4 Kids Later, Can a Mommy Makeover Get My Pre-Baby Body Back?

Today's social media obsession floods our newsfeeds with unrealistic pictures of celebrities who bounce back seemingly overnight to their pre-pregnancy bodies. Realistically, the average woman does not bounce back this quickly. Remember, it took about nine months to make your baby, so you should give yourself time for your body to adjust to the changes. While most women are very eager to ditch their maternity wardrobe immediately, it may not happen overnight. While your new adorable little bundle of joy was worth it, they did change your body in ways that can be unflattering. Despite diet and exercise, a little extra outside help may go a long way to regaining your old or even new, improved self. The mommy makeover becoming a more common procedure that helps moms look and feel their best after their family is complete.

For patients in Northern Virginia, the plastic surgeons at Austin-Weston, The Center for Cosmetic Surgery are leading experts in mommy makeovers. They have undergone extensive medical training, earning a reputation across Northern Virginia and the DC Metro Area for being the most skilled and trusted experts in cosmetic surgery. Their goal is to provide superior and individualized patient care. This focus on the patient enables them to tailor your mommy makeover to specifically target the areas you want to change so you can regain your self-confidence. If you are considering a mommy makeover, read below for information on how this procedure can help you feel great about yourself once again.

Feeling confident again

A mom's appearance, as well as her self-confidence, can be significantly be affected by hormones, pregnancy, and nursing. Your once tight and firm body now has loose skin, saggy breasts, and stubborn fat on the hips and waist. It can be challenging to accept that this body may be here to stay. Your pre-pregnancy clothes may not fit the same, and the idea of confidently wearing a bathing suit in public is a definite no-go. All of these issues affect a mom's self-esteem and confidence. Rest assured, you do not have to accept these unflattering post-baby changes. If you are unhappy with the way your body has changed after having children, a mommy makeover may be the right answer to renewed confidence during motherhood.

Targeted areas

The most dramatic change after childbirth happens in the abdominal area with fat deposits, stretch marks, and stretched abdominal muscles, followed by sagging and shapeless breasts, and possible weight gain in the hips and thighs. For some women, no amount of diet and exercise will restore the altered body to its original pre-pregnancy shape. The mommy makeover fixes these areas through careful planning, conversations, and surgical procedures by a plastic surgeon such as those at Austin-Weston in Northern Virginia. This makeover can include almost any combination of procedures to achieve a mom's desired goals, with the most common ones being the tummy tuck, breast augmentation and/or lift, and liposuction.

The first step

The first step to tackling your body's changes through the mommy makeover is to schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon. Before your appointment, it is essential to give careful thought to the areas of your body that are of concern. It is also important to seriously consider whether or not you want more children as additional pregnancies after your mommy makeover may undo the previous surgery.

For patients in Northern Virginia, this is your opportunity to openly talk to the surgeon about the various procedures and your overall goals. Do not be afraid to express your fears, concerns, and desired outcomes. At Austin-Weston, it is our number one goal to listen, provide feedback, and craft a plan that addresses your specific needs. After a thorough medical exam, recommendations are made on which procedures best address your body goals. It is important that mommy makeover candidates not use tobacco products and disclose the use of any medications or supplements, as they may interfere with the healing process.

Realistic expectation

An equally important part of the plan is to establish realistic expectations for the mommy makeover. Cosmetic surgery can produce dramatic results but not without limitations. Your shape and proportion may end up altering your final goal. Finding a plastic surgeon that you trust in both judgement and skill is essential in ensuring you are in good hands and happy in the end.

Treatment choices

A mommy makeover is designed to address a number of body issues impacted by pregnancy. It can lift and reshape the breasts, tighten the abdominal area, and get rid of excess fat around the hips and thighs. When all other measures to address these areas have been tried with little to no results, the plastic surgeons at Austin-Weston can step in and assist you in regaining your renewed appearance.

While every woman has her specific concerns on what she wants to fix, the following three procedures are the most common in regard to the mommy makeover:

1. Breast augmentation, lift, or reduction

Fluctuations in hormones, weight, and breastfeeding, can cause volume loss in the breasts, resulting in sagginess. Women in the Northern Virginia area often opt for a breast augmentation, coupled with a lift. These combined procedures reduce sag, improve symmetry, and increase (or in some cases, decrease) size. Adding an implant is an option to consider when choosing the shape and size of the breasts depending on the patient's goals.

2. Liposuction

This procedure removes the extra fatty tissue typically in the hips, thighs, “love handles,” or abdominal area to achieve a more contoured look. As part of a mommy makeover, liposuction may be recommended to remove excess stubborn fat, giving moms a new slim and toned look to their appearance. For women who have never had a weight loss problem before, liposuction is an excellent solution for creating a slimmer outcome when done by a qualified, plastic surgeon.

3. Tummy tuck

The abdominal area takes the most significant toll from pregnancy. Many women seek a mommy makeover for the sole reason of ridding the stomach of excess skin and stretch marks. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, not only removes excess fat and skin but tightens abdominal muscles that have been stretched and separated during pregnancy. In addition to the traditional tummy tuck, a mini tummy tuck is another option for women with less extra skin. Or they may opt for a reverse tummy tuck which focuses on the upper torso area that exercising has difficulty altering. Whichever procedure you choose, the end result is flatter, tighter, and more contoured abs that are proportionate to your body.

For women in Northern Virginia who are unhappy with the way their bodies have changed after having children, a mommy makeover may be the answer. Not only will you have a renewed sense of self-confidence but the chance to have your body restored to your pre-children appearance. If you are interested in having a mommy makeover, please contact or schedule a consultation with the plastic surgeons at Austin-Westin, The Center for Cosmetic Surgery today.