Ask any woman who has given birth and she will say that having a baby is the biggest and best event of her life, but also one that takes a huge toll on the body. Breastfeeding can turn a full C cup, into an A cup and let’s not talk about what happens to the washboard abdominal section after popping out a couple of kids. For many moms even die hard months in the gym and steady dieting won’t get rid of the sagging stomach. For these women, its a mommy makeover to the rescue. Dr. Camille Cash takes at look at Three Things Women NEED TO KNOW as they consider this cosmetic cleanup.
by Dawn Tongish
and Camille Cash, MD
Mommy Makeover In Demand
Today’s mothers are a new generation. They want to stay youthful-looking and that’s why the mommy makeover is growing in numbers. Simply put. It’s a series of plastic surgeries that restore and repair the damage done by child birth. The postpartum redo has attracted the interest of a lot of moms looking for a way to reshape their bodies, according to Dr. Camille Cash. “Women are concerned about their bodies after having children and nursing. Cash says women have their ‘priority areas’ of the body. “They are concerned most about the breast and the tummy and sometimes the flanks or the thighs.” Cash is a plastic surgeon in Houston, where she says the mommy makeover is a popular trend because women realize they don’t have to “settle” for a mom-shape after having children.
Typically women may have their breasts augmented, so women are getting the volume restored after nursing. She says the tummy tuck is also a popular procedure to shape up the ab area after child birth.
Need to Know: Reasonable Expectations
With any cosmetic procedure, it’s wise to have reasonable expectations about the outcome. Dr. Camille Cash says it’s her first tip and one women NEED TO KNOW before considering a mommy makeover. “Patients need to understand what we can do and what we can’t do.” Cash says that a woman can’t expect to get her “old shape” back. It won’t happen. Think about getting a new shape, that is better, firmer and fitter and looks good in the clothes that you wear. Cash says the procedure will help to restore confidence. She advises women it’s important to remember the surgery has some limitations.
“We can remove skin and lift tissue, but we can’t remove cellulite and stretch marks. We can’t take a magic wand and change you back to how you looked at 18-20 years old. We can enhance how you look in your lifestyle right now and that will be a big, positive change.”
Need To Know: Be At Your Ideal Weight
Before embarking on postpartum plastic surgery it’s important to know the numbers on the scale. Cash says women NEED TO KNOW it’s important to be at your ideal weight before a mommy makeover. “It’s really important to be at your ideal weight for a lot of reasons,” says Cash. If you aren’t happy with your weight Cash recommends pushing off the procedures for a few months until you can drop a few pounds and get back to a prepartum weight. She says the operation will go more smoothly if your weight is lower.
“A lot of patients don’t think about their weight before seeking a consultation for a mommy makeover, but it’s really important. You don’t have to be at high school weight, but just an appropriate weight for your age.”
Need to Know: Recovery Will Take Some Time
You may think there is an “S” beneath that blouse, but be advised even SuperGirl would need some downtime to get back on her feet after a surgery involving multiple areas of the body. Most women underestimate the amount of time it will take to fully recover. Cash says women NEED TO KNOW that recovery will take some time. “It’s really important to understand, that although this is an elective procedure, it’s still surgery and you do have to respect the time it takes to heal.” Be prepared to take time off work or have some extra help at home for a few days after the procedure.
“You will need downtime from being the primary care giver for small children. You must have someone who can take care of the small children and someone who can take care of you as you recover.” This is a procedure that will continue to gain popularity and for good reason. “As women we really give everything literally, our bodies, our time and our energy to our children. This (procedure) is an opportunity for women to reclaim themselves and to get their self confidence back and to like the way they look and feel in their clothing,” says Cash.