Q: What is a Mommy Makeover?
A: For mothers, the birth of their children is one the most wonderful times a woman will experience. While the new bundle of joy brings excitement and happiness to the family, many women are left with significant physical changes that can profoundly affect her self-confidence — these changes can include loss of breast fullness and sagging, unwelcome fatty deposits, loose skin, and stretch marks on the breast and abdomen. A mommy makeover is a customized set of cosmetic procedures designed to address postpartum changes of the breast and abdomen.
Q: What is done for the breast in a Mommy Makeover?
A: In some cases, a breast augmentation alone is adequate to restore volume loss after pregnancy. Some women may be happy with a breast lift alone to reshape and elevate the breast higher onto the chest. In many cases, a combination breast lift with implant is performed to provide the best of both worlds: a fuller breast that is shapelier and sits higher on the chest.
Q: What is done for the abdomen/trunk in a Mommy Makeover?
A: In most cases, a full tummy tuck is required. This will allow Dr. Steele to tighten the abdominal wall muscles and remove as many stretch marks and excess skin as possible. This is often combined with flank and hip liposuction to improve the waist contour.
Q: Am I a candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
A: If you are done having children and are close to your pre-pregnancy or ideal body weight, then you may be an excellent candidate for this procedure. Additionally, you should be in good health and a non-smoker.
Q: Is it safe to combine these procedures, and what are the risks?
A: There are always risks involved with surgery; however, with today’s modern anesthesia, the risk is very minimal in healthy patients. Medical problems such as asthma, high blood pressure, and diabetes may increase your surgical risk and may require a preoperative medical evaluation to gauge suitability for this longer, elective procedure. All patients go home with an overnight nurse, and in some cases, Dr. Steele may recommend that you spend a night at the surgery center to monitor your vital signs and fluid intake/output.
Q: What about scars and stretch marks?
A: The length and extent of scars will depend on each individual patient and the procedures she chooses. Generally, there will be a tummy tuck scar from hip to hip and some sort of breast incision. Dr. Steele takes the time to make sure that your scars are as fine as possible and will recommend postoperative scar care for optimal healing. Most women are so pleased with their new contours that they feel the results after a Mommy Makeover far outweigh any scarring left behind. Generally, an abdominoplasty will remove all stretch marks below the belly button. Patients with upper abdominal stretch marks will get some improvement — they will be moved lower down on the abdomen and will be tighter, which helps diminish the appearance. Stretch marks in the upper breast cannot be excised; however, the placement of an implant makes them less noticeable by placing tension and stretch on the skin.
Q: What if I get pregnant again?
A: Ideally, you would wait to have a mommy makeover until after all pregnancies are complete. In the event of future pregnancies, you may suffer more stretching or sagging of the skin. A later revision surgery may be necessary to correct this.
Q: What other breast and body procedures are available at Steele Plastic Surgery?
A: Dr. Steele offers a variety of surgical and nonsurgical options to improve your contours. Breast reductions are very helpful for neck/back pain and discomfort related to larger breasts. Liposuction in combination with Renuvion J-plasma skin tightening is a powerful tool to treat stubborn fat deposits and early skin laxity. Finally, we recently launched Sofwave, a noninvasive, powerful new FDA-approved focused ultrasound device designed to tighten skin and improve contour with no downtime.
Matthew H. Steele, M.D.
5656 Edwards Ranch Road, Ste. 202
Fort Worth 76109
817.731.5330
drsteeleplasticsurgery.com
