- Introduction
Becoming a mother doesn't
mean you can't look as good or better than before pregnancy. Most women
enjoy
being pregnant and are happy to become mothers. But for some, the
physical changes caused by pregnancy can take away some of the joy. If
you feel this way, you're not alone. Fortunately, you don't simply have
to "learn to love" your post-partum figure as women of earlier
generations were told. Today, there are exciting options in plastic
surgery to help you regain your pre-pregnancy form - or even improve on
it. This area explains not only how your body changes during and after
pregnancy, but ways to counteract these changes that won't interrupt
your busy lifestyle or compromise your privacy. You see, many cosmetic
procedures can be done on an outpatient basis. That means you're back
home with your family the same day. Knowing your options can help give
you peace of mind so you can relax and enjoy your pregnancy or the
newfound pleasures of motherhood without worrying you'll never look as
good as before.
Breast
Enlargement (Augmentation)
One dilemma mothers-to-be face is whether or not to breastfeed. Many
worry that breastfeeding will ruin the shape of their breasts. The
truth is breastfeeding is not the culprit and it offers women and their
babies numerous health benefits. Changes in the breasts actually occur
during pregnancy. As the body prepares to nurture a child, milk
glands in the breasts swell and replace fatty tissue. After childbirth,
these glands shrink. What's left is a skin "envelope" with little to
fill it. This causes the breasts to look less full or sag. Plastic
surgery offers safe, natural-looking implants that return your breasts
to their youthful contour. Your plastic surgeon can perform breast
augmentation on an outpatient basis, with either local or general
anesthetic. The small incisions are virtually undetectable, usually
made under each breast, around the nipples or in the armpits. Implants
may be inserted just under the gland of the breast or beneath the
muscle tissue. Stitches are removed after approximately one week.
- Breast
Lifting (Mastopexy)
Some women experience extensive swelling in their breasts during
pregnancy. In addition
to the postpartum loss of fat tissue, swelling can cause the skin to
stretch and sag. And no amount of exercise will re-tighten this skin.
An outpatient procedure called "mastopexy" can remove excess skin and
reduce sagging. Your plastic surgeon can use local or general
anesthetic to tighten skin on the lower half of the breasts, which
lifts and firms them.
- Stomach
Tightening (Abdominoplasty or Lipectomy)
Nowhere else is pregnancy more evident than a woman's abdomen. It was
the nine-month home to your infant. It's also the place where stretch
marks,
C-section scars and loose skin may linger long after childbirth. These
"badges of motherhood" can frustrate and depress a woman even as she
rejoices at the life her body helped create. Lipectomy is a procedure
that can remove the "pooch" of excess skin that lies below your navel.
It can get rid of stretch marks and turn a very visible vertical
C-section scar into a small bikini line that's easy to conceal. Many
women have this operation done at the same time as a tubal ligation or
a hysterectomy. Your plastic surgeon may admit patients to the hospital
for one or two days. If you have only a small amount of excess skin,
you may be a candidate for a mini-lipectomy (a less extensive procedure
often done under local anesthetic) that still yields an impressive
improvement.
- Stomach
Tightening for Muscle Bulges
For many women, excess skin is not the only abdominal change they
experience after pregnancy. It's not uncommon for the stomach muscles
to separate when holding an expanding uterus. Often those muscles fail
to reconnect after childbirth, even with endless sit-ups. This
condition can only be repaired with surgery and is sometimes covered by
health insurance. Women having difficulty regaining their pre-pregnancy
weight can benefit from the immediate and dramatic improvement a
lipectomy can make on their figures. It frequently provides the
emotional boost they need to commit to a healthy dieting and exercise
regimen.
Spot Fat
Reduction (Liposuction)
Now the most commonly-requested cosmetic surgery procedure, liposuction
can especially benefit women
after pregnancy. A slower metabolism, less time to exercise, whatever
the reason, some new mothers complain they just cannot lose fat in
certain spots like the thighs, buttocks and upper arms. Your plastic
surgeon can re-sculpt the body, removing fat deposits that contribute
to flabby underarms or bulges in the thighs. Liposuction is an
outpatient procedure, and for small areas, can be done under local
anesthetic. It is not appropriate for large fat deposits or for women
who are generally overweight. However, it can be the impetus to
encourage a healthy weight loss. When larger amounts of fat are
involved and in special cases ultrasonic liposuction is needed.
Labioplasty
During a normal vaginal delivery, many women tear or otherwise
damage
the labia (the opening to the vagina). A labioplasty can repair this
damage, helping a woman heal faster from such injuries. Your plastic
surgeon may perform this outpatient procedure under local or general
anesthetic. Recovery takes only a few days.
- Changes
in skin pigmentation
- Changes
in skin pigmentation, called chloasma, are common on the face during
pregnancy. Some studies suggest that up to three in four women may
develop these changes which are characterized by a blotchy brown
increase in pigment. If the pigment is in the epidermis it is often
helped by bleaching agents such as hydroquinone.
Deciding What's Right for
You
Just as having a baby takes careful planning and lots of thought,
having a cosmetic procedure should be carefully considered. Women today
have many options that won't disrupt their busy lifestyles or
compromise their privacy.
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