Correcting the "Mommy" Body

Serving Chattanooga, Tennessee

he birth of a child is the single most miraculous event one can experience.  Speaking as a father, I think it is safe to say that no facet of our lives is the same after the entrance of children. This is even truer for mothers whose bodies undergo significant changes to make this miracle happen.

During pregnancy, the uterus rises out of the pelvis to make room for the developing baby.  The muscles of the abdomen slowly stretch and reposition themselves.  The breasts dramatically increase in size as the birth of the baby approaches.  After delivery, some of these processes begin to reverse; but, for most women, the changes caused by pregnancy never correct completely.

The abdominal muscles may remain soft with loss of a natural waist line.  Added to this, the stretched part of the abdomen below the navel can remain as an unwanted roll.  After breast feeding is finished, the breasts make shrink back just as dramatically as they increased in size causing significant sag and volume loss.  This dynamic cosmetic duo can be referred to as the “Mommy” body.

Correction of the effects of childbirth is one of the most popular cosmetic body contouring procedures performed by plastic surgeons. As is the case with all cosmetic surgery, patient selection and timing are the keys to success.  About a year should expire after delivery before the abdomen is approached.  This allows the body’s natural recovery process to mature before a surgery is contemplated.  Breast feeding should have ended six to nine months before breast surgery is performed.  This waiting period pays off with safer, superior aesthetic results.

For most women, the breasts and abdomen are approached at the same time.  A breast lift is routine.  Depending on the patient’s breast volume and the degree of sag, an implant augmentation may also be recommended.  I am very careful about the use of breast implants in patients with considerable sag.  I believe that, if implants are used in very saggy breasts that already have ample volume, then the results will not stand the test of time.  That means that the sag will recur early over the breast implants.  Rather, a restructuring-type breast lift is performed, initially.  If additional volume is requested, this can be accomplished after the breasts are returned to a youthful shape.  I must admit, however, that after the breasts are lifted and the abdomen tightened, few women actually request breast implants to enhance their volume.  Most are pleased to see that their new figure is in excellent proportion.

Abdominoplasty is the key to the correction of mid-section. Through an incision in the very low abdomen, the abdominal muscles are tightened to recreate a youthful waist line.  With this accomplished, the excess lower abdominal roll of skin and fat is cut away. This combined intervention corrects the contour problems caused by pregnancy, permanently.

The combined procedure is safely performed as an outpatient under a sedation anesthesia. Long lasting Novocain is used in a pain pump for about four days after surgery. Return to vigorous activity can be anticipated in just a month.

Plastic surgical correction of the “mommy” body is just one of a host of body contouring surgeries frequently performed at The Plastic Surgery Group. For more information, contact our offices or visit our website at REFINEDLOOKS.COM.