The Patient’s Ultimate Guide to Mommy Makeover

Mommy makeover, as the name suggests, derives itself from the patient upon whom the procedure is performed – the mommy. Since its inception, it has become one of the most sought after and commonly performed surgeries simply due to its immense scope. The idea behind the surgery is returning the mother’s body to the way it looked pre-pregnancy.

Why is mommy makeover so popular?

To understand the popularity and desire for mommy makeovers, we first need to understand pregnancy and the impact it has on the body. 

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that pregnancy is completely worth it. The joy of having a child is unparalleled, which is precisely why phenomena like post-partum depression exist. The closeness between a mother and child during and after pregnancy is enviable and, therefore, desirable.

However, a lot of times, all people focus on is this aspect. And while focusing on the positives is necessary, this negates the negatives completely. By placing so much importance on the fact that the woman is going through pregnancy, there is no space created for women who do not enjoy pregnancy and what it does to their bodies. 

Of course, the end result of pregnancy is always worth it – which is also why women choose to undergo pregnancy several times – but that disregards the toll it takes on the woman’s body and, specifically, her figure.

And these changes are the reason the mommy makeover is so popular.

Why is mommy makeover so popular?

To understand the popularity and desire for mommy makeovers, we first need to understand pregnancy and the impact it has on the body. 

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that pregnancy is completely worth it. The joy of having a child is unparalleled, which is precisely why phenomena like post-partum depression exist. The closeness between a mother and child during and after pregnancy is enviable and, therefore, desirable.

However, a lot of times, all people focus on is this aspect. And while focusing on the positives is necessary, this negates the negatives completely. By placing so much importance on the fact that the woman is going through pregnancy, there is no space created for women who do not enjoy pregnancy and what it does to their bodies. 

Of course, the end result of pregnancy is always worth it – which is also why women choose to undergo pregnancy several times – but that disregards the toll it takes on the woman’s body and, specifically, her figure.

And these changes are the reason the mommy makeover is so popular.

Is pregnancy the only way these body changes happen?

No. Pregnancy is just the most common way since more women reach this body image through multiple pregnancies. 

However, rapid and massive weight loss of 30kg or more has a similar effect on the body. The skin’s elasticity is lost, and a lot of excess skin is left behind even if the fat is gone. 

This is similar to the way women post-pregnancy lose the extra pregnancy weight. The sudden contracting creates loose skin. A lot of the times, whether in cases of massive weight loss or post-pregnancy, there is also a lot of subcutaneous fat left behind – fat that lies between the skin and muscle layer which diet and exercise do not adequately burn.

The Mommy Makeover

There are evidently three main aspects that the mommy makeover tackles:

• Excess fat
• Excess skin
• Sagging breasts

Which means the procedure countering this also requires three parts. One corresponding to each aesthetic concern the new mother’s body faces:

1. Liposuction for excess fat
2. Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck for excess skin
3. Breast lift with or without implants for sagging breasts

This gives the patient a whole new look and ensures that they have the best possible results. It brings them back as close as possible to their original pre-pregnancy body. Although the exact body cannot be replicated, the closeness to the original depends on the surgeon’s capability and the centre’s infrastructure.

The Higher Your Standards, the Better Your Results

As we mentioned before, the surgeon and the centre matter most when it comes to results. A lot of patients choose low-quality procedures as a cost-cutting measure. But the results of these low-quality procedures tend to look very artificial. They may even go wrong, therefore requiring corrective surgery, which can never look as good as the original results.

So, what standards should you set for yourself?

The Surgeon

Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon ensures a much higher quality of results than any general surgeon. Someone who specialises in the art of body contouring is sure to deliver much more natural-looking results and bring you back to your pre-pregnancy body with more ease.

Additionally, a more experienced surgeon will also be able to honestly give you all your options and be completely honest with you about how each procedure works.

The Centre

The centre, whether hospital or clinic, that your surgeon operates out of also matters. You need to ask questions about infrastructure, technology, patient care etc. in this centre. Only then you get a decent idea of whether or not you will get the kind of results you deserve.  

A centre that uses state-of-the-art equipment produces far better results than one that uses traditional methods of liposuction or breast lift. 

The Surgeon’s Technique

And this brings us to the final point – the technique your surgeon uses. Having all the necessary technology for a more sophisticated method of cosmetic surgery does not always guarantee that such an approach will be employed. As a patient, it is your job to ask the right questions. You need to ensure that your surgeon knows precisely how to use all the available infrastructure and equipment for your maximum benefit.

This is also why, having a surgeon and centre which adhere to international standards of care is a good idea. This way, you ensure that your well-being is kept at the centre of the procedure. 

So, now that you know precisely what to look for let’s discuss each procedure.

The Mommy Makeover Part One – Liposuction

Liposuction is used to target the stubborn fat that refuses to burn, aka the subcutaneous fat. Liposuction remains one of the most popular methods of plastic surgery and, with more and more sophisticated liposuction technology entering the medical field; it produces better results now than it ever has.

In the mommy makeover, liposuction is used anywhere where excess fat has collected, but it is particularly used on the abdomen.

The latest liposuction technologies – MicroAire and VASER produce the best results.

MicroAire or Power-Assisted Liposuction

Using rapid back and forth motions, MicroAire breaks up the fat molecules in the subcutaneous fat before using suction to remove them. In a mommy makeover, this is done through an incision of 3-4mm made low on the abdomen. 

This hides resulting scar even if the patient stands completely naked. 

VASER or Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction

VASER is a device with rings around the tip of the cannula that is inserted into the fat. From this tip, ultrasound waves are released, which help emulsify the fat, making removal easier.

These waves also produce heat. Since the fat is removed from underneath the skin layer, the overlying skin contracts due to the heat and tightens over the muscle layer that lies underneath. While this is the method usually used to contract skin, it is not effective in the mommy makeover.

The post-pregnancy body simply has too much excess skin in the abdominal region for the VASER to completely shrink it. This is why, after liposuction, the next step is necessary.

The Mommy Makeover Part Two – Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, is a procedure which includes liposuction but whose primary function is removing the excess skin collected in the abdomen.

Especially after liposuction, the removal of the fat further shows the excess skin because there is nothing for the skin to stretch over. Therefore it folds over itself, looking very unnatural and bad. 

The tummy tuck surgery removes this excess skin, and it is sutured back to give a tightened, firmer appearance around the abdomen. This gives you a much more toned appearance and a better-defined waistline.

Divarication of Recti

One significant problem abdominoplasty solves is the divarication of the recti muscles. What does this mean? 

The recti muscles are the central muscles in the abdomen. They are called the rectus abdominis.

Multiple pregnancies make these muscles move apart, creating a gap. This is known as divarication of recti. This poses both a physical as well as aesthetic concern to the patient. In terms of the physical concerns, divarication of recti increases the chance of getting a central abdominal hernia. 

On an aesthetic level, it prevents the muscles from being toned. However, this is easily corrected through a rectus plication, which is part of the tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. Toning of the abdomen can also be provided through plastic surgery, and it is up to the patient to maintain these toned muscles after the procedure. 

The Mini Tummy Tuck

Sometimes, a complete tummy tuck is not necessary. A much less traumatic procedure – the mini tummy tuck – is also used depending on the needs of the patient.

A mini tummy tuck is usually the right option if the patient maintains a healthy diet and does some exercise during pregnancy. Also, if this is the patient’s first pregnancy – the patient’s skin has not lost too much elasticity as a result. Therefore, there is less excess skin, and this can be easily corrected.

Part of this mini tummy tuck may be using a technology like Radio Frequency enhanced contouring, done to tighten the abdominal skin after the liposuction procedure. This provides an alternative to VASER, which does not have the same kind of power and, therefore, cannot produce the same results.

The Mommy Makeover Part Three – Mastopexy

The third major aspect of the mommy makeover is the breast lift or mastopexy. Now, there is a difference between a breast lift and augmentation. A lot of times, these terms are used interchangeably, but there is a clear difference – breast lift is the reshaping of the breast to make it perkier and more youthful. Therefore, it sags less.

Breast augmentation increases the size of the breast and, although sometimes included as part of a breast lift, is not always included. There is no compulsion for breast augmentation and, as a patient, you may just want a breast lift for a more youthful-looking, more aesthetic body. 

How is the breast lift done?

As we mentioned earlier, the yo-yo effect on the breasts – the expansion and contraction during pregnancy – becomes one of the main reasons for their sagging. Other factors may simply be age or gravity. However, in every case, the women need lifts because their breasts sag and just lose their pre-pregnancy youthful and perky look.

Either way, the breast lift is one of the most popular procedures today for that reason. So, how is it done?

After administering general or local anaesthesia, incisions are made in the areolar region. These could be around the areola and are known as periareolar incisions, or vertically down from the areola to the breast crease known as inframammary incisions.

After the incisions are made, the underlying excess tissue is removed and the rest of the tissue is reshaped. Along with this, the nipple and areola are repositioned to a natural and more youthful height. If necessary, the enlarged areola is also reduced by removing areola skin at the perimeter. 

Excess skin is also removed during the procedure, this way addressing the loss of elasticity. Following this, the remaining skin is tightened as the incisions are closed with the help of sutures or skin adhesives.

How is breast augmentation done?

After the breastfeeding stage is done, a lot of women also find that their breasts shrink, while continuing to sag. In such cases, they often also want breast augmentation or enhancement for a fuller look.

Breast augmentation is typically done in 2 ways – fat grafting and breast implants. 

Fat Grafting

Fat grafting is when fat is removed from one part of the body during liposuction, treated, and inserted back into the part that requires enhancing. We mentioned the MicroAire and VASER tools when talking about liposuction. 

The reason such tools need to be used is that traditional liposuction is very invasive and, therefore, causes a lot of trauma. This means that the fat obtained from traditional liposuction is highly damaged and cannot be reused. MicroAire and VASER allow the fat to be successfully removed and treated for grafting.

Breast Implants

The most common way of breast augmentation is done through silicone implants. These implants are inserted behind the breast tissue and muscles, using the dual plane technique, making the results look better and more natural automatically.

During a mommy makeover, they are an excellent way of giving a more natural curve. Especially since the lift can make them look smaller just by making them perkier. So, if the patient desires a fuller curve that seems very natural, inserting the implants through the dual plane technique is a good way of combining both procedures.

That said, of course, there is no actual need for implants. A breast lift is completely possible without breast augmentation. The results simply look better and more appealing with some augmentation.

Let’s Review

The mommy makeover is a 3-in-1 procedure, exceedingly popular and desirable to women who have either gone through multiple pregnancies or have experienced massive weight loss very quickly. 

Both these reasons mean that the woman has some amount of excess skin and fat that cannot be simply removed with liposuction. Thus, three necessary procedures make mommy makeover worthwhile – liposuction, abdominoplasty or tummy tuck, and mastopexy or breast lift. 

All three procedures target the same problems of the excess subcutaneous fat refusing to burn and excess skin forming rolls with constant contraction and expansions. The skin loses its elasticity and looks old and tired. It is for the same reason that a woman’s breasts begin sagging, and she loses the youthful look she had pre-pregnancy. 

To counter this, women opt for a mommy makeover that returns them to the pre-pregnancy body they desire. There are special compression garments for each procedure that ensure the woman keeps her shape during the recovery.

At RG Aesthetics, our board-certified surgeon, Dr Rajat Gupta, uses the aforementioned sophisticated liposuction technologies and employs highly precise techniques that target and perfectly shape the woman’s body. He understands the need for natural-looking results and therefore, always tries to hide surgical scars while making the thinnest incision necessary. RG Aesthetics is also the first clinic to employ Crisalix 3D technology in our breast lifts and augmentations so that our patients have a complete idea of what to expect from the procedure. This way, they hold us to a standard, and we always strive to exceed their expectations!