What is a Mommy Makeover?

Add the word “mommy” to “makeover” and it’s an entirely different animal.

Sure, concealer can cover up blemishes and mascara can make those baby blues pop, but the scars and saggy skin from giving birth? Those imperfections need more than cosmetic help.

Enter the “Mommy Makeover.” The mommy makeover isn’t a one-size-fits-all procedure. Moms can customize it to their needs, deciding that they need a tummy tuck and breast augmentation or maybe want to get rid of that extra fat on the hips and lift up those droopy breasts.

Plastic Surgery through the Years

As the number of cosmetic plastic surgeries increases overall so too are requests from moms for procedures to specifically erase the so-called scars of childbirth. Although it’s impossible to nail down exactly how many women are seeking out mommy makeovers, the age of patients and the increase in the types of procedures indicate that it’s a steadily growing demographic.

• Breast augmentations:
  • 2017: 300,378, a 41 percent increase in the past 17 years.
• Breast lifts:
  • 2017: 105,219, double the number of surgeries in 2000.
• Tummy tucks:
  • 2017: 129,753, compared to 62,713 in 2000. And this procedure just recently rebounded with an increase of 2,000 procedures from 2016 to 2017.

Making Mom More Confident

Long gone are the days when moms would just sigh and learn to live with their post childbearing bodies. Although moms are proud of what their bodies did to bring those beautiful souls into the world and nourish them after birth, most mamas aren’t happy with the stretched out breasts and droopy belly that often accompanies the miracle.

The mommy makeover is a customizable menu that can include one or more of the following surgeries: abdominoplasty (or tummy tuck), breast rejuvenation, liposuction or vaginal rejuvenation.

Tackling the tummy

That cute little baby spent more than nine months hanging out in your belly, swimming around, nourishing him or herself and growing. You look back at the photos of that huge belly and can’t quite believe that that was your body not too long ago.

But then you look down. The baby left your body but your belly never exactly bounced back. The saggy tummy and accompanying stretch marks are the clear evidence. And for women who gave birth to multiples or had a C-section, the likelihood of developing diastasis recti or abdominal separation is much higher. With diastasis recti, it’s very difficult to achieve that pre-baby belly again even with exercise. A tummy tuck will remove that excess fat and reattach those separated muscles.

Afterward mom should expect to have a tighter, more toned belly, ready to show off in that new bikini. That doesn’t mean you should throw out the pilates. The more in shape the patient is, the better the procedure will look, before and after.

Lift ‘em up 

Breastfeeding is beautiful. Not only does the breast milk nourish our babies and ward off viruses but it also provides the sweetest bonding moments. Yet, it wreaks havoc on mom’s boobs. Lactation temporarily increases the size of the breasts, so when the baby moves onto solids mom’s skin is stretched out, often resulting in saggy, droopy boobs.

For some women the breasts are fine, they just need a little help that that Victoria’s Secret push-up bra can’t provide. Those moms can select a breast lift or mastopexy. The statistics indicate that this procedure is swiftly gaining in popularity. Since 2000, the number of women heading to their surgeon’s office for a breast lift has more than doubled. That just shows this isn’t a trendy surgery, women are opting to have their breast lifted up. And although this is a cosmetic surgery, for many women the discomfort associated with droopy postpartum breasts makes surgery a necessity.

Augment Them 

One woman explained it like this: “After my daughter finished breastfeeding it was like she sucked my boobs dry and the ending result were little, deflated balloons.” For many women, breastfeeding not only leads to saggy boobs but also depletes them entirely.

Breast augmentation, or colloquially “boob job,” may be the answer for these moms.

Revive the Vagina 

We sometimes forget about “down there” when thinking about plastic surgery. But babies don’t only stretch out breasts and bellies. The vagina doesn’t always bounce back after birth, particularly after multiple births. When the muscles of the vaginal wall lose that elasticity, it can cause more than cosmetic issues.

A stretched out vagina, also referred to as vaginal relaxation symptom, can cause urinary stress incontinence and diminished sexual pleasure. In addition, women may feel insecure and unhappy about the look of their vagina. Vaginoplasty will tighten the relaxed muscles of the vagina and perineum. There are both surgical and non-surgical options available.

Lose it now 

Getting rid of those stubborn last few pounds or that pudge on the legs can feel nearly impossible. Daily sweaty sessions at the gym, plus hours in hot yoga haven’t done the trick. What’s your option now? Liposuction may be the answer.

This procedure will quickly remove that fat hanging around on the belly, hips and/or thighs.

Are you ready to take care of yourself for a change? Contact Dr. Ghozland’s office at 310.393.9359 to schedule a consultation and learn more about customizing your own mommy makeover.