Dr. Charlotte Ann Rhee is a Board-Certified Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon in Huntington, NY serving Long Island. A Mommy Makeover is a specialized service that she is proud to offer to both new and experienced moms.
Motherhood can be one of the most rewarding experiences in a woman’s life. Watching your children grow and nurturing them each step of the way is a fascinating journey, but also a tough one.
Being a mom often means completely devoting yourself to your family to ensure their health and happiness at all times. But moms can sometimes devote themselves so entirely that they may lose their own identities and feelings of self-importance.
There’s no denying that motherhood takes its toll on our bodies. From the lingering effects of childbirth to the stress and worry, we put on it each day, a woman’s body changes as she matures into motherhood. But there’s no reason why any woman can’t restore her body. Maybe you don’t want to look just like you did before your first pregnancy. A Mommy Makeover can help you create the look that is ideal for your lifestyle, personality, and long-term goals. If you are interested in getting your pre-baby body back, Charlotte Ann Rhee MD offers free consultations to discuss your goals and to see if you are a good candidate. Call (631) 424-6707 today to reach our Huntington Station office and set up your appointment.
What Is A Mommy Makeover?
Mommy Makeovers are specially designed cosmetic procedures that can help you feel youthful and renewed after maternity, without long and painful recovery times. We know that family comes first, but it’s essential for mommies to feel as good about themselves as they do about their growing families. A Mommy Makeover is a simple step that can help you and your family feel so much more confident about each exciting and challenging day.
Candidacy For Mommy Makeover Surgery
New mothers and women who have raised their family into adulthood are good candidates for Mommy Makeover procedures. A trait that is shared among the most satisfied patients is existing self-confidence. The procedures involved in a Mommy Makeover bring a woman’s outer appearance into alignment with her inner beauty and personality.
Mommy Makeover Before And After
What Procedures Are Included In A Mommy Makeover?
Dr. Rhee’s Mommy Makeover procedures will fit into your schedule and budget, but leave you with a renewed outlook and self-confidence that will reflect in even the smallest of your motherly duties. She personalizes each Mommy Makeover procedure to help her patients achieve the specific results they desire. Mommy makeovers may include procedures for the breast area, such as mastopexy or breast augmentation. There are also procedures for the body, such as liposuction and abdominoplasty.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
The aftermath of pregnancy can leave you with sagging and uneven breasts, lost breast volume, drooping nipples and stretched areolas (the dark skin surrounding the nipple). A breast lift, or mastopexy, is performed to reverse these changes and restore a youthful shape and lift to your breasts.
This is accomplished by trimming excess skin and tightening supporting tissues to achieve an uplifted, youthful contour. After a mastopexy, the breasts are higher on the chest and firmer to the touch. Breast lifts after pregnancy can also reduce areolar size and reposition downward-pointing nipples.
Your post-maternity breast lift will be tailored to you, depending on your individual case and goals. Breast size does not change after a breast lift, nor does the fullness or roundness in the upper part of the breasts. Women who desire larger, smaller or more rounded breasts may want to consider combining a breast lift with a breast augmentation or breast reduction.
Breast Augmentation
After pregnancy and childbirth, many women lose breast volume once they are done breastfeeding and their breasts deflate back to their original state. This often results in smaller, empty looking breasts that can significantly affect a woman’s self-confidence in her motherly duties and daily activities.
The breast augmentation procedure includes placing saline or silicone implants above or below the breast muscle, depending on each patient’s individual physique and personal preferences. This produces fuller, more youthful-looking breasts. The size and type of the implants used depend on the goals of the individual patient and Dr. Rhee’s recommendations.
Breast Reduction
Most women find that their breasts swell to a fuller size and shape while they are pregnant. Afterward, a natural reduction in breast size leaves some women with the empty-looking, drooping breasts discussed above in the breast lift section. For many other women, however, the breasts remain larger than desired after childbirth. Breast reduction surgery may be the solution in these cases.
One reason women may seek breast reduction after giving birth is to restore the breasts to the smaller size they had before becoming pregnant. In addition, breast reduction can relieve the common symptoms of large breasts, such as pain, improper posture, rashes, breathing problems, skeletal deformities, and low self-esteem.
Breast reduction achieves these goals by removing fat and glandular tissue and tightening skin to produce smaller, lighter breasts that are in a healthier proportion to the rest of the body.
Tummy Tuck
Perhaps nowhere else on the body is pregnancy more unforgiving than in the abdomen. By stretching and weakening the skin and muscles of the tummy and waist, pregnancy can leave you with loose skin, stretch marks, and a straighter waistline that no amount of exercise will correct. A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, can help.
Tummy tucks help to flatten and shape the abdomen and waist by removing excess skin and tightening muscles. The result is a firmer tummy and more defined waistline. Dr. Rhee has been performing abdominoplasties with excellent cosmetic results for many years and customizes this procedure to fit each woman’s individual needs.
Results from a tummy tuck procedure will likely diminish if women continue to bear children, so we advise patients who plan to become pregnant to delay abdominoplasty. This will ensure long-lasting results that help women look and feel their best as they raise their children.
Women who also suffer from areas of fat in the abdomen or flanks after pregnancy may benefit from liposuction in addition to or instead of a tummy tuck.
Liposuction
New mothers may find that they have pockets of fat in the lower abdomen that do not respond to diet or exercise. They may also find that they have lost definition in their waistline. Women who had C-sections may also suffer from areas of fat hanging over their surgical scar. Each of these post-maternity body changes can be improved through liposuction.
Liposuction sculpts the body after pregnancy by removing undesirable, resistant fat from the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks and/or thighs. It offers the opportunity to slim and contour areas of the body that did not “spring back” to their pre-baby tone. With liposuction, you can minimize areas of fat caused by pregnancy and enhance the curve of the waistline.
There are several different methods surgeons use when performing liposuction, including ultrasound-assisted lipectomy (UAL) and suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL). In both types, fluid is injected into the area to be treated. Then a tiny incision is made in as inconspicuous a place as possible, and a cannula (small tube) breaks up the fat layer and suctions it out.
Mommy Makeover Before And After
Mommy Makeover Patient Testimonial
Can I Still Have Children After My Mommy Makeover?
If you know that you will become pregnant again in the future, we discourage talk of a Mommy Makeover now. This is not because there are health implications related to pregnancy after cosmetic surgery, but because there could be aesthetic effects. The lifting and tightening that are achieved during cosmetic procedures may be diminished by weight gain, a stretched abdomen, and swollen breasts during pregnancy.
How Long Should I Wait To Have Mommy Makeover Surgery After Having My Last Child?
A Mommy Makeover is an investment in your long-term sense of confidence. Understandably, our objective in performing various procedures is to support this goal. We want the results of a Mommy Makeover to last as long as possible. One way we do this is by scheduling surgery after a woman’s body has returned to a more balanced state after pregnancy and childbirth. Only when weight and hormones have stabilized, and breasts are no longer swollen or engorged with milk can we observe the extent of work that needs to be done to achieve the desired outcome.
It can take several months for weight and hormones to regulate after pregnancy. Breastfeeding tacks on extra time on all fronts. In the end, though, the wait for that Mommy Makeover will be totally worth it.
Recovery From Mommy Makeover Surgery
The fact that a Mommy Makeover involves multiple procedures and at least two areas of the body does not lead to increased downtime. In general, the bulk of recovery occurs within the first two weeks after the series of procedures.
Immediately after surgery, patients are monitored in the recovery area of the surgery center. When the initial effects of anesthesia have sufficiently worn off, patients are released to a reliable caretaker to continue recovery at home. A full outline of post-surgical guidelines is provided, and our staff is available during business hours to answer questions that may arise.
Comfort is the focus of this two-week recovery period. Patients are encouraged to begin taking prescribed medications as directed the day of their surgery. The pain reliever and muscle relaxant medications can minimize the sensation of pressure and tightness in the breasts and abdominal area, easing immediate recovery. In many cases, patients can reduce or stop taking prescription medication within five days of surgery. Don’t rush! We prescribe sufficient medication to see you through your own journey in the most comfortable manner.
Light activity, including work, may be resumed ten days to two weeks after surgery. Vigorous exercise and heavy work, anything that increases the heart rate to 100 or more beats per minute, should be postponed for at least two weeks.
Throughout the first several weeks of Mommy Makeover recovery, compression garments will be worn. These reduce fluid retention and subsequent swelling. Sutures and drains, if used, may be removed 10 to 14 days after treatment.
Several strategies can be implemented to improve the healing process after a Mommy Makeover. Speak with our staff for recovery tips.
Compression Garments During Recovery
During recovery, patients should be wearing compression garments in order to reduce swelling and bleeding. For those that want more than the average surgical bra can look to BodyFly. BodyFly is a line of body shaping activewear for patients that are recovering from breast or body surgical procedures. Dr. Rhee founded this company in 2016 to offer patients wardrobe options that incorporate compression benefits with fashion.
Additionally, BodyFly can benefit patients that have not had surgery or are recovered during their regular workouts. Our technology offers moisture wicking fabric, excellent breathability, enhanced circulation and a reduction in soreness which leads to longer stamina while exercising. Let BodyFly enhance your workout while supporting your body. For more information visit here.
Why Is It Best To Have These Procedures At One Time Instead Of Individually?
In some cases, the various procedures involved in a Mommy Makeover are scheduled separately. However, as often as possible, surgeons will combine surgical techniques. Undergoing breast and body procedures simultaneously means only one visit to the operating room, only one session of general anesthesia, and only one recovery period. At the same time, it means maximum results.
What are the Risks And Complications of a Mommy Makeover?
Surgical procedures carry risks associated with anesthesia and infection. Additionally, risks include:
- Fluid or blood accumulation
- Asymmetry
- Poor wound healing and scarring
- Infection
- Persistent tingling or numbness around incisions
- Tissue discoloration
Why Consider a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is one of the most customizable cosmetic procedures you can have. Each mommy makeover is personalized to suit each patient’s needs and goals. Being able to customize and combine procedures also minimizes downtime while maximizing results. Finally, being able to recapture your pre-baby body can make you feel more like your old self with renewed self-esteem.
Mommy Makeover Before And After
Deciding to have a mommy makeover is a big decision; one that can completely change your post-baby appearance. While a mommy makeover can be customized to help you reach your aesthetic goals, there things you need to consider:
- Ideal Weight for Surgery: In addition to improving your surgical outcome, being at your ideal weight prior to surgery is important. Patients who are within five to 10 pounds of their ideal weight are the best candidates for mommy makeovers. Those who need to lose more than 10 pounds should work with their primary care physician to develop a weight-loss strategy. In general, the lower your BMI, the better. Patients with BMIs over 30 are not ideal candidates for a mommy makeover.
- Increased breast enhancement: After a tummy tuck, which is a common surgery performed as part of a mommy makeover, many patients report that their breasts appear more lifted than before. Because your abdomen is flatter, it can accentuate your breasts, making them look larger and perkier than before surgery.
- Weight Management After Surgery: After your mommy makeover, it is important to maintain a healthy weight to maximize your results. Once cleared, you can resume your regular exercise regimen, combined with following a healthy diet to aid in healing and maintain your ideal weight.
Schedule A Consultation
Contact our Long Island office today for more information about Mommy Makeover Surgery. Call us at (631) 424-6707 to schedule a consultation with Charlotte Ann Rhee, MD. You can also fill out the form in our contact page, and our staff will help you set up your meeting. Our practice serves Huntington, NY and surrounding areas in Long Island