Getting Your Body Back After Pregnancy With a Mommy Makeover

A new baby is a wonder to behold, but getting back into the shape you had before pregnancy isn’t always possible without a little help. The Lowcountry Plastic Surgery Center has the solution for moms of all shapes and sizes.

The Mommy Makeover is a collection of surgical procedures that work together to correct the effects of pregnancy and birth. Plus, combing procedures can mean you save on recovery time and costs (something busy moms can appreciate). Read on to find out more about what Dr. Hensel and the staff at Lowcountry Plastic Surgery Center can offer moms looking to get back into shape.

Changes to the body during pregnancy

Most associate plastic surgery with a single correction, for example, a tummy tuck. The problem is that carrying a baby inside your body for 40 weeks takes a toll on more than just the belly.

Mom’s body goes through many changes during pregnancy. For example:

• The glandular tissues in the breasts swell and stretch the skin. After weaning, the glands shrink again, but the breasts might never regain their fullness. The tissue softens, leaving them flat, floppy and usually smaller.
• Fat production increases to support the need for breast milk. That fat is stored in the hips first, making them fuller. Additional fat used for breast milk goes to the abdomen. Some of the fat on the hips and waist remains once lactation stops.
• The skin stretches pretty much all over the body but especially on the breast, hips and stomach area, leaving excess tissue after birth to accompany the fat deposits. The muscles in the abdomen stretch as well, so the belly loses its definition.
• Many women find their feet change, and become flatter and broader after giving birth. Their shoe size might increase.
• Legs can develop varicose veins during the pregnancy that may shrink back down afterward. With multiple pregnancies, though, spider veins can become a permanent fixture.

What does a Mommy Makeover fix?

No two women's bodies are the same after giving birth, so a Mommy Makeover will start with an assessment. The makeover itself includes whatever the patient and Dr. Hensel decide is necessary. Some common procedures include:

• Breast augmentation to return breast fullness
• Mastopexy, breast lift to reduce sagging
• Body fat transfers
• Labiaplasty
• Liposuction
• Lower body lifts to the legs, hips, buttocks and abdomen
• Tummy tuck
• Skin tightening with a Venus Freeze™

Mom can combine different surgical procedures and alternative treatments like laser or cryogenics to get her body back. It’s up to each patient to decide what she wants to change, and the staff at Lowcountry Plastic Surgery Center will offer options to get there.

Giving birth is an incredible, life-changing experience. The body afterward changes, too, though. If you are a new mom or just a mom who wants to look and feel better, give Lowcountry Plastic Surgery Center a call to find out more about their Mommy Makeover package.