According to the March of Dimes, the average woman should gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy. While gaining this weight is not an issue for most women; losing it after the pregnancy can be much harder. For a lucky few, their bodies spring back into pre-pregnancy form with a good diet and exercise. However, for the majority of women, their bodies are changed forever. Even if they can reach their pre-pregnancy weight, they oftentimes find the weight has disappeared from their breasts or buttocks rather than their stomach or waist. Also, there can be mounds of excess skin left behind after weight loss, fat deposits that have formed in the thighs and over-stretched abdominal muscles that cannot be touched by crunches. Usually when the abdominal muscles are elongated during pregnancy the intestines and other internal organs push forward, causing a pouch or bulge to develop in the lower stomach area. Once this has occurred, the only thing that can bring these muscles back together again is surgery. After the abs are stitched back together, they push the internal organs back into their proper locations and the stomach flattens. Surgery is also the only way for sagging breasts to regain their youthful fullness and ‘perkiness’.  As a result, many women who want to regain their pre-pregnancy form are turning more and more to plastic surgeons for what is commonly known as the Mommy Makeover.

The Mommy Makeover is made up of three different surgeries: a breast augmentation with or without a lift, a tummy tuck and liposuction. It aims to restore or improve the woman’s pre-pregnancy form. There are a few requirements, though:

• You have to decide that you do not want to have any more children after the surgery because a future pregnancy can re-separate the abdominal muscles.
• You must wait AT LEAST 4 to 6 months after the birth of your last child to have your mommy makeover. This gives you time to bond with your baby because after the surgery you will not be able to pick up your child for at least 4 to 6 weeks to prevent straining your stitches.
• You must be finished breastfeeding because during this time the ducts in the breasts are enlarged and their blood vessel activity is increased, heightening your risk of infection during breast surgery.

If you are interested in learning more about this procedure, schedule a consultation with an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Rajagopal in San Francisco. Deciding to have cosmetic surgery is an important, personal decision, so take your time to get all of the facts.