Many of the women we see for mommy makeover consultations at our Webster and Houston, TX, locations are worried about what their friends and family will say about getting plastic surgery to address the changes to their bodies caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding. Even though there is less of a stigma surrounding cosmetic surgery than 10 to 20 years ago, it still exists to some degree, especially for mommy makeover patients.
People posting on social media may say that women should just accept the changes, which can include excess abdominal skin and saggy or deflated breasts. Sometimes they also claim that the women didn’t work hard enough to lose weight. Anyone who mom-shames the decision to undergo a mommy makeover is sorely misinformed about why women choose the procedure.
Virtually all of the women we talk want to regain confidence in their bodies, so they feel comfortable in bathing suits or when getting undressed in front of their partners. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why plastic surgery is the only option to address pregnancy-related physical changes.
Getting Your Body Back
People who believe mommy makeovers are just a shortcut to avoid working out and dieting are simply misinformed. Exercise and eating a balanced, nutritious diet are important features of leading a healthy lifestyle and losing unwanted, post-pregnancy pounds. But they can’t address changes that affect a woman’s body after having children.
We’ve already mentioned abdominal skin stretched by pregnancy—especially for women who have more than one child—which loses elasticity and hangs over the waist. No matter how many crunches a woman performs every day, they won’t tighten the skin. Also, a post-pregnancy “belly pooch” is often caused by diastasis recti—a common condition that occurs during pregnancy when the abdominal muscles separate to accommodate the growing baby. Enlarged, downturned nipples, incontinence, deflated breasts, and other changes also can’t be reversed without surgery.
A mommy makeover typically combines a tummy tuck and liposuction with cosmetic breast surgery such as a breast lift, either with or without breast implants, to address these issues.
Ignore the ‘Haters’
It’s hardly news that social media can be a negative space. And if you have acquaintances who haven’t had children of their own, or friends who do have children but stigmatize plastic surgery, you’ll probably hear about it through social media connections. Instead of engaging, it’s best in most cases to ignore these comments. Feeling good about yourself and your body can give you a positive outlook and demeanor, which, after all, is important for your children and spouse or partner. You don’t need to make excuses for feeling excited about choosing to get a mommy makeover.
Support Is Important
Ignoring negative comments can be easier said than done, of course, so it’s essential to surround yourself with positive voices. Listen to the non-judgmental people who have your best interests in mind and want you to be healthy and happy living in your skin. There’s nothing wrong with having some friends lead the cheers for your decision and who understand the motives for wanting to look great in a bathing suit.
A mommy makeover can be a transformative procedure when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, as you can see in our gallery of before-and-after photos. If you want to regain your pre-baby body—and your confidence—contact our plastic surgery practice in Webster, TX, using the online form or give us a call at (281) 282-9555 (Webster) or (713) 521-4777 (Houston) to schedule an appointment.
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