When Do You Choose a Mommy Makeover?
In a series of procedures, Dr. Harper can help you regain the body you had before pregnancy. A typical mommy makeover includes a tummy tuck with breast augmentation or breast lift. Some procedures will involve liposuction as well.
At your initial consultation, Dr. Harper will review your medical history to determine if a mommy makeover is suitable for you. Candidates for a mommy makeover in Indianapolis should be healthy and have an interest in correcting: loose tissue on the tummy, deflated or drooping breasts, stretched nipples or areolas, and persistent areas of body fat.
It is recommended that you are not planning any additional pregnancies, have finished breastfeeding, and have reached a stable weight before the surgery.
BEFORE
& AFTER
Your Mommy Makeover
On your surgery day, your incision locations will be marked by Dr. Harper. General or local anesthesia with IV sedation will be administered. The doctor then performs the surgical procedures that you and the doctor have chosen: usually a tummy tuck, breast augmentation/breast lift, and liposuction.
Breast Augmentation
To restore breast volume, breast augmentation (a.k.a augmentation mammoplasty) may be recommended as part of your mommy makeover. Dr. Harper offers both saline and silicone implants.
Breast augmentation typically requires two small incisions beneath the breast to allow the insertion of the implant. The implants are usually placed below the breast tissue or chest muscles. On average, the life of an implant is between seven and twelve years.
More often than not, breast augmentation surgery serves to:
- Naturally, increase the size of breasts.
- Restore the shape and size of breasts post-pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight loss.
- Restore the symmetry of breasts.
The breast augmentation procedure is essentially a cosmetic surgery because the purpose of it is to boost the aesthetics of your breasts. The best part about our mommy makeover in Indianapolis is that it can boost the self-esteem of women and make them feel confident about their looks.
Breast Lift
Breast Lift (or a Mastopexy) is a procedure that helps reshape the breast to a more youthful contour while lifting and repositioning the areolas. To help improve the deflated look or excess skin in the breast area, the breast lift may be added to your mommy makeover. When performed on a patient who has lost breast volume usually from breastfeeding in this case, this procedure is usually combined with breast augmentation (enlargement) to better fill the empty space created by the volume loss.
BEFORE
& AFTER
Tummy Tuck
Pregnancy often causes stretching of the abdominal muscles and skin. After one or more pregnancies, these effects can be significant and troubling for a mom. This is where a tummy tuck surgery can help women improve the appearance of their abdomen. Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck involves the removal of excess fat and skin from the abdomen. At the same time, the connective tissue in the area is sutured to tighten it. The doctor then repositions the skin to give the abdomen a more toned look.
Liposuction
Stubborn fat deposits can appear when your body weight is constantly changing. Some women accumulate fat in the thighs or buttocks, while others tend to accumulate fat in the arms or upper body. Using liposuction, a proven procedure for targeted fat removal, Dr. Harper can address these problem areas to help you slim down.
Liposuction can treat thighs, abdomen, waist, hips and buttocks, chest area, upper arms, back, inner knee, neck, cheeks, and chin, as well as ankles and calves. But it’s important to note that liposuction cannot treat obesity or be a substitute for exercise and diet. At the same time, the procedure is also not useful for cellulite or saggy skin.
After Your Procedure
A mommy makeover can be completed in a single day, or you may choose to have it done in a series, performed weeks or months apart. Dr. Harper can help you with these details.
A combined procedure of breast and body contouring can involve more downtime than a single procedure. You will probably need some help at home for about one week after surgery, while complete recovery requires several weeks. The final results of your mommy makeover in Indianapolis will appear in about six months to a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re considering undergoing any type of plastic surgery, you’ll need some solid information to let you know what to expect. This is definitely true for those undergoing a mommy makeover, as this popular type of plastic surgery actually combines several procedures in one. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about mommy makeovers:
What types of procedures are included with a mommy makeover?
There are no set number of procedures included with a mommy makeover, as this is a customized treatment plan agreed upon by you and your plastic surgeon.
Some of the most popular procedures in mommy makeovers include:
- Tummy tuck: Helps tone your post-pregnancy abdomen by tightening abdominal muscles, removing excess skin and fat, and sculpting your waist.
- Breast procedures: May involve breast augmentation and a breast lift for reviving and restoring the shape and volume of your breasts affected by pregnancy and nursing.
- Facial procedures: Procedures like a facelift or eyelid lift can restore your facial appearance.
- Liposuction: Removes stubborn fat to improve the appearance of areas like your hips and tummy.
What will my recovery be like?
Although the answer depends upon the specific procedures that were performed as part of your individual mommy makeover, here is some general recovery information:
You will return home wearing compression garments and be provided with specific aftercare instructions to assist your recovery. Drains may be needed to manage your incisions. Pain medication should help you feel more comfortable while you are recovering. The sutures used in your procedures should be dissolvable; so you should not need to return to have them removed.
Women undergoing a mommy makeover procedure typically take about two weeks off from work. You may be advised to avoid vigorous physical exercise for about four weeks. Your surgeon will monitor you and let you know when it is safe to start participating again in more strenuous activities.
The final results of your mommy makeover should be more noticeable after about one month, at which time you can begin completely enjoying your sleeker, more youthful figure.
I'm attempting to lose weight. When should I schedule my mommy makeover?
During your pregnancy, or soon after you deliver, you will likely have your first consultation. Your plastic surgeon can then schedule any procedures as needed. The timing of your procedures will be based upon a variety of factors.
Skin contouring procedures, like tummy tucks and breast lifts, can be performed once you reach your weight goal. If you lose further weight after your procedure, additional skin laxity could affect your results. Your plastic surgeon will recommend the best time to schedule your procedures following weight loss.
I am breast-feeding. When is the earliest that I can have a mommy makeover?
You will likely be advised to complete breast-feeding before undergoing a mommy makeover. Things like antibiotics and pain medications could otherwise be transmitted into your breast milk and possibly harm your baby.
If you want a breast procedure, you should allow your breasts to return to as close to normal as their normal size to obtain the best results. Your plastic surgeon will advise you when to schedule your procedure in relation to breast-feeding.
