During childbirth, most women lose up to 15 pounds. They will continue to lose additional weight during the first couple of weeks after delivery. However, there are still roughly 20 pounds left that seem to stay in the little post-pregnancy “pouch” just above the beltline. Depending on the size and visibility of the pouch, some women may feel unhappy and self-conscious. Others may feel depressed or frustrated when clothes no longer fit, and despite traditional efforts, they can’t seem to shake the loose skin and baby weight. If this sounds familiar, Dr. Sam Jejurikar of the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute can help. This article will break down the top procedures for post-partum pregnancy and what you can do to return to your pre-pregnancy appearance.
What is a Tummy Tuck?
Tummy tuck procedures have been popular for years. Today, they continue to be effective surgical interventions for women who want to avoid sagging, excess skin around their midsection. As a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Sam Jejurikar, indicates tummy tucks have been (and remain) among the top five cosmetic procedures performed in recent years.
A tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure that helps to remove excess, sagging skin, and fat around the abdomen. The procedure can also help to restore separated or weakened abdominal muscles, further enhancing a smoother and firmer stomach appearance.
How a tummy Tuck Can Help Improve Postpartum Appearance
A tummy tuck procedure with Dr. Sam Jejurikar can help solve many abdominal problems, including those that are related to pregnancy and postpartum weight loss. Common examples include:
- Localized fat
- Diastasis Recti
- Excess or sagging skin
A natural part of pregnancy is weight gain and subsequent weight loss. This can lead to excess, sagging skin or the ‘post-pregnancy pouch’. This excess skin can make wearing specific clothing challenging or even uncomfortable.
Another post-pregnancy challenge is localized fat. Again, weight gain during pregnancy is completely normal and necessary for a healthy baby. However, women can quickly feel self-conscious about the fat that remains in their lower abdomen after pregnancy. A tummy tuck can help to tone the lower abdomen, removing the appearance of excess, localized fat.
Tummy Tuck benefits
Tummy tuck procedures also repair and tighten stomach muscles. This can alleviate the symptoms of a common condition called diastasis recti. Diastasis recti occur when the two halves of the abdominal muscles separate. This is often due to pressure on the abdomen from uterine expansion or other forces during pregnancy. These muscles cannot repair on their own, leading to a permanent pouch on the lower abdomen. A tummy tuck repairs these muscles, leading to a flatter, more appealing abdominal appearance.
Postpartum liposuction
Liposuction procedures are minimally invasive procedures that focus on removing unwanted fat from specific body areas, including the:
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Thighs
Many women develop unwanted fat in these areas during pregnancy, and once there, it can be challenging to get rid of it through diet and exercise alone. After multiple pregnancies, it may seem nearly impossible!
What will a Liposuction help with?
Liposuction uses minimally invasive tools to remove fat deposits from the body, often before a tummy tuck procedure. This can help enhance the outcome of the procedure and address the areas of the body a tummy tuck cannot, such as the hips and thighs. Combining liposuction with a tummy tuck from Dr. Sam Jejurikar can help address multiple postpartum problem areas.
Postpartum Breast Procedures
A woman’s breasts experience many changes during and after pregnancy. During pregnancy, they change in size and shape. They expand, often notably and painfully, to allow for milk production. Some women may increase several cup sizes during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, only to shrink back to a pre-pregnancy state (or smaller) once the baby stops breastfeeding or if the baby is bottle-fed. The breast’s skin is flexible and can stretch to accommodate these changes, but the appearance of perky breasts may not return after pregnancy. Most women notice their breasts are flatter, saggier, and often smaller after pregnancy. A breast lift and breast augmentation procedure with Sam Jejurikar and the team at EpiCentre Skin Care and Laser Center in Dallas can help address both of these common postpartum pregnancy concerns.
What will a breast lift/augmentation accomplish?
Breast lifts can help address the “direction” of the breasts while fixing the appearance of droopy and saggy breast tissue. However, a breast lift will not address the fullness or shape of the breast. Breast augmentation can help increase lost volume and bring back (or create) the perky appearance that was there before and during pregnancy.
What is a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover combines the best of the above procedures to address many (if not all) of the postpartum body changes women experience. Typically involving a combination of procedures, a mommy makeover may include breast augmentation, liposuction, and a tummy tuck.
What will a Mommy Makeover accomplish?
Combined, these procedures can reduce the appearance of:
- Unwanted fat
- Sagging skin
- Stretch marks on the abdomen
- Breasts
- Legs
- Buttocks
The goal of a mommy makeover is to help moms get their pre-baby bodies back!
Are These Surgeries Safe?
Much like with any surgery, the surgical procedures involved in a mommy makeover, while considered safe, do have risks involved. Highly skilled surgeons like Sam Jejurikar have been performing tummy tucks, liposuction, and breast augmentation procedures safely for many years, and hundreds of thousands of patients have enjoyed the outcomes of a mommy makeover and respective procedures. That being said, it is essential to talk to your surgeon before scheduling any surgical procedure to understand the risks and benefits.
What to Know Before a Mommy Makeover Procedure
First, it is essential to wait for at least six months after giving birth before undergoing a mommy makeover procedure. Pregnancy and childbirth can be tough on the body, and it is vital to allow your body time to recover and heal before undergoing further trauma in the form of surgery. It is also essential to be in good overall health and at a healthy weight, whether you choose one procedure or a combination of procedures such as a mommy makeover. Also, although not a strict guideline, it would be preferable if you are done having children before scheduling a mommy makeover. This is because pregnancy after a mommy makeover procedure will effectively reverse the outcomes of your surgeries. Although it is possible to have further revision surgeries, it adds expense, increases the risk of scarring and other complications, and increases recovery times.
Dr. Sam Jejurikar and the Dallas Plastic Institute
Dr. Sameer (Sam) Jejurikar is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute member in Dallas, Texas. His practice focuses on cosmetic surgery of the face, eyes, nose, body, and breast. Better known as Dr.J., Dr. Jejurikar has many years of plastic surgery experience and training. He is committed to ensuring each person who seeks his help to achieve their body image goals is cared for as innovatively and compassionately as possible. Dr. Jejurikar practices the full spectrum of plastic surgery, emphasizing cosmetic procedures, including mommy makeovers, tummy tucks, liposuction, facelifts, rhinoplasty, breast lift, and breast augmentation procedures. To learn more about Dr. Jejurikar and his Dallas area practice, get in touch with the office at 214-827-2814. Dr. Jejurikar will be happy to schedule a consultation where you can learn more about tummy tuck procedures.
Not ready to schedule an appointment yet but still want to learn more about how a tummy tuck, liposuction, or breast augmentation with Dr. Jejurikar can help you achieve your postpartum appearance goals? Visit his podcast to learn more about mommy makeovers and how the procedures involved can benefit.