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Health & Fitness

Could I Use a Mommy Makeover?

By R. Michael Koch, MD, New York Group for Plastic Surgery

Children are one of the greatest pleasures in life, but pregnancy and breast-feeding can take a toll on your body. Diet and exercise will help shed the pregnancy weight gain, but unfortunately stretch marks, C-section scars, excess abdominal skin and core weakness, and sagging/deflated breasts do not respond to these efforts…So what can you do?

The “mommy make over” is a plastic surgery procedure that includes a breast lift (mastopexy) and stomach tightening (abdominoplasty.) A mastopexy removes excess skin and tightens and lifts the breast, and a simultaneous augmentation (implants) can replace lost volume to restore the upper part of the breasts. We use a 3-D imaging system to help you visualize the expected results and assist you in deciding on what size implant best suits your body.

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An abdominoplasty address the three main components of the post pregnancy abdomen. Excess fat around the flank area (“love handles”) is removed with liposuction; abdominal wall looseness and/or separation of the ab muscles is repaired to create the tighter abdomen; and excess skin and fat below the belly button is removed through an incision. The end result is a flat, tight, well-contoured abdomen without excess skin or fat.  Plus, most of the stretch marks that occur with pregnancy are within the lower abdomen and therefore will be removed in the procedure.

Both procedures can be done in-office in a 3-1/2 — 4 hour outpatient surgery. You typically go home in a supportive bra and a compressive lower body garment similar to a SPANX. We encourage you to refrain from any strenuous activity or heavy lifting for 2 full weeks, then you can resume more regular activities and can even begin an exercise routine such as brisk walking, and work up to your normal routine over the course of the first month.  At 4 — 6 weeks after surgery, you can begin abdominal exercises and weightlifting.

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A mommy makeover gives women their pre-pregnancy bodies back. Although surgery is necessary, most patients tolerate it very well and are back to normal activities in 2 — 3 weeks, feeling wonderful about their restored or enhanced figure. 

Dr. R. Michael Koch, a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, is assistant professor of Surgery at New York Medical College and a practicing surgeon with the New York Group for Plastic Surgery. Dr. Koch specializes in microsurgical reconstruction, breast surgery and cosmetic surgery.http://www.nygplasticsurgery.com

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