Copyright © 2022 Somenek + Pittman MD. All rights reserved.
There are certain temporary changes you must prepare for when you learn you are pregnant, such as a large belly and enlarged breasts. What many women are not prepared for are the permanent changes to their figure that can come with pregnancy, like a loose and saggy tummy and deflated breasts. What makes these changes even more difficult to deal with is that there is little you can do on your own to address them.
At Somenek+Pittman MD, we offer a way for mothers to restore the beautiful appearance of their bodies and comfort with their appearance: our mommy makeover surgery in Washington DC. This amazing body sculpting package is catered to suit the specific needs of each patient we care for.
A Washington DC mommy makeover is a combination of surgical procedures designed to restore the appearance of the areas of the body that have been changed by pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some of the main areas heavily affected by pregnancy include the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, thighs, and flanks.
During your initial consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, he will listen to your reasons for pursuing a mommy makeover and learn which specific aesthetic issues you want to address through surgery.
Your surgeon will examine the areas of your body you are unhappy with and will also identify any other areas that may require care. This information will be used to determine your surgical package. It is important to understand that this is not “cookie cutter” surgery. The cornerstone of our practice is couture care. This means that a surgical plan is tailor-made to each patient’s needs and desires. Procedures that are commonly performed as part of a mommy makeover package include the following:
In addition to body and breast surgeries, there are other rejuvenation procedures you could include in your mommy makeover in Washington DC. Beyond surgical procedures, several types of nonsurgical treatments women may choose to have include dermal fillers, cellulite reduction, skin tightening or resurfacing treatments, and nonsurgical fat reduction. Though the results are less dramatic than surgical options, there will still be a noticeable enhancement without the extended downtime.
If your pregnancy has left you feeling unhappy with the appearance of your body, you are a good candidate for a mommy makeover. If your abdomen is plagued by sagging skin and pockets of stubborn fat, or if you are suffering from diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles after pregnancy), a tummy tuck may be necessary.
Loose skin and excess fat can also be a problem in areas like your upper arms, flanks, and thighs. These issues can be addressed by including BodyTite treatments in your mommy makeover.
It is important to note that you should not undergo a mommy makeover if you plan on having more children after your procedure. Becoming pregnant can negatively affect your results and can make additional surgery necessary. The same issues may occur if you undergo significant weight gain after your procedure, so it is important that you diet and exercise to maintain a stable weight.
In most cases, Mommy Makeover procedures are performed at one time. The right combination of procedures is highly complementary to your overall shape and your schedule! During your consultation, your surgeon will listen to your goals and will recommend the techniques that can help you achieve them with as little disruption to your life as possible.
You can have children after your Mommy Makeover, yes. There is no medical risk to you or your baby. That said, there are cosmetic risks. We generally encourage patients to hold off on scheduling a Mommy Makeover until they have completed their families. In this way, the results of surgery can last as long as they are designed to. Should you become pregnant after having a Mommy Makeover, the primary concerns may include changes in abdominal and breast contouring.
If you are already in good health, do not smoke, and have reached your ideal weight, you may have little to do to prepare for your Mommy Makeover. There are two aspects to consider. One is your body’s capacity to heal and the other is your schedule. We want your surgical experience to go as smoothly as possible, so will be thorough in our medical history review and pre-treatment recommendations for health and wellness. If you follow your doctor’s pre-surgical instructions, you can expect to have a safe, smooth, rewarding procedure. For scheduling, you need to arrange at least two to three weeks off work and other responsibilities. This includes housework, childcare, cooking, pet care, and the many “little” things you take care of as a mother. So that you may heal efficiently and without stress, you need a strong support system of friends and loved ones who can pick up the slack for a short time. With these aspects of your journey in mind, you can determine the best steps to ensure you are fully prepared well in advance of your body contouring surgery.
Your return to normal activities after your Mommy Makeover will occur in stages. You might be able to return to work after one to two weeks if your surgical process includes just a few minor adjustments. If your Mommy Makeover is more extensive and includes abdominoplasty, you may need up to three weeks off work. You will be up and walking the day of surgery and, though you will be slightly bent forward for a few weeks, will need to walk every day. Your ability to stand and cook, do dishes, and resume normal household chores will gradually occur after a week or two. Your ability to exercise and engage in more strenuous activities will begin six to eight weeks after surgery.
All surgical procedures incur scars where incisions are made. For your Mommy Makeover, you can trust that your surgeon will use the most conservative and strategic techniques to minimize the length of each incision. It can take several months for your post-surgical scars to fully mature. To facilitate the most favorable wound healing, follow our aftercare instructions carefully. Once your incisions are closed completely, you can discuss beneficial scar treatments. Common options include scar creams, silicone sheets, and professional treatments. During your final post-op visit, your doctor can discuss your scar healing and how to maximize tissue recovery.
Deciding when the best time to get a mommy makeover is unique to each patient, but there are certain elements that all patients should consider before moving forward. First, a woman must be fully recovered after childbirth and, to avoid reversing enhancements, should be done having children. It is best to have a breast surgery once the breasts return to a stable size and shape several months after breastfeeding.
Nonsurgical injectable treatments may not be best when a woman is still breastfeeding. Another critical factor to consider is the physical limitations during recovery after a mommy makeover. After the surgical procedures, patients cannot lift any item over ten pounds for several weeks, which may interfere with childcare.
Ultimately, an ideal time for a mommy makeover depends on a patient’s personal preference, though certain important factors influence the decision. If a woman is healed from childbirth, done having children, and ready for enhancements, then she is prepared for a mommy makeover.
In addition to deflated breasts and sagging stomachs, a local mommy makeover could improve several other cosmetic concerns a mother may have. The surgeries for the breasts could improve breast symmetry, and repair enlarged or stretched areolas and nipples. Furthermore, the surgeries could restore breast volume and reduce sagging to rejuvenate the chest’s appearance.
Another enhancement that the combination of procedures could achieve is reducing areas of fat that have been resistant to diet and exercise. Many women also find that the way swimsuits and clothing fit has significantly improved after these procedures.
Since a mommy makeover is tailor-made to a patient’s needs, recovery times vary depending on the chosen surgeries. For a rough estimate of your recovery time, expect to be in recovery for as long as the most extensive procedure requires. In most cases, a tummy tuck is the most extensive surgery a patient undergoes, which requires around eight weeks of recovery.
For patients with children, childcare during recovery is an essential element to consider. Most surgeries restrict lifting and physical movements during recovery, which could impact childcare. It is best to plan a mommy makeover when help is available.
Similarly, mommy makeover results will finalize at different times for each patient depending on what surgeries were used. Most patients fully recover and return to wearing swimsuits after three months of recovery.
Motherhood is a wonderful experience but some women are disappointed with how they look after childbirth and breastfeeding. Fortunately, Somenek + Pittman MD have an answer for you. If you want to feel good about the way your body looks, contact us to schedule a consultation for your mommy makeover surgery in Washington DC. Our team is dedicated to providing outstanding personalized care and can help you achieve natural-looking results.
Copyright © 2022 Somenek + Pittman MD. All rights reserved.
