Mommy Makeover San Francisco
This surgery can simultaneously improve breasts, tummy, body contour, and facial changes, which commonly occur after childbearing. As specialists in this procedure, we work with you to design a single operation and recovery that can address all your needs. For many patients, the surgery may only involve breast surgery or only a tummy tuck. However, for others, optimal correction requires a more extensive procedure. As a team of 2 surgeons, we can work together to do this safely and in a time and cost-efficient manner. Our entire team is trained to help you with education in regards to the surgery, planning, and recovery. We see patients from all over the Bay Area, out of the state and country; and each patient has unique needs. If you are looking for a mommy makeover in the san francisco bay area, PSSpecialists is where you need to be.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What are the procedures commonly considered in Mommy-Makeover surgery?
A: Breast implants or contouring, tummy tuck, and liposuction.The most common breast deformity seen after pregnancy is what we call the deflation effect. This is a result of the expansion and contraction of breast volume during pregnancies. The skin may be stretched and breast tissue lost, leading to an “empty sac” appearance. In some cases, restoring volume with an implant completely corrects this problem. For others, breast uplift or reduction may be required. For many patients, uplift and implants must be utilized. Also, there are changes in abdominal contour after pregnancy. Stretching of the abdominal muscle girdle leads to unnatural protrusion of the lower abdomen often bordering on a hernia. Stretched skin creates multiple marks or striae and laxity of tissue around the belly button. Finally, there may be a tendency to carry extra weight in the mid torso especially in the abdomen and hips. This type of body contour surgery is much like sculpting. An artist would not create a perfectly formed breast, and match it with an aged or deformed lower torso. Optimum reconstruction therefore requires addressing these problems at once. As experts in the individual surgeries involved, we can determine which combination of the procedures will achieve the best results.
Q: Is it safe to undergo a multi-procedure operation and how long does it take to do the surgery?
A: The first decision regarding any surgery has to be safety. More extensive procedures require more operative time. Although there may not be a significant difference between a 2 hour surgery and a 3 hour surgery, very long procedures can increase nonspecific risk. By working as a two-surgeon team with specially trained assistants, we can decrease the required operating time by half. It is therefore possible to safely address these problems in one procedure, if the patient is healthy.
Q: What is recovery like?
A: The recovery process has several variations depending on the procedure performed. However, for a procedure involving the breasts, tummy, and possibly liposuction, we would ask that you allow 2-4 weeks for recovery. The surgery itself can take 4-6 hours and in some cases require an overnight stay at the surgical facility if the patient wishes. You should plan to have assistance with all activities of daily living for several days after your procedure. Most moms are used to being a caretaker, and it is not possible to return home and resume this role immediately. We expect you to be up and around the day after the surgery with gradual resumption of normal activities such as driving, and independent care at approximately 7-10 days, and resumption of more vigorous activities such as exercise at 2-4 weeks. Complete maturation of scars and return of completely natural appearance can require several months or even a year.
Q: Do I need to be at my ideal weight before considering surgery?
A: The most important thing is to be at a stable weight. Many patients of ours have difficulty reaching their pre-pregnancy weight and feel defeated. The surgery should be a motivator to reach new goals and you will see dramatic results after surgery if you continue to exercise and strive for your optimal weight.
Q: Is Mommy Makeover surgery only for young moms?
A: Absolutely not. We have been introduced to moms by their daughters upon whom we have operated. Sometimes, one does not have the time or financial resources to do something for themselves until a later time in life. Facial rejuvenation with or without body contouring is of often the major focus of the more mature age group.
Q: What are the options to naturally rejuvenate the face without surgery one might consider?
A: Botox, combined with injectable fillers or laser treatments. The exciting new Quick Lift can take off 10 years in just a couple of hours and recovery is only a few days.
Q: My husband tells me I just need to work out more and my post-pregnancy changes will go away. Is this true?
A: Obviously, a return to pre-pregnancy exercise is important in younger moms. This will often allow you to approach your previous stable weight. However, there are anatomic changes relating to stretching of abdominal musculature and skin that no amount of exercise can correct. Lax breasts are not going to become high and tight with exercise, and abdominal hernia is not going to repair itself. We have found that when spouses understand the anatomic changes brought about by pregnancy cannot be corrected with exercise, they are very supportive of the options to correct it. We have often joked that if childbearing did to men’s bodies what it does to women’s, our practice would be mostly male.
Q: How do I decide if I am a candidate for Mommy Makeover and who my doctor should be?
A: In spite of the light-hearted nature of the name, this is real surgery and requires due diligence. You must understand what the tradeoffs and potential risks of your surgery are and be appropriately prepared for recovery. In order to be an expert in this surgery, the surgeon first must be an expert in all the individual procedures involved. In most cases this requires a board certified plastic surgeon with years of experience and a focus on this area. With these more extensive procedures, we feel it is definitely advantageous to have a team of surgeons and a supportive staff who are used to dealing with your special needs.
For more information about the procedures involved in Mommy Makeover, visit our 3-D Education Center.