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Mommy Makeover

Customized Surgery In Nj Can Revive Your Body After Pregnancy And Birth

Going through nine months of pregnancy and giving birth can drastically change a woman's body in many ways. If you are interested in undergoing a customized set of cosmetic procedures to improve your appearance and create contours more in line with a pre-baby body, Burnett Plastic Surgery can help. A complete Mommy Makeover from NJ-based board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Carlos Burnett aims to bring your body as close to its prechildbirth state as possible.

A Mommy Makeover is not a single body surgery, but is a combination of procedures customized to provide personalized results to each unique patient. Dr. Burnett and the Burnett Plastic Surgery team will work with you to understand your needs and goals, combining a selection of treatments. Our team loves helping women regain their confidence and love for their bodies.

Elements Of A Mommy Makeover

A Mommy Makeover can address changes related to pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing, including:

• drooping breasts
• loss of breast volume
• weight gain
• stretch marks
• loose skin

How Pregnancy Changes The Body

The transformation that results from growing and feeding a human being can be dramatic—and even more pronounced in women who have had more than one pregnancy. Mothers can expect to gain anywhere from 15 to 40 pounds during pregnancy, on average, and more weight if they're pregnant with multiples.

The specific amount gained usually depends on a woman's body weight before becoming pregnant, as well as her metabolism, genetic predisposition, and other factors. Two of the main areas of concern that women usually hope to restore with a Mommy Makeover are the breasts and abdomen, where fat "collects."

The breasts also typically become fuller and heavier as blood volume increases and milk production begins. Some women's breasts become even bigger after the baby is born, while others experience the opposite, watching as their breasts become flatter, smaller, or drooping. One of the most common misconceptions about breast ptosis (sagging) is that it's caused solely by breastfeeding.

Pregnancy itself is the main culprit, as the rapid weight gain and subsequent loss places stress on the skin, while also rapidly stretching supportive ligaments and ducts in the breasts. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to prevent this. In some cases, the only way to significantly improve saggy breasts is with a lift, which can be part of a Mommy Makeover procedure.

When it comes to the abdomen, women can find a similar problem after giving birth. While the area sees a reduction in volume once the baby is no longer inside, the skin may or many not return to its pre-pregnancy tightness. Also, many women are left with a protruding "baby belly" around the navel area due to a condition known as "diastasis recti," which occurs when the abdominal muscles pull apart and connective tissues weaken due to a developing baby.

Beyond these common problem areas, pregnant women are prone to storing fat on the hips, thighs, and buttocks. These areas may naturally become softer and rounder, but remain bulky or deflated-looking long after the baby arrives. Slimming down stubborn fat deposits and firming up skin or muscles can be challenging with traditional exercise alone.

Mommy Makeover Details

We tailor each Mommy Makeover to suit the needs and goals of the woman receiving it. At Burnett Plastic Surgery, we know that a cookie-cutter solution is not an option. By customizing the Mommy Makeover to your needs, we can assess your body and discuss what results you hope to achieve.

We genuinely care about helping you love your body again and figuring out which procedures can help give you that boost of confidence you need. Many Mommy Makeover procedures include a breast augmentation or tummy tuck with other elements added to further enhance contours.

The most popular treatments included in a Mommy Makeover are:

Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical fat removal procedure that can reduce bulges and slim down key areas by suctioning out large fat cells from places where they collect in stubborn pockets that even diet and exercise don't touch.

Breast Lift

Intended for breasts that sag or point downward, a breast lift addresses laxity for a perkier look. During the Mommy Makeover, breasts may be lifted higher on the chest, and nipples are positioned to face upward and outward.

Breast Augmentation

Breasts can change in volume before and after childbirth and may require implants in order to return to their original size. Breast augmentation can also restore symmetry in Mommy Makeover cases where one breast is noticeably larger or smaller than the other.

Tummy Tuck

Since a growing baby stretches out the abdominal wall and skin, a post-childbirth belly can look flabby and loose when there is no longer something inside to keep the tissues taut. A tummy tuck creates a flatter, more toned tummy by strengthening the wall, removing excess skin, and suctioning out fat cells as necessary.

Thigh Lift

Sagging skin on the lower half of the body can be lifted and tightened with thigh lift surgery as part of a Mommy Makeover to improve the shape of the thighs.

Since a Mommy Makeover can involve multiple surgeries, your initial consultation will include a discussion to explore which elements are best combined (tummy tuck and liposuction, for instance) and which are ideally staged several months apart (such as thigh lift and breast augmentation). The ultimate goal is to give you the best results possible.

The Best Candidates For A Mommy Makeover

Women can have a Mommy Makeover at almost any age after having a child, provided that they are in a good state of physical health, close to their ideal weight, and have realistic expectations. Women should hold off on having contouring or any kind of surgical lift if they intend to have more children, as future pregnancies can "undo" the carefully crafted results from a Mommy Makeover.

New moms sometimes arrange for Mommy Makeover surgery as early as possible, while their child is still very young, but after they have completely recovered from childbirth. In terms of timing, know that if breast surgery is involved, you should no longer be breastfeeding and your breasts should have "changed back" to their pre-nursing state, even if they are no longer the size and shape they were before.

Mommy Makeover Recovery And Aftercare

The recovery experience after a Mommy Makeover is similar to that of standalone surgical procedures. Since this is a comprehensive surgical strategy that involves multiple techniques, it typically takes around one to two weeks for patients to be back on their feet again. Details depend on which procedures were included in the Mommy Makeover. The recovery timeline also depends on how extensive the surgery is and will usually be determined by the nature of the most dramatic procedure included in the Mommy Makeover.

Dr. Burnett and his team will advise you on caring for your surgical area, what to watch for, and when you should follow up with him. Medications may be prescribed to accelerate the healing process, lower the risk of infections, and reduce discomfort. To preserve Mommy Makeover results, it's best to maintain a stable weight and stick to a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise.