction, losing weight before surgery makes recovery easier because Dr. Pugash removes less fat. Regardless of the specific reason for having a mommy makeover, achieving a stable body weight before the procedure is your best approach.
What Is the Best BMI to Have Before a Mommy Makeover?
Because weight alone does not determine your health and surgical eligibility, Dr. Pugash will consider your BMI, a calculation based on weight to height. Generally speaking, patients in the BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9 are good candidates for surgery if they are in good overall health and do not smoke. However, even women with a BMI of up to 29.9 can be eligible candidates for a mommy makeover.
Transform Yourself With a Vancouver Mommy Makeover
Are you ready to turn back the clock on your body before pregnancy or weight fluctuation? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Pugash today to learn how he can help you achieve your body sculpting goals. Dr. Pugash has built an aesthetic practice that thrives on the referrals of satisfied patients. He and his team take pride in their relaxed, stress-free office environment, thorough patient education, and compassionate care before and after surgery.