Summer is a time for babies. Many news outlets and internet commenters have pointed to data one researcher compiled from CDC reports indicating that more children are born in the United States in July, August, and September than in any other season. That means women across the 50 states will be celebrating the arrival of a new member of the family as the weather heats up — and many will also be starting to consider a return to their pre-pregnancy body with a Mommy Makeover. St. Louis-area women longing to erase the effects of nine long months should know that there are several factors to consider before getting a Mommy Makeover, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to begin researching the procedure now.
First, remember that the baby and a new mom’s health are the first priority. Looking as good as you feel after a Mommy Makeover works best if you actually feel good: physically and mentally. Take all the time you need to bond with your baby, recuperate, rest, recharge, and get that new life off to an amazing start.
You should also know that a Mommy Makeover is a package deal that can include a variety of components, including work done on breasts. If you are nursing your child, it is important to wait until several months after finishing breastfeeding before receiving an augmentation or lift — but don’t rush anything. You’ve got time.
In fact, waiting is a key first step of the Mommy Makeover process. A woman’s body obviously changes during pregnancy, and it continues to change after. Delaying a Mommy Makeover until things have settled is not only a good idea for preserving health and wellness, it also helps to ensure that any work done during the procedure won’t be erased by ongoing anatomical shifts. A breast lift, for instance, will raise sagging breasts higher on the chest to make them more perky and give them more projection, but ongoing fluctuations in size and shape due to milk production starting or stopping can alter the ultimate results.
Once ready for a Mommy Makeover, St. Louis-area women can talk to Dr. Terry Myckatyn and his staff about what the procedure could entail for their specific situations. In general, a Mommy Makeover could include a breast augmentation, a breast lift, or even a breast reduction; liposuction; a tummy tuck; and labia reduction. Some of this is cosmetic, but much of it can also help to relieve discomfort or pain due to physical changes in sensitive areas of the body.
A breast lift, for instance, can stop drooping breasts from dangling against the skin over your ribs, which can cause rubbing and chafing. A labia reduction can reduce tissue that might extend past certain underwear or swimsuits and make sexual activity or even sitting uncomfortable.
On the cosmetic side, an augmentation can add volume to breasts that are small and restore symmetry to breasts that are now different shapes or sizes. A tummy tuck eliminates loose skin that has stretched out but will not return to its pre-stretched state, as well as tightens abdominal muscles that have gone lax.
Note that any liposuction, whether performed alone in a Mommy Makeover or as part of a tummy tuck, is not intended to be a weight-loss surgery. Fat removal should be an aesthetic choice, as it’s designed to help create slimmer contours, not be a move toward the sort of improved health that comes with proper diet and exercise.
As you can see, there is a lot to consider in relation to a Mommy Makeover. Fortunately, there are also many resources for women looking to make the right choice for their body — and their family.
Learn more about Mommy Makeovers in St. Louis by contacting Dr. Terry Myckatyn and the team at West County Plastic Surgeons of Washington University. To speak to someone or set up a consultation for a Mommy Makeover or any available plastic surgery procedure, call (314) 996-8800.