Do I have to be a mom to get a “mommy makeover?”
If you’re thinking about body contouring surgery, you may have read about what a mommy makeover can do. This whole-body makeover can address loose abdominal skin, stretch marks, a belly “pooch,” drooping breasts, and stubborn fat deposits—all with a single, consolidated surgical recovery. But you may wonder, can you get a mommy makeover without being a mom?
The truth is that many patients who are not mothers seek “mommy makeovers.” This term simply refers to any combination of body contouring procedures that address stretched tissues. Below, we discuss how this procedure helps many patients feel comfortable in their body and regain their confidence.
What is a mommy makeover?
A mommy makeover is a colloquial term for body contouring surgery designed to reverse the effects of aging, childbearing, or weight loss. The procedure typically involves procedures to remove loose, excess skin throughout the abdomen, breasts, and/or other areas, restoring your figure and helping you feel comfortable in your body.
What does a mommy makeover consist of?
The procedures included in a mommy makeover are customized for each patient! Typically, patients with excess skin after weight loss or pregnancy benefit from some combination of the following procedures:
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), a procedure that tightens the abdominal wall and removes sagging skin, effectively sculpting the waistline.
Breast procedures, such as a breast lift, breast lift with augmentation, or breast reduction are also commonly desired by patients who have lost breast volume or are experiencing sagging.
Liposuction to address stubborn fat deposits.
Other surgical lift procedures to address problem areas, such as an arm lift or thigh lift.
Some patients extend their makeover upward to address complexion issues, wrinkles, and/or jowling in the face, using nonsurgical skin treatments or a facelift.
Everyone’s needs are unique, so when it comes to your rejuvenation procedure, we will address each of your concerns in an individualized manner.
Who is a good candidate for a mommy makeover?
Good candidates stand to benefit from an overall “lift,” and are in general good health for surgery: you should be a healthy non-smoker (or willing to quit), close to your goal weight, and have a realistic understanding of what each procedure that is part of your makeover can do for you.
You should also be prepared for the surgical recovery; you will likely need help during the first few days after surgery, as well as about two weeks off of work.
Why diet and exercise can’t replace plastic surgery
While many patients hope that diet, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle will help them get back to their ideal figure, these lifestyle interventions do not help with loose or sagging skin. Excess skin can be frustrating in so many ways, including while exercising or trying on clothes. Mommy makeover procedures remove excess skin (including some stretch marks), revealing your true size and allowing you to move comfortably.
There is a second symptom that is hard to address with exercise: diastasis recti, or stretched and separated abdominal wall muscles. From both weight gain and childbearing, these muscles can separate at the center, leading to bulging and weakness that gives many patients back pain. A tummy tuck tightens these muscles, alleviating those associated symptoms—something that exercise alone simply cannot accomplish.
Do I need to lose weight before mommy makeover surgery?
If weight loss is a goal of yours, you will be happiest with your results if you reach your goal weight (or are within about 15 pounds of your goal weight) before surgery. A mommy makeover does not help you lose weight, nor does it remove very much fatty tissue.
When is it ill-advised to get a mommy makeover?
If you believe you may become pregnant in the future, then you may want to wait on your mommy makeover, since childbearing will likely reverse some of your mommy makeover results. However, this concern is strictly cosmetic: it is still perfectly safe to become pregnant after you’ve had a tummy tuck or other body lifting procedures.
Talk with Dr. Sharline Aboutanos in Richmond, VA about your body contouring goals
If you are considering body contouring surgery or a mommy makeover, female board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sharline Aboutanos offers experience, expertise, and an understanding approach to patients in Richmond. Contact us online or call (804) 355-3410 to schedule your visit today.