| Dr. Christopher Chung 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. Typically, a Mommy Makeover will involve breast enhancement and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), as the breasts and the midsection are the most affected by childbearing. I offer both mini-abdominoplasty and full tummy tucks, along with breast lift, breast reduction, and breast augmentation procedures.
1.1.1 Breast Enhancement Procedures
1.1.2 For women who are unhappy with the sagging, deflated appearance of their breasts after pregnancy, breast lift or mastopexy may be an option. This procedure removes excess skin and elevates the breast to a higher, more youthful position. The result is a lifted breast that is tighter and firmer, like the breasts of your youth.
If, in addition to being unhappy with drooping breasts, you are also unhappy with their lack of volume, you may opt for breast augmentation in conjunction with your breast lift. I can replace lost volume - or give you the volume you always wanted - by placing either silicone gel or saline filled breast implants at the time of your breast lift procedure.
Some women find that after pregnancy their breasts are heavy and pendulous, and desire smaller, lighter breasts. In this case, a breast reduction or reduction mammoplasty is in order. This procedure is very similar to a breast lift, except that it involves the removal of more breast tissue and fat. Breast reduction results in relief from the physical and emotional discomforts associated with overly large breasts.
1.1.3 Body Contouring Procedures
Many women are left with stretched, excess skin, lax muscle tone, and deposits of fat in the midsection after childbearing. To restore this area to its pre-pregnancy form, tummy tuck surgery can be performed. In a traditional abdominoplasty, I tighten muscles and remove excess skin from areas both above and beneath the navel. Typically, this procedure is combined with liposuction to remove excess fat and contour the waist.
In some cases, good results can be achieved through a mini tummy tuck procedure. This is a good option for patients whose excess skin and muscle laxity occur mostly below the belly button. The mini abdominoplasty may require a smaller incision to correct these concerns, and is typically performed in conjunction with liposuction for additional contouring.
Q. What are the important facts about the safety and risks of the Mommy Makeover?
A. I think we can expand this question for all elective surgeries. The way I feel about elective surgeries is this: because of the elective nature of the procedure of interest, it is absolutely paramount that the ratio of anticipated benefits to risks be significantly in favor of a positive outcome. The way I explain to my patients - if you had cancer that without an operation would not be survivable, then for most part, irrespective of the risks involved, what choice do you have but to proceed. However, in light of the fact that an elective procedure is being considered, unless the risk is low - it is not worthwhile to proceed, regardless of the expected outcome or desire. I furthermore explain that there is no such thing as a "small" surgery - surgery is surgery - and all surgeries involve inherent risks and potential complications - most minor but some severe. This is the reason why our surgical team spends so much time carefully reviewing the medical history of patients, and at times, request the expertise of our medical colleagues for medical clearance. This is also the reason why all of my procedures are only performed at fully accredited surgical facilities that have demonstrated full compliance with local and regional safety rules and regulations. There simply is no room for compromise when it comes to safety - None what so ever!
Q. What is the recovery time for Mommy Makeover?
A. The recovery time depends on the procedure(s) being done. In general, to the benefit of the patient, the recovery time is not cumulative to the number of procedures being performed. In other words, typical recovery time for a tummy tuck procedure is roughly 10-14 days for most of my patients (recovery being defined as return to work). However, if a tummy tuck and a breast augmentation are performed, the recovery period is essentially similar to the bigger procedure - ie in this case - tummy tuck procedure, as the "smaller" procedure "hides under the radar" of the bigger procedure. And of course, recovery is very subjective and individual, as different people have varying pain thresholds, etc. - not better or worse - but just different.
Q. How much will the Mommy Makeover cost?
A. Cost varies according to the procedure(s) being done. It can range from $5K to $15K depending on what is being done. One word of caution: while Mommy Makeover typically involves multiple procedures - referencing back to safety issue - combining procedures beyond what can be done safely in a reasonable amount of time, regardless of cost savings or desire of the patient is not advisable! Personally, I place a limit of around 6 hours for an outpatient surgery. Six hours typically allows me to perform various combination of procedures, but as different surgeons operate at different speed, be cautious about having multiple procedures lasting over 8 hours in an outpatient setting - BE SAFE! This motto will never fail.
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