The changes to the body from pregnancy are not all on the outside. As the baby grows and forces the uterus against the inside muscle wall of the abdomen, those vertical muscles get stretched apart and elongate, which results in a “pouch” on the lower stomach that can’t be fixed with diet and exercise alone. Surgery – tummy tuck – is required to bring those muscles back together.

Hormone fluctuations during pregnancy can cause the size of the breasts to change.  Some women experience extensive swelling, sometimes causing a difference of one to two cup sizes. In addition to the postpartum loss of fat tissue, swelling can cause the skin to stretch and then sag. No amount of exercise can re-tighten that skin.  A breast lift or mastopexy can be performed to remove the excess skin and “lift” the breasts to reduce the sagging. As the body prepares to nurture a child, milk glands in the breasts swell and replace fatty tissue. After childbirth these glands shrink and leave extra skin.  In this case, a breast augmentation can be performed. You can bring your breasts back to their youthful contour with natural looking and safe implants. Another result from breast feeding can be the change in the size and/or shape of the nipples. Some women’s nipples become larger in size, and more protuberant. Surgery can correct this problem.

Women are counteracting the effects of pregnancy on their bodies by choosing a “Mommy Makeover”. This is a combination of procedures meant to address those effects of pregnancy that cannot be reversed through diet and exercise.  A mommy makeover is not just for recent moms, some women wait several years before deciding to treat themselves.  Commonly, a tummy tuck is combined with either a breast augmentation, or in some cases a breast augmentation and a breast lift.  Liposuction is also an option for certain areas.

Post-pregnancy surgery should not be done until you have allowed time for your body to fully recover (3 months after breast feeding is ideal). It is important to diet and exercise to get back to your optimal pre-pregnancy weight.

There are many factors to consider before undergoing surgery, such as your current health, the areas of your body you want to improve. Good candidates: you have successfully lost weight after your pregnancy but cannot get rid of stubborn areas of fat and or sagging skin.