Pregnancy and giving birth both cause significant stress on the body. If you think about it, a woman carries a child, another person, in their stomach for nine months. A lot of changes happen during these nine months. The belly expands to make room for the little one, the breasts expand and fill up with milk, and the vagina also suffers, especially during the birthing process.
Even after all is said and done, there are several imperfections left behind from a pregnancy. You’ve just given birth and now your stomach deflates, your labia stretched during the birthing process, and once breastfeeding is over with, your breasts will reduce in size, too.
The result? Excess and sagging skin.
That’s why mommy makeovers are in demand for post-pregnancy women who want to recover both mentally and physically. These imperfections can cause insecurities which can cause depression and the excess skin can cause physical pain and discomfort, especially in regards to the back.
You don’t have to worry, though. A mommy makeover can help with these issues.
Mommy Makeover: An Overview
When you think about mommy makeovers, you probably think they’re a cakewalk. Unfortunately, that could not be farther from the truth. Since the procedure usually includes conducting several surgeries during one operation, it’s one of the more intricate operations performed in plastic surgery.
As such, it is recommended that you consult with a plastic surgeon to prepare and plan rigorously for this surgery, should you be considering having one.
Before that, though, let’s look at a few things you need to consider before your consultation.
1. More Kids
You should consider waiting to have a mommy makeover if you’re still planning on having more children. Plastic surgery is an expensive procedure, even more so when multiple ones are being done such as with mommy makeovers. If you choose to have more kids after getting a mommy makeover, you risk compromising the results of the initial procedure.
2. Timing is Everything
It’s important to be comfortable and confident in your body, something many women don’t experience post-birth. However, you need to make sure that the time is right to have one of these procedures done. You will want to make sure that you are in good physical and mental health and have enough support around you to help you during recovery time since you will be on bedrest for up to six weeks following the operation.
3. Health is Important
As mentioned above, your physical health is important. Since you will be having several surgeries during one operation, it’s imperative that your body is in good health. It’s recommended that patients are within 5 to 10 pounds of their preferred weight before having the surgery done.
4. Expectations
Imagination tends to run wild and expectations can be high in terms of your post-surgery appearance. In order to avoid unnecessary disappointment when it comes to the results of the mommy makeover, make sure you consult with a reputable plastic surgeon and discuss what your body will look like post-operation. They will be able to use 3D imaging to show you what your body will look like after surgery.
5. Consider all of the Procedures
Make sure you realize how many procedures are conducted during a mommy makeover and discuss these procedures with your plastic surgeon. If you do not feel comfortable having multiple surgeries in one sitting, you can discuss splitting the surgeries into multiple visits. Tell your plastic surgeon which areas are more of a concern for you so that those areas can be the main focus.
6. The Recovery
The road to recovery can be a stressful one. You will be limited on your activities and there will be many restrictions including not lifting things that are greater than 10 pounds. This can affect you mentally and may bring on bouts of depression, but these feelings will pass. However, since recovery can take so long, it’s recommended that you take a few weeks off from work and any daily responsibilities so you can make sure that your body is healing properly.
7. Your Family
While this procedure is to help you feel comfortable with your body again, it’s important to make sure that your family is ready for you to have such a procedure done. You will need to make preparations for your family, especially since you won’t be able to lift or carry your children for six weeks. You’ll also be restricted when it comes to bending, jumping, and other movements. Talk to your youngsters and make sure they know that mommy will need to take it easy when she returns home from the hospital.
Final Thoughts
Women who go through pregnancy and the whole birthing process are often left feeling insecure and uncomfortable in their own skin due to the various imperfections left behind from pregnancy. These imperfections can include loose skin around the abdomen, sagging breasts, and problems with the vagina and can affect not only a woman’s physical health but her mental health as well. That’s why mommy makeovers are so important and are rising in demand. Women want to reclaim their bodies and feel just as confident as they did pre-pregnancy. However, there are a lot of factors to consider before getting any procedure done, especially one that consists of multiple surgeries in one sitting.
A good support system is the most important factor to consider. Those who have a mommy makeover done will need all the support they can get as they will be limited on activity for up to six weeks and will basically be on bedrest. This can cause depression and frustration during recovery time, but it’s important to take it easy while the body heals because doing too much can cause internal bleeding which will result in another hospital visit.
Aside from support, it’s a good idea to ensure that the body can physically handle the operations and that the mind is mentally prepared for what’s to come. Physical and mental health are important and need to be at their best before having this sort of operation.
Lastly, make sure that the timing is right for you and your family. Choose a time to get the surgery when things are slow and quiet and that you have family or friends around you to help you with daily activities. Your mental health will thank you.