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Mommy Makeover

ENHANCE YOUR BODY SHAPE AFTER PREGNANCY WITH CUSTOMIZED TREATMENTS IN WESTFIELD, NJ

Your body goes through some major changes both during and after pregnancy. After the baby arrives, many mothers wonder whether their body contours will return to the way they looked before. The stretched skin and fat pockets may eventually go away, but the reality is that your body will likely not ever go back to the way it was. A Mommy Makeover from NJ-based board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Carlos Burnett is a combination technique that can rejuvenate multiple areas of the body affected by pregnancy. A Mommy Makeover can target skin laxity, excess fat, and more to boost your self-esteem and help you regain the sense of confidence you had before pregnancy.

HOW DOES PREGNANCY CHANGE YOUR BODY?

Pregnancy can be stressful and challenging on a person’s body. In fact, it’s likely to be the most dramatic change the adult body will ever experience. The shape, structure, and appearance of the physique is altered in numerous ways.

There’s no doubt that motherhood can change you inside as well as outside as you adjust to your new life with a baby. There are some temporary changes associated with pregnancy that usually resolve within one year, but for most people, there will be some other changes to the tissues and fat all over the body that may remain for good.

In addition to the skin and muscles on the abdomen expanding to make room for your growing baby, there is also a rapid growth in breast tissue to accommodate nursing—whether you ultimately breastfeed or not.

The breasts are one of the areas that may be transformed the most, but the degree of changes that occur—altering both size and shape—will vary from individual to individual. Some patients may find that their breasts become smaller, while others ultimately end up with larger breasts. Sagging may also occur.

Elsewhere on the body, it’s common to notice slightly wider hips as bone structure changes. On the abdomen, the core muscles are stretched, and there may be separation of the abdominal wall muscles that run along the center of the stomach, which is a condition known as diastasis recti. This condition can’t be corrected with exercise. Stretch marks may also develop on the skin and won’t fade away completely.

The lower body areas might also look different because of the changes in hormone levels, center of gravity, and weight. As the muscles in this area stretch and widen, the butt may lose shape.

Additionally, it may be difficult to get back to your normal weight, and resistant fat may linger on certain areas, preventing you from achieving your ideal body shape. Want to get pre-pregnancy body contours back? You can do so with a Mommy Makeover.

WHAT IS A MOMMY MAKEOVER?

Are Mommy Makeovers worth it? What does a Mommy Makeover consist of? These are some of the most frequently searched for questions about this form of cosmetic surgery in 2023. A Mommy Makeover can be ideal for restoring the shape and appearance of your body after childbirth. Here’s what you should know about how the Mommy Makeover procedure works.

So exactly what do you get with a Mommy Makeover? A Mommy Makeover can address changes related to pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing, including sagging breasts, loss of volume in the breasts, resistant fat on certain areas of the body, some stretch marks, and loose skin.

While the breasts and abdomen are commonly targeted areas, some patients want to improve the waist and buttocks or other areas as well. In most cases, a Mommy Makeover will be a single stage procedure. In some cases, staging the procedures is preferred.

This surgery is performed with the patient under general anesthesia. A series of surgical procedures are chosen and combined specifically to give patients their desired look.

WHO IS AN IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR A MOMMY MAKEOVER?

Are you wondering: “Am I a good candidate for Mommy Makeover surgery?” To be an ideal candidate for a Mommy Makeover, you will need to be in good health, to be at or close to your ideal body weight, to maintain a positive outlook and realistic expectations, and to be finished having children. It is safe to become pregnant again after a Mommy Makeover, but know that a new growing baby—and the changes it brings—can easily reverse the results of your surgery. In other words, women should hold off on having contouring or any kind of surgical lift if they intend to have more children, since future pregnancies can "undo" the carefully crafted results from a Mommy Makeover.

The amount of time that’s passed between delivery/breastfeeding and the Mommy Makeover surgery should also be considered. 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.

Can you get a Mommy Makeover without being a mom? Yes! This surgery isn’t only reserved for new or recent mothers. Women may consider this surgery years after pregnancy if they choose to. Weight gain or loss, aging, and menopause are some of the other major factors that will affect your body shape. Although it’s common to have a Mommy Makeover to address changes related to pregnancy, some patients who want to address multiple specific areas—like the abdomen and breasts—and have not been pregnant may also benefit from this procedure.

HOW CAN YOU PREPARE FOR A MOMMY MAKEOVER?

How do I get my body ready for a Mommy Makeover? If this is one of the questions on your mind, we can give you advice on the best ways to prepare for this surgery and maximize results. To prepare for this form of plastic surgery, patients may be required to get a lab test or medical evaluation, take medications or adjust how they’re taking their current medications, quit smoking, and avoid taking aspirin or other medications or supplements that will thin the blood—as long as it is medically safe for them to do so.

WHAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN A MOMMY MAKEOVER?

As previously mentioned, the Mommy Makeover will be tailored to fit the specific needs and situation of each patient. Not every person will want to address the same types of concerns, and the specific treatments are chosen based on the patient’s desired aesthetic. At Burnett Plastic Surgery, we take a personalized approach, since 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.

So, what is typically included in a Mommy Makeover? 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. It’s common for Mommy Makeover procedures to include surgical fat reduction.

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 instead of pointing toward the ground.

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

A tummy tuck will often be included in a Mommy Makeover. 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.

WHAT ARE THE RECOVERY AND RESULTS LIKE FOR A MOMMY MAKEOVER?

What is recovery like after Mommy Makeover? What is the downtime required following a Mommy Makeover?

These are questions we know patients will have when they’re planning for this type of surgery. 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. However, it will usually be difficult to bend or lift normally for around three to four weeks, so you should plan accordingly. You will need to give your body enough time to heal to achieve optimal results. 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.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER OPTIONS FOR ENHANCING YOUR APPEARANCE?

Our team at Burnett Plastic Surgery provides many other types of procedures in addition to Mommy Makeover surgery for improving the appearance of the face, body, and skin, including non-surgical treatments.

A butt lift adds volume to make the buttocks curvier and more proportional, which can be very effective for women who have lost weight in that area and are dealing with a flatter or saggier look.

Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery gives the eyes a more open and rejuvenated appearance by addressing excess skin and sagging around the eyelids. A rhinoplasty addresses irregularities on the nose and restores a more symmetrical, balanced, and pleasing appearance to the face.

Minimally invasive injectables like BOTOX^® and dermal fillers reduce wrinkles or better define facial contours. BOTOX^® temporarily relaxes facial muscles and prevents them from tensing up as much to soften expression wrinkles, while facial fillers are gels that add volume and fullness.