The rapid, dramatic growth of the uterus during pregnancy stretches not only the skin, creating stretch marks, but also stretches the abdominal muscles beneath. In spite of diligent exercise after childbirth, the lax, flabby look of the abdomen can oftentimes remain. Even weight loss does not necessarily improve abdominal tone, because the laxness is not caused by fat or lack of muscle tone. Instead, this laxity occurs because the connective tissue that surround the abdominal muscles have also been stretched.

In addition, the breasts grow rapidly and dramatically during pregnancy, with similar cosmetic consequences. Even after you have given birth and are finished nursing your child, the breasts might remain loose and saggy, though they have returned to their original size.

A Mommy Makeover combines cosmetic surgery procedures to restore firmness to both the breasts and abdomen. A breast lift, possibly combined with a breast augmentation, lifts the breasts and restores their original shape, size and tone. A tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck removes excess skin, repairs stretched or torn muscles and connective tissue, and removes lingering fat from the abdominal area. Some women also choose to have thigh lifts or buttock lifts as part of a Mommy Makeover. Discussing your goals with our doctors will help you determine what combination of procedures will be best for you.

Any woman in good health who is unhappy with the way her body looks is a candidate for a Mommy Makeover. It is highly recommended that you wait until you no longer desire to become pregnant again before having a Mommy Makeover. If you plan having more children, a Mommy Makeover might not be the best choice at this time. If you become pregnant after a Mommy Makeover, many of the results of the surgery can be undone.

Recovery time after a Mommy Makeover depends upon the type and number of procedures you have chosen, as well as your own overall physical health. If you only have one or two procedures, such as a breast lift and a mini tummy tuck, your recovery time is likely to be several weeks. If, however, you have a full tummy tuck, breast lift and augmentation, and a thigh lift, your complete recovery might take a few months. Recovery time is also shorter if you are in overall good health and if you do not smoke.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Spikes today to evaluate if a Mommy Makeover is right for you.

Abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a surgical procedure that can be used to trim away loose skin, remove excess fat and repair muscles in the abdominal region. If you have excess skin or stubborn pockets of fat in your abdomen, then a tummy tuck can be used to sculpt a flatter, tighter stomach.

A tummy tuck procedure can target a number of commonly cited aesthetic concerns, including:

• Stubborn pockets of belly fat

• Stretch marks around the midsection

• Loose skin from weight loss or pregnancy

• Unfavorable C-section scars

• Abdominal wall separation from pregnancy

Abdominoplasty is completed under general anesthesia. If the patient is undergoing a lipoabdominoplasty procedure, then liposuction will be used to remove the desired amount of fat before moving on to the tummy tuck.

Two incisions are made during abdominoplasty: one placed around the navel to separate the belly button from the skin and a second placed above the pubic region that curves horizontally from hip to hip. The second incision will be made in a location that allows any scarring to be covered by most types of clothing, including bikini bottoms. The exact length of the incision will vary from patient to patient, depending on how much loose skin needs to be removed.

After the two incisions have been made, the abdominal skin is lifted off of the muscle. If necessary, the abdominal muscles are then repaired by tightly suturing the two sides closer together. Diastasis recti, a condition where the abdominal muscles separate, is typically caused by pregnancy and may not be a concern for every abdominoplasty patient.

Once the abdominal muscle has been repaired, the excess skin is then stretched downwards. Any loose skin that overlaps the bottom incision line is cut away. Any stretch marks, liposuction incisions or C-section scars will also be removed if they are located within the excess skin. The previous hole of the navel is typically removed, so a new hole is cut in the tightened skin and then sutured to the belly button itself. The bottom incision line is then stitched together with the taut skin to complete the procedure.

Following abdominoplasty, most patients return home the same day. Common side effects include swelling, bruising, soreness and numbness in the targeted area. Changes in sensation are common in the lower abdomen following a tummy tuck and may last days to months. Bruising, soreness and swelling will improve greatly over the first couple weeks of recovery, although swelling can take several months to subside fully.

Any non-dissolvable sutures and surgical drains will be removed five to 10 days after the surgery. A compression garment will need to be worn around the midsection for several weeks to promote a quicker and healthier recovery. Compression helps to control and reduce swelling, while also providing support to the abdominal tissues as they settle into place following surgery.

The length of recovery will vary, but patients should plan on taking one week off from work. Strenuous activities and exercise will need to be avoided during the first few weeks of recovery, although patients will be encouraged to walk and move around regularly to promote healthy blood flow while the body heals. Bending over and placing pressure on the incision or affected areas can impede or interrupt recovery, however. Most patients can resume exercising in four to six weeks, although extra care and time will be needed if the abdominal wall was repaired during the procedure.

Results will be visible immediately, although final results will take some time to develop. Final results will take up to six months to come in as swelling continues to diminish. The incision scars will appear red and puffy at first but will gradually fade into thin white lines over the course of one year. Scars can take up to two to three years to reach full maturation.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that directly removes stubborn pockets of fat resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction can also be used to selectively remove fat in the pectoral and abdominal regions to mimic the appearance of a well-defined masculine chest or set of abs.

Through liposuction, patients can enjoy many benefits, including:

• Reduce love handles at the sides of the midsection

• Tighten the stomach after pregnancy or weight gain

• Sculpt the arms and thighs for a slimmer profile

• Shape the abdomen to resemble sculpted abs.

• Contour the chin and jawline

• Sculpt a tighter, more masculine chest

Liposuction is completed under either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. After the patient has been numbed, the surgeon will make several small nicks in various locations in the targeted areas. These nicks are small and allow for the insertion of a cannula, a thin metal tube. The cannula is drawn in a back-and-forth motion below the skin to loosen the fat cells and suction them out of the body.

After the targeted fat has been successfully eliminated, the nicks will be sutured shut. The surgery lasts between one and four hours depending on how many areas are targeted during the procedure and how much fat is removed. 

Recovering from a liposuction procedure takes several weeks. Patients can return to work within one week, although they will need to wait about two or three weeks before returning to normal levels of exercise. Results from any liposuction procedure are immediately visible, although swelling will temporarily distort the new contours.

Common side effects include bruising, swelling, numbness and mild pain in the targeted areas. Most side effects diminish within the first couple of weeks of recovery, although swelling can take up to six months before subsiding fully. Compression garments will be placed over the targeted areas to help reduce swelling and facilitate healing. Regular use of compression over the first several weeks will promote quicker recovery and faster results.

Abdominal and pectoral etching is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. Prior to the procedure, the surgeon will mark out the ideal contours on the patient’s chest or abdomen to use as guidelines during the lipo contouring procedure. A few small nicks are then made in the skin in specific locations to allow for precise removal of the targeted fat.

During chest etching, fat deposits are removed from the lower and outer edges of the pectoral muscle, providing the chest with a more pronounced and masculine shape. During abdominal etching, fat is targeted along the natural lines of the underlying muscles to give them a more well-defined appearance. In both cases, a modest amount of fat is left over the muscles to contrast the areas where the fat deposits have been removed, creating the appearance of raised and developed abs or pectorals. The procedure lasts between one and two hours. 

360-degree liposuction is a more comprehensive procedure that combines liposuction of the entire midsection to achieve an overall curvier, contoured figure from every angle.

While liposuction is usually done on one area at a time, 360-degree liposuction targets multiple regions of the midsection where stubborn fat may be a problem. This can help create a more balanced, proportional appearance.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Spikes today to see if liposuction is right for you.

Major weight loss is a significant accomplishment, whether by dieting alone or after bariatric surgery. Fitting into new, smaller clothing enhances the excitement you feel when you step on a scale. You are healthier, happier, and probably more active. But many of our patients feel uncomfortable with areas of excess skin after weight loss, and seek help at our practice.

Excess skin is unsightly and can seriously hinder your ability to participate in certain physical activities that could further improve your health. Excess loose skin can also make you self-conscious about wearing certain outfits. After all the work you’ve put into losing the weight, shouldn’t you have the freedom to wear what you want and look the way you have always wanted? Plastic surgery can be the final step to complete your transformation.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic surgery after major weight loss requires special care from highly experienced surgeons. Dr. Spikes has the knowledge of the special needs of post weight loss patients.

The main difference between cosmetic surgery after major weight loss and other cosmetic procedures is the need to assess the entire body, not just one targeted area. Excess skin will pucker and fold over many sections of the body from the breasts, back, hips, abdomen, thighs, arms and pubic area. Body contouring of the torso usually requires a different procedure, such as a tummy tuck, than body contouring of the thighs and buttocks or arms and breasts. Your skin’s texture and the amount of tissue laxity will affect incision sites, the amount of skin removal, and the degree to which scars from your plastic surgery will be visible.

To determine which option is best for you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Spikes for a consultation.