| Dr. David Shuter is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Mommy Makeover.
Q. What is a Mommy Makeover?
A. A Mommy Makeover is a series of Plastic Surgical options to treat the sequellae and changes to a woman's breasts and body after pregnancy, childbirth, and breast feeding. It deals with issues such as ptosis(droopiness),skin redundancy, asymmetry,loss of fullness and volume,abdominal protuberance and weak abdominal muscles, stretchmarks, fatty bulges, and other problems. Basically, a Mommy Makeover will attempt to restore a Mom to her pre-pregnancy shape as much as possible.
Q. Who is a good candidate for Mommy Makeover?
A. Assuming good health and normal risk factors, almost every Mom can benefit in some way from a Mommy Makeover procedure. However, the very best results are obtained in those women who are closest to their optimal weight and those who exercise appropriately.
Q. What are the important facts about the safety and risks of the Mommy Makeover?
A. All surgeries have risks. In a healthy young patient, the risks of an appropriate Mommy Makeover are very small. These include infection, bleeding, prominent scarring, implant problems(contracture, rupture, etc.) and others. There are also risks of clots and embolism, especially if a tummy tuck is performed. Many precautions are taken by a prudent surgeon to help minimize the risks. In addition, by staging the surgeries, rather than performing a marathon extreme makeover, the risks can be even less.
Q. What happens during the Mommy Makeover surgery?
A. I will evaluate the prospective Mom at least twice preoperatively to discuss priorities and goals, answer all questions, and create an appropriate plan. The surgery is therefore customized to each Mom's specific concerns. Even though I own a freestanding large office building, for safety reasons I prefer to perform the procedures either in the hospital or the hospital's outpatient surgical center.
Q. What are the Options for the Mommy Makeover?
A. There are many options available in Mommy Makeover Surgery but customization is key. In other words, each Mom is treated based on her presentation and goals. For example, if a Mom feels that her breasts are smaller and droopy post pregnancy, an augmentation combined with some type of breast lift (depending on the degree of droopiness) can be performed. On the other hand , if a Mom feels that she is large enough but is still droopy, the lift alone would be utilized, customizing the techniques to the Mom's desires. The same planning philosophy is used on the abdomen, body, and even the face.
Q. What is the recovery time for Mommy Makeover?
A. Recovery time depends on the procedures performed. As the surgeries can be hidden under clothing for the most part, most Moms can get back into the public eye relatively soon, However, it is obviously important to protect the surgical areas. Most Moms are comfortable with about one week off from work although some will take off more time and some less. Once again, the more surgery involved, the more time it will take to heal.
Q. How much will the Mommy Makeover cost?
A. The costs of Mommy Makeover depend on what procedures are performed. These can range from $2,000 to $15,000 or more and would need to include ancillary costs such as anesthesia and facility fees, labs, etc. It is very important to remember that safety is the number one priority and not to compromise on an unsafe, non certified facility or use a non board certified or abnormally inexpensive plastic surgeon. You always get what you pay for and a sad part of my practice is repairing poor cosmetic results by poorly chosen surgeons to save a little money.
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