I’m not sure how this happened. After 5 years and 400 posts, I have only mentioned Kim Kardashian once. Her often uncomfortable pregnancy has been in the news this year, but the latest rumors have her interviewing Plastic Surgeons for a Mommy Makeover after her son is born.
What is a Mommy Makeover?
The most common Mommy Makeover combination is Breast Augmentation and a Tummy Tuck. Breast Implants are used to restore lost breast volume, while the Tummy Tuck flattens and tightens the abdominal wall.
A Mommy Makeover is a combination of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures that help to restore the breasts and body after pregnancy. A Mommy Makeover frequently consists of Breast Augmentation and a Tummy Tuck, but can include other combos.
Mommy Makeover Breast Procedures
In the above Mommy Makeover, a Tummy Tuck is combined with a Breast Lift. When the size of the breast is satisfactory, and the main problem is sagging, a breast lift can restore the breasts’ shape without making them bigger.
With pregnancy, the breasts enlarge in preparation for breast feeding and shrink when lactation ends. This often leaves the breasts smaller and deflated, so Breast Augmentation and Breast Lifts are very commonly used in Mommy Makeovers. Sometimes, however, the breast enlarge and stay large. In this situation, a Breast Reduction may be a better choice. Click for more about the variety of available Breast Enhancing Procedures.
Mommy Makeover Body Procedures
Mommy Makeovers repair both the breasts and belly. Above, a Tummy Tuck is used to flatten and tighten the post baby belly.
Pregnancy also causes weight gain. Even when a healthy weight is maintained, the belly has to stretch to accommodate the baby’s development. After delivery, the abdominal skin and muscles may not shrink back to their pre-pregnancy weight. This is why the Tummy Tuck is the most common body shaping half of the Mommy Makeover. Mini Tummy Tucks and Liposuction can also be used when the body has partially bounced back. Click for more about the variety of available Body Enhancing Procedures.
What Would Kim Kardashian Do?
According to Life & Style Magazine, Kim K is already planning plastic surgery for her post baby body. Radar Online reports, “She wants to get her boobs done, a tummy tuck and liposuction. She’s not planning on getting the work done the same day she gives birth because her pregnancy has been dicey as it is.”
When Is The Best Time For A Mommy Makeover?
Doing Plastic Surgery the day you deliver is not a great idea. Your body is undergoing massive physiological changes as it transitions from pregnancy to postpartum. Plus, this gives your body zero time to recoil, and your baby zero time to breast feed. Moreover, a lactating breast should not have elective surgery. There is a greater risk of complications including: wound problems, infections and milk leaking through the incision after surgery. So when is the optimal time for a Mommy Makeover?
The most important question to answer is, “Are you done having children?” Mommy Makeovers are a big investment in time, recovery and cost, so it is best to wait until you are not planning more children. A Mommy Makeover will not prevent you from having more children, but it will likely be undone by another nine months of stretching.
If you are not planning more pregnancies, most plastic surgeons recommend waiting at least six months before a Mommy Makeover. This allows the breasts and body to recoil, time for your body to transition from taking care of you baby to taking care of itself and for your nutrition to return to normal. Some Plastic Surgeons recommend waiting a year to be certain you are in optimal health.
What Does Kanye Think?
I have not mentioned Kanye previously in my blog, but his mother was mentioned in one of the early San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog posts. Kanye’s mother, Donda West, an English professor, died at 58-years-old, shortly after an elective cosmetic procedure. In an interview earlier this year, Kanye expressed his grief and guilt over the loss of his mom.
On a positive note, the tragic loss inspired then Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the Donda West Law. The law does not require anything that good doctors don’t already do, and it cannot stop bad doctors from having bad judgment. It does however, codify the need for a proper medical history and physical examination before any surgery is performed.
It remains to be seen how Kanye feels about Kim’s Plastic Surgery Plans, but having good support is important for any elective procedure. It helps to have a team that works well together. Patient, Plastic Surgeon, Family and Friends all have a roll to play, and it’s good to have as many advantages as you can arrange.
Mommy Makeover Consultations
Mommy Makeovers should be performed by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, preferably a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery – a group of Board Certified Plastic Surgeons who have dedicated themselves and their practice to the cosmetic aspects of plastic surgery.
If you are near the San Francisco Bay Area and are considering a Mommy Makeover, or other Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures, give me a call at (925) 943-6353 to arrange a private consultation appointment. The best options will be reviewed and safest and most predictable plan created specifically for your needs.