: Before & After Photos

Pregnancy, weight gain, and breastfeeding can all have a negative impact on a woman’s self-image. With today’s advanced surgical techniques, however, we’re able to help sculpt and restore a woman’s shape to her ideal pre-pregnancy figure. A mommy makeover is a specialized approach to body contouring tailored to meet a new mothers’ specific goals.

During your initial consultation, we’ll discuss all of your mommy makeover options in depth. Afterward, we’ll create a customized treatment and talk about how you can prepare for your upcoming procedure. With careful planning before your mommy makeover, the recovery process is typically straightforward and easy.

What Recovery Can You Expect from Your Individual Procedures?

While every mommy makeover procedure is unique, traditionally we’ll address some of the common concerns women face after childbearing. Most mommy makeovers include some type of breast enhancement as well as an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and potentially some liposuction. Vaginal rejuvenation can also be enlisted if needed.

Breast Rejuvenation

Breast rejuvenation after pregnancy can be either a lift to correct sagging or reposition the nipple, an augmentation with implants, or even a breast reduction. I commonly perform all three procedures and often pair a lift with an augmentation to contour a woman’s desired shape. The downtime for breast enhancement can be 1-2 weeks with limited activities for 6-weeks or more.

Liposuction

Liposuction can be used throughout the body to sculpt a slimmer physique. I work closely with each woman individually to help reach her aesthetic goals whether that means reducing pockets of fat on the arms, flanks, hips, thighs, or buttocks. Ultrasound-assisted liposuction can have as little as several days downtime with full recovery in about 6-weeks.

Abdominoplasty

A tummy tuck is the most commonly requested procedure in a mommy makeover. Some women may only need a ‘mini’ tuck to get the results they want. Women who get a full abdominoplasty typically need 7-10 days before returning to normal activities. More strenuous activities should be postponed for 6-weeks as you start to feel more comfortable doing so.

Why Combine Procedures?

In most cases, I’m able to safely stage all of your procedures into a single surgery. Many women are happy to undergo a full mommy makeover with only one recovery period because they’re able to get back to enjoying motherhood more quickly. There is no added downtime with mommy makeover procedures. You can expect your recovery to be similar to that of your most invasive procedure which is typically an abdominoplasty.

At the time of your initial consultation, I’ll evaluate your concerns and speak with you about your ultimate goals. We’ll discuss what each procedure can do and what you can realistically expect from each. Chances are if you’re otherwise healthy and have the right mindset, we can schedule all of your procedures into one session. Together, we’ll get you on your way to being a happy, healthy, fit mother.

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Fat grafting uses your own fat – taken by a low volume liposuction method that protects the fat. It is commonly harvested from your tummy area, love handle area, or inner thigh area. The fat is washed, concentrated, and then transferred into very small syringes for injection. The harvesting system is a closed system, meaning that the fat is never exposed to the open air to prevent contamination and infection. The fat is gently handled because it is living tissue, and must be treated carefully to maximize the amount of fat that is incorporated into the recipient site (usually your face, lips, and hands) as living tissue.

What is the difference between fat grafting and fillers?

Fillers are gradually absorbed by your body, then disappear. The firmer, thicker hyaluronics last 12-24 months. The thinnest hyaluronics last 2-3 months. Tissues that move a lot like lips tend to absorb the fillers quickly – stable non-moving areas, like the cheek bones, tend to preserve the hyaluronics for the longest time. Hyaluronics can be melted away over 24-48 hours with a dissolving injection (although the thickest hyaluronics may require multiple dissolving injections) so any “mistakes” (like too much, or a small bump) can be corrected quickly. To maintain a correction with fillers, repeated injections are necessary once the filler begins to dissolve. It is often possible to feel and sometimes see hyaluronics that are placed close to the skin surface.

Fat grafts are living cells and must incorporate into the new location where they are injected by establishing a blood supply from the new area. If the cells don’t establish a blood supply, they will be absorbed by the body and disappear. Those cells that do establish a blood supply are permanent, and won’t disappear with time – they are permanent. How much of your fat injection survives depends on many factors and the range is typically between 30% and 70%, but it can be as low as zero and as high as close to 100%. Fortunately, the survival of the fat tends to be symmetric – if 70% survives in one cheek, the likelihood is that about 70% will survive in the other cheek. It’s not easy to correct overcorrection (too much fat). Under correction is fixed by additional fat grafts. Because of swelling from the procedure, it takes about three months to know how much of the fat has survived, and from that point on, the correction is very stable. Large weight gains or losses (15 or more pounds) can visibly increase or decrease the size of the grafted fat cells. Fat cells that incorporate generally cannot be felt or seen unless a small collection or bump of fat is very close to the surface in eyelids or lips, and these can be corrected.

As a general rule, fillers are best when small amounts are used. If you have fine lines, or flatness in the cheekbone area, fillers are best. If you need larger volumes, such as hollow cheeks, or deep nasolabial folds, fat is best. In certain areas like the lower eyelid hollow, the end result is comparable with fillers and fat. Patients often use both methods, fat and fillers, to obtain the best results with the shortest downtime.

So – in the best practices, the doctor will offer both fillers and fat and will spend time with you to determine which is best in your specific situation.

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As a board-certified surgeon and body contouring specialist, I see many men and women who are unhappy with the physical appearances of their waistline. Excess fat and skin can lead to feelings of inadequacy, especially for those who are otherwise healthy, fit adults. Many patients turn to surgical procedures to address concerns that diet and exercise won’t fix alone.

Before jumping into surgery, it’s a good idea to learn a bit more about what procedures may or may not be right for you. While a consultation with an experienced surgeon is the best way to determine what’s right for you, there are some quick clues that may have you leaning towards one procedure over the other. Let’s take a look.

Ultrasounds-Assisted Liposuction

Liposuction is a procedure that’s been around for years. Since its early conception, there have been a vast amount of improvements to the procedure making it a less-invasive alternative that’s easy to fit into the busiest of lifestyles. Although there is some downtime, recovery is typically shorter and easier than tummy tuck procedures.

The goal of ultrasound-assisted liposuction is significant fat removal. The procedure entails a small incision allowing thin cannula tubes to deliver ultrasound wavelengths to liquify isolated pockets of fat. Patients can see better, faster, and longer-lasting results with ultrasound-assisted lipo.

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

What liposuction can’t do is remove excess skin. A tummy tuck may be beneficial for patients who are bothered by sagging skin that protrudes or hangs. During the procedure, I’ll meticulously work to thin unwanted fat pads, remove excess skin, and tighten underlying muscles for long-term results.

Although tummy tuck surgery requires a somewhat larger scar, the results can be phenomenal for the right patient. I see many patients that are able to sculpt their ideal figure and regain a sense of self-confidence with the abdominoplasty procedures.

Combination Procedures

Not surprisingly, liposuction and abdominoplasty procedures are highly complementary. Often times, patients will opt for both surgeries to significantly reduce fat while also achieving a tighter-looking abdominal region. At the time of your in-person consultation, I’ll help determine whether you can best benefit from liposuction, a tummy tuck, or both. We’ll get you on your way to looking and feeling your best self with as little downtime as possible.

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