What is a Mommy Makeover? Talk to your surgeon and be realistic about your expectations. Contact Pearl Recovery Retreat & Wellness about recovering in our well-appointed facility.

Having children is a gift, and mothers know going into it that carrying and delivering a baby will result in changes to their bodies. Abdominal muscles and skin get stretched out, breast volume changes, and many moms find that they carry fat in places that they never did before having children. Some women feel comfortable with these changes, but others do not.

A “mommy makeover” is a series of procedures that can help moms look more like the women they were before childbirth. Are any of these procedures suitable for you? Here is the lowdown on what they entail, including what you can expect in terms of mommy makeover recovery and results.

What Is a Mommy Makeover, Exactly?

You might look at celebrities who have recently given birth and wonder how they bounce back so quickly. Did they have surgery? While some may have, for the most part, cosmetic procedures are not done in the weeks or months after having a baby. First, your body has been through pregnancy and delivery trauma, so adding another trauma soon after is generally only done when needed. Secondly, the body needs time to settle into its post-pregnancy shape.

A week or a month after having a baby may not necessarily be what you will look like say, after a year. You will likely continue to lose weight for several months, if not longer. If you are breastfeeding your child, your breasts will need time after weaning to settle into their new shape. You also would not want to have a mommy makeover before you are done having babies, as the subsequent pregnancy would cause an additional impact on your abdomen and breasts.

Many celebrities get back into shape after having a baby thanks to having someone available to cook nutritious meals and act as a personal trainer. If you had a trainer prodding you to exercise each day (while ensuring that someone is doting on your new little one, of course), and a chef whose job it was to provide you with the correct caloric intake, then you would probably get into shape more quickly than the average, which is three months to a year.

Since you probably do not have these things, your best bet in the first few months after giving birth will focus on diet, exercise, and sleep (which is difficult with a newborn). The time to think about a mommy makeover will be many months in the future after your baby is weaned and after you are sure you are done having babies.

What Does a Mommy Makeover Include?

Breast Lift and Augmentation

Whether or not you breastfeed, pregnancy tends to cause your breasts to swell. After the baby is born, they will swell even more when your milk comes in. At some point, your breasts will stop making milk and, at that point, they might look saggy and deflated. As the years pass and gravity takes its toll, your breasts might not look like they once did. A breast lift and augmentation can help.

Most women who have breast augmentation surgery will have a good deal of pain in the first few days after the procedure. Having an adult around to prepare meals, help you shower, and otherwise care for you will be imperative. A stay in a recovery retreat is a great way to relax and allow your body to recuperate.

Tummy Tuck

After your abdomen stretches during pregnancy, it takes some time for the muscles and skin to go back to normal. While most women notice a substantial improvement over the first year or so after giving birth, many will continue to have a “pouch” of fat or excess skin that sticks around. Those who gave birth by cesarean section might notice this more than those who gave birth vaginally, but it also depends on the muscle tone in the area and whether the muscles have separated.

A tummy tuck removes some extra fat and skin and “tucks” it all together with sutures. It can also remove some of the stretch marks in the area. After your tummy tuck, you will have some pain and draining for several days, so you might consider a stay in our recovery retreat to allow you to heal. Remember that at Pearl Recovery Retreat & Wellness, you will have staff dedicated to helping you recuperate, including a chef who will prepare you with nutritious meals.

Liposuction

During pregnancy, your body will hold onto extra fat in the hips, thighs, and other areas of the body. This is partially for insurance that you will be able to sustain your fetus and, later, your breastfeeding baby in case you become malnourished. While this excess fat is beneficial during pregnancy and breastfeeding, sometimes it stubbornly sticks around for years after the baby has weaned.

Liposuction is a procedure that can remove some of those excess fat stores. The fat is liquefied and then removed via suction. Most women can get back to their regular activities after two weeks, but the first few days can be painful. Consider having someone stay with you or staying in a recovery retreat facility.

Is a Mommy Makeover Right for Me?

Because a mommy makeover is a cosmetic surgery and there are no risks to not doing the procedures, most surgeons will not do it if you are not in good health. If you are in good physical health, it is essential to think about how you will recover, whether you:

• Have adequate help at home.
• Will be able to take time off from work, if applicable.
• Trust the person or people who will be caring for your children.

It is also essential to be honest with yourself about how you will feel if you do not look exactly like you did pre-pregnancy. Talk to your surgeon and be realistic about what you can expect. Also, contact Pearl Recovery Retreat & Wellness to learn about whether recovering in our well-appointed facility is right for you.