Pregnancy and childbirth together create some of the biggest changes that women notice in their bodies, both while they’re occurring and as time passes. These shifts in shape, size and figure are leading more women toward consultations with their local plastic surgeon to ask about getting a Mommy Makeover: a combination of procedure that typically includes liposuction, a tummy tuck, and breast augmentation with or without a breast lift, although each Mommy Makeover is customized for patients’ specific needs. How long should you wait after your pregnancy before you consider rejuvenating your look?
Problems with Perception
The modern woman has taken on a lot of pressure when it comes to appearances, and post-pregnancy body expectations are no exception. Most women share the incorrect perception that the body will look totally normal again within a month or two after pregnancy. This is fueled, at least in part, by our societal focus on celebrities.
The lives of celebrities are discussed in great detail online, in print and on TV. When women who are in the public spotlight have babies, it often seems like their bodies are slim and toned again almost immediately. This gives the rest of the world a very false impression about the true impact of the lasting physical changes that occur during pregnancy, which in turn sets unrealistic expectations for how soon you should regain your own figure.
It’s important to keep in mind that celebrities and other figures in the public eye simply don’t live an average life. They have personal trainers and dieticians, and more than likely have full-time help with their childcare as well. Although it’s not impossible to have these resources at your own disposal for a more accelerated approach toward recovering your figure, it’s definitely not realistic for the majority of the population.
Your Timeline
During your childbearing years, your body adapts in a number of ways to support your baby, both before birth and after. The breasts grow larger during pregnancy and then again if breastfeeding, while weight is gained to store the extra energy your body needs and the abdominal muscles stretch to accommodate your growing baby. While these should be temporary physical changes that go away on their own after the baby is born, that’s not always the case. Or, while your body does regain its figure for the most part, you may notice it doesn’t quite go back to the way you looked before. For example, although breasts retain the same volume, their shape and profile isn’t where you’d like them to be, or weight is lost from the wrong places, leaving you feeling disproportionate.
While cosmetic procedures offer a great solution for helping you feel like yourself again, It’s important to give the body enough time to recover on its own before recruiting the help of a cosmetic surgeon. For example, getting breast augmentation before breasts have settled on their post-pregnancy size and shape makes it difficult to accurately predict the long-term results of surgery because the body is still changing.
Getting Great Results
Most surgeons recommend waiting at least six months after weaning before pursuing a Mommy Makeover. If you have a weight loss goal, it’s also a good idea to have maintained your target weight for at least six months before your appointment. While every woman’s body is different, being in good general physical and mental health always sets the stage for a successful surgery. Finally, remember that every woman’s body is different, and the timeline for one new mom might look very different from another.