What's the Mommy Makeover?

Your guide to popular post-pregnancy procedures

If you’ve ever given birth, you’re probably aware of how pregnancy can take a toll on your body, affecting your stomach, breasts, and legs. Luckily, many plastic surgeons offer what’s called the “mommy makeover” that addresses post-pregnancy body issues in a single surgery. Typically, a mommy makeover includes a tummy tuck, breast enhancement, and liposuction to help moms look and feel their best after having a baby.

Everything you need to know about the traditional mommy makeover

The traditional mommy makeover involves invasive plastic surgery that has considerable downtime. For instance, a tummy tuck permanently restores firmness to the stomach and removes loose skin. During the procedure, an incision is made at the pubic bone, through which your muscles can be tightened and excess skin removed. This incision typically stretches from hip to hip bone, and it can take a month to recover after surgery.

With breast enhancement, you may opt to get breast implants, a breast lift, and a breast reduction. A plastic surgeon will be able to fill your breasts out just a little or make your breasts significantly larger using saline or silicone implants. Most women choose both breast enhancement and a breast lift to restore their breasts to their pre-pregnancy look. It can take up to six weeks to fully recover from breast enhancement surgery.

The third and final treatment is fat removal. While liposuction can remove fat, it can’t treat stretched muscles or excess skin. However, liposuction in conjunction with a tummy tuck can accentuate your waistline and add definition to the abdomen. Recovery from liposuction takes roughly two weeks.

Are there non-invasive alternatives?

Thermage and CoolSculpting have emerged as popular noninvasive alternatives to traditional mommy makeovers. They offer women the opportunity to achieve their desired post-pregnancy body without undergoing surgery. Busy moms can conveniently address common post-pregnancy concerns like sagging skin and stubborn fat deposits without the downtime associated with traditional surgical procedures.

Thermage is a revolutionary treatment that utilizes radiofrequency energy to tighten and contour the skin, restoring its youthful appearance. This non-invasive procedure stimulates the production of collagen, effectively addressing sagging skin in areas such as the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, and other areas of the body. The treatment requires minimal downtime, allowing moms to resume their daily activities soon after.

CoolSculpting, on the other hand, is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive fat reduction treatment that targets and freezes stubborn fat cells, which are then naturally eliminated by the body. This innovative procedure can be used to sculpt and contour various areas of the body, such as the abdomen, love handles, thighs, and more. With no anesthesia or surgery required, CoolSculpting is a safe and effective way for moms to enhance their natural beauty and embrace their post-pregnancy bodies.

Who can benefit from these non and minimally invasive treatments? The ideal candidate has mild to moderate skin laxity and small pockets of fats. Those with significant laxity or fat amounts may need more invasive procedures to obtain dramatic results. By opting for non-invasive treatments like Thermage and CoolSculpting, moms can achieve their desired body goals without the potential complications, extensive downtime, and risks associated with traditional mommy makeovers. With these cutting-edge procedures, women can confidently celebrate their post-pregnancy bodies, feeling revitalized and refreshed inside and out.

What’s the bottom line?

The key takeaway is that when it comes to embracing your body’s transformation after pregnancy, you have a variety of options to support your unique journey. You can choose traditional plastic surgery, which involves downtime, or explore non-invasive alternatives that require little-to-no downtime. Whatever path you decide to take, remember to celebrate your body’s amazing capabilities and appreciate the changes it has undergone.

Want to learn more about non-invasive cosmetic treatments? Then check out LaserAway, the nation’s leading aesthetic dermatology provider, where all treatments are performed by registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician associates, so you can rest assured you’re in good hands.

References

“Assessment of the Efficacy of Cryolipolysis on Abdominal Fat Deposits: A Prospective Study,” Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, May 3, 2023.
“Cryolipolysis: A Promising Nonsurgical Technique for Localized Fat Reduction,” Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, November 21, 2023.
“New Technologies in Skin Tightening,” Facial Plastics, October 11, 2021.
“What is Included in a Mommy Makeover?,” American Society of Plastic Surgeons, April 27, 2018.