If you follow Instagram and Hollywood celebrities, you may have the impression that women always bounce back to their pre-baby shape after childbirth. The reality couldn’t be more different.
The female body undergoes tremendous changes to accommodate a growing baby and give birth. Belly, breasts, and other areas stretch and expand. Because everyone’s natural skin tone and elasticity are different, the nine months of pressure, hormonal, and tissue changes can mean stretch marks, fat deposits, and skin laxity to contend with.
Diet and exercise alone can’t usually restore every area a woman feels self-conscious about. Thankfully, the body contouring experts at Aesthetx can help. We’ll explain how three of our most popular figure-sculpting procedures help people shed a post-baby body and get back to feeling their best.
What Body Areas Change the Most Throughout Childbirth?
Breasts
One of the most requested areas people ask about is the breasts. During pregnancy, and with weight gain, a woman’s breasts may expand many cup sizes. Likewise, breastfeeding often adds additional temporary volume. All that weight tends to stretch and change breast tissue so that once volume decreases again. The nipples may be located lower on the breast, and they may feel less firm.
Abdomen
A woman’s uterus and abdominal muscles expand dramatically to accommodate the growing baby. In many cases, the rectus muscles separate along the vertical divide and don’t fully come together again. Additionally, the skin may develop stretch marks, which are essentially small skin tears under the epidermis. The result after giving birth or losing weight is that a wrinkled, sagging lower abdomen remains. The belly may protrude due to diastasis recti and lax abdominal walls.
Unwanted Fat
It’s normal for a mother’s body to prepare by holding fat around the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, arms, and especially the back and love handle regions. While it’s possible to burn off much of the “baby weight” in the year following birth, many women are left with stubborn rolls and fat deposits that won’t budge.
Three Body Contouring Techniques That Help Revive the Pre-Baby Body
It can be frustrating to feel healthy and happy with your new bundle of joy, yet embarrassed or uncomfortable with your new shape. However, you don’t need to feel stuck with a mom-bod if your breasts, belly, or body fat have changed. The following are three proven body contouring procedures that can help restore your figure.
- Tummy Tuck: Also known as an abdominoplasty, this abdomen reshaper can be totally customized for your needs.
A thin incision is made across the lower abdomen, and excess skin is typically removed from the navel down to the incision. The musculature inside can be cinched snugly together again, forming a waist-smoothing corset effect. If you’re undergoing a full tummy tuck, the belly button will be reconstructed, and the scar hidden within.
If you have a C-section scar, that can be removed during your procedure so that you have one low, well-placed line.
- Mommy Makeover: A mommy makeover is a combination of two or more procedures in one operation, all designed to restore the body after pregnancy.
Most makeovers include breast augmentation or breast lift, a tummy tuck, and possibly liposuction or a labiaplasty. Because each mommy makeover is customized, yours could consist of a variety of procedures ranging from an arm lift to facial cosmetic surgery as well.
Limitations for safe surgery and recovery could mean planning your ultimate makeover over two or more sessions.
- CoolSculpting™: CoolSculpting is a popular non-surgical way to freeze fat away and watch your problem areas shrink before your eyes. For those who wish to avoid surgical liposuction, CoolSculpting provides a painless, in-office treatment using the science of cryolipolysis (extreme cold) to bust apart unwanted fat cells without damaging surrounding tissue.
Typical treatment areas include the abdomen, love handles, back, buttocks, arms, and more! Even that dreaded double chin responds well to CoolSculpting.
Book Your Personalized Post-Baby Consultation for Body Contouring
The experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons at Aesthetx will be happy to meet you and discuss your body goals. To learn more about reclaiming a shape you love, call (408) 559-7177 and schedule your private consultation today!
