Many celebrities, such as Cardi B, Kim K, have had surgery after having children to help them regain their pre-baby figures, postpartum. In recent years, mommy makeover surgeries have risen in popularity. There are a myriad of reasons someone would choose to have surgery, but the goal is to have a patient feel comfortable in their own skin. Pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding have large effects on the body. For many, surgery is a way to increase confidence and make mothers feel more confident in their bodies.
A “Mommy Makeover” is not just one type of surgery. It is actually a blanket term that encompasses a variety of procedures commonly combined to combat physical changes after pregnancy. Since pregnancy heavily affects the breasts and stomach, the most common basis is abdominoplasty or tummy tuck, combined with breast augmentation. Additional procedures such as breast lift, breast reduction, liposuction, and brazilian butt lift (BBL) are commonly used procedures. In reality, a mommy makeover can be any combination of body procedures, just with the intent of addressing the changes of pregnancy on the body. Multiple procedures are often performed at once to streamline the healing process. If each process was performed individually, the healing process would be longer than performing a combined procedure. Because the procedures are combined, there is just one slightly longer healing process.
After pregnancy and breastfeeding, breasts can sag and lose volume. Breast lift and breast augmentation surgery are used in conjunction with one another to add volume and lift to the breasts. Since the early 2000s, breast lift surgery has risen in popularity. In more recent years, advancements have been made in surgical techniques, with supports that make the results from surgery last longer. Implants are made of either silicone or saline, and are sized based on the wants and needs of each patient. Surgical techniques have been streamlined and improved, allowing for smaller surgical incisions. This means less scarring and faster recovery time as well.
Liposuction and tummy tuck surgery are other common procedures in mommy makeover surgery. Liposuction uses a cannula, a small hollow tube, to suction the fat from the body. It’s most commonly used to target stubborn fat deposits that cannot be changed by exercise and diet alone. There are several types of liposuction used: suction assisted, power assisted, laser assisted (Smartlipo) and ultrasonic (Vaser) assisted liposuction. Liposuction is commonly performed on the arms, legs, abdomen, and back. While liposuction removes stubborn fat, a tummy tuck will remove excess or loose skin, as well as tightening and closing abdominal muscles that may have split during pregnancy. Surgery is the only way to correct muscle separation. A full tummy tuck, also known as a standard tummy tuck, uses hip to hip incisions as well as an incision around the belly button. This allows for tightening of the abdominal muscles and a large amount of loose skin to be tightened. For those who have smaller amounts of loose skin, a mini tummy tuck is another option. A mini tummy tuck uses only an incision along the pubic bone, targeting mainly loose skin on the lower abdominal area, which is often stretched from pregnancy. This also includes partial muscle tightening. It does not target the belly button or upper parts of the stomach.
A Brazilian Butt Lift is another surgery that is commonly part of a “mommy makeover”. Pregnancy can change the way the body holds onto fat and gains weight. A procedure like a Brazilian Butt Lift uses liposuction to redistribute the fat on the body. Using liposuction, fat is removed from areas of the body such as the thighs and stomach and then redistributed to the hip or buttocks.