They call it the miracle of birth for a reason: It’s truly magical. However, pregnancy can put your body through the ringer. Skin around your abdomen will stretch and after giving birth, it doesn’t necessarily retract to its original form. It’s also common for breasts to enlarge during pregnancy, and depending on genetics, your breasts may remain large, or even become smaller than they originally were, especially after nursing. In any case, you want to have your body look the way it did before giving birth, and that’s where the mommy makeover comes in. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Adil Ladak performs mommy makeover procedures at his Edmonton practice, Alberta Plastic Surgery, and can restore your body back to its youthful appearance.
The mommy makeover is not your one-hour makeover you see on television! The term “mommy makeover” doesn’t equate to a specific procedure, but is used in context for women who have given birth and want to fix any changes their bodies went through during pregnancy. The mommy makeover usually consists of one or a combination of the following procedures (but can include others):
- Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
- Breast augmentation mammoplasty (Breast implant)
- Breast lift (mastopexy)
- Liposuction
Which procedure to choose?
The first step in the mommy makeover is consulting with Dr. Ladak to find out which procedures are best suited to you and will achieve your desired results. Every woman is different and the effects that pregnancy have on your body will differ from patient to patient. If you find that after having a child, even with diet and exercising, you have loose, sagging skin on your stomach, then the tummy tuck might be the procedure for you. Nursing has been known to change both the size and shape of your breasts, in which case the combination of a breast lift and implant is the best option. It’s in your consultation with Dr. Ladak, where together you explore the best course of action to achieve the best results.
When’s the best time to get the mommy makeover?
You don’t go from giving birth one week to having the mommy makeover the next. Once again, during consultations with Dr. Ladak, he will advise you when it’s best to have any plastic surgery after giving birth. You have to take into consideration several of the following questions:
- Are you going to have another child in the near future?
- Are you close to your target weight?
- Do you live a healthy lifestyle? (Nutrition and exercise)
- Do you have a support system in place for post-surgery?
Dr. Ladak wants you to take a close look at the last factor mentioned above, especially if you are the active caregiver for your child, meaning you’re at home on a daily basis with your child. If you need to run around taking care of kids or have to be mobile around the house, you will need family and/or friends to help you during the recovery period. Post-procedure requires plentiful rest, changing of dressings and limited mobility. Dr. Ladak can’t emphasize enough on having a great support system in place after any mommy makeover or cosmetic surgery procedure.
If you’re interested in finding out more about what Dr. Adil Ladak’s plastic and cosmetic surgery practice in Edmonton, Alberta, call today to schedule a consultation.