Mommy Makeover

Becoming a mother is often one of the most fulfilling moments in a person’s life. However, pregnancy, nursing, and childbirth drastically change the body. Even if a patient returns to their pre-baby weight, they can be left with loose skin, uneven fat, and new body proportions. Multiple pregnancies and births can further affect the body. These uncontrollable aspects of pregnancy often cause already stressed and busy mothers more distress. Dr. Ludwig Allegra at Northwest Face & Body can perform a mommy makeover in Bellevue and Kirkland to rejuvenate your post-pregnancy body.

What Is A Mommy Makeover?

A mommy makeover denotes a term used for the grouping of cosmetic surgeries that target the areas of a woman’s body most affected from having children. Since these areas also change with age and other factors, you certainly do not need to be a mother to be a good candidate for a Kirkland mommy makeover.

Most mommy makeover surgeries will address the breasts and stomach. The actual procedures performed will depend on the individual patient and their goals. Additionally, your mommy makeover can include other cosmetic surgeries depending on your goals, general health, and candidacy. These other procedures could include a Brazilian butt lift, additional areas of liposuction, and non-surgical procedures.

How Does Pregnancy Change The Body?

Having a baby takes a toll on the body. Pregnancy causes the skin to stretch, childbirth causes trauma to the body, and the breasts rapidly increase and decrease in size during breastfeeding. All of these processes can permanently change the look and feel of your body.

For many mothers, these changes only cause added stress to the already taxing duties of being a mother. While every woman and body will react to pregnancy and childbirth differently, there are some telltale changes expected from becoming a mother.

After pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing you may see changes in your body like:

• Weight gain
• Stretch marks
• Diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles common after pregnancy due to rapid weight gain and loss)
• Sagging, extra skin
• Changes in breast shape and size
• Breast sagging
• “Pooch” appearance of the stomach

These are among just some of the changes your body may go through after pregnancy and giving birth. Everybody is individual and therefore will respond differently. Some women may see excess fat and skin in their thighs, arms, and other parts of the body.

Procedures Often Included  In A Mommy Makeover:

Because the childbearing process is harsh on the abdomen and the breasts, a mommy makeover usually focuses on these areas. As discussed above, while a mommy makeover almost always addresses these areas, you and Dr. Allegra may decide to include other areas of the body.

When it comes to addressing the breasts and stomach, there are a variety of cosmetic procedures possible to custom tailor to your needs. Some women will experience a loss of breast tissue, while others will notice the largeness of their breasts from nursing never completely go back down.

Additionally, in the case of diastasis recti, a tummy tuck is almost always required to correct this. However, liposuction can remove uneven fat deposits and lead to a more toned look. Whether you need one or both of these procedures will depend on your body and goals for your Kirkland mommy makeover.

Breast Augmentation:

Breast augmentation is a cosmetic procedure that makes the breasts larger using implants or transferred fat. Silicone breast implants are the most common form of breast augmentation in the United States.

After nursing (especially multiple children) many women see a natural decrease in breast tissue. This can also happen due to aging. Implants allow women to restore their breast volume and increase the size of their breasts to better match their body and reverse the effects of breastfeeding.

Breast Lift:

A breast lift is a surgery that lifts the nipple higher on the chest wall. It may also include removing breast tissue and skin to prevent and correct breast sagging. Often, a breast lift is performed with a breast augmentation to provide a lift and increase in volume. Some women may only need a breast lift to see their desired breast enhancement.

Breast Reduction:

A breast reduction–as the name implies–reduces the size of the breasts. Often, a lift is performed as part of a breast reduction to rejuvenate the breasts. Similarly to a lift, Dr. Allegra will remove extra breast tissue and skin. The difference is that a lift often removes more and alleviates health conditions caused by overly large breasts.

Tummy Tuck:

The tummy tuck procedure corrects the effects that pregnancy has on the abdomen. When you become pregnant, the stomach stretches throughout the pregnancy to accommodate the fetus. This means that your skin stretches dramatically and often does not tighten on its own. This process can lead to stretch marks, large amounts of extra skin, and a saggy belly. While many cosmetic procedures can remove fat and promote skin tightening, a tummy tuck, reverse tummy tuck, or mini tummy tuck are the only ones that can correct large amounts of excess skin.

In addition, pregnancy can cause a condition known as diastasis recti. This is where the abdomen muscles separate and loosen due to this extreme stretch. While it can be caused by frequent weight fluctuations and injuries, pregnancy is the most common cause. With diastasis recti, a flat, toned stomach is simply not possible. There will always be at least a slight “pooch” or muffin top appearance. A tummy tuck re-tightens these muscles through a process known as muscle plication. This allows you to achieve that tight and toned look you want. This can dramatically rejuvenate a mother’s body after pregnancy.

Liposuction:

Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. It removes small amounts of fat to create a toned physique. Dr. Allegra can utilize liposuction nearly anywhere on the body that carries extra fat. This includes the abdomen, arms, thighs, chin, waist, breasts, and many other areas.

Unlike a tummy tuck, liposuction will not address extra skin. Certain types of liposuction will promote skin tightening on a smaller scale. However, for larger skin excisions, a tummy tuck is usually required.

Liposuction often aids in a tummy tuck or other cosmetic surgeries. It can remove fat with less trauma than other surgical techniques which allows for a better and shorter recovery period.

What To Expect On The Day Of Your Kirkland Mommy Makeover

When you come into Northwest Face & Body’s Medicare certified facility, you can expect to be greeted and led through all of the pre-surgical procedures. We aim to make the process simple and as worry-free as possible. Every patient and their procedure is unique. We do not take a cookie cutter approach.

Before Surgery:

Before the day of surgery, you may require medical clearances based on your health and medical needs. Dr. Allegra may advise you to stop taking certain medications and supplements to promote a healthy surgery and healing process. In cases when this is not possible, Dr. Allegra will work with you and other medical professionals to ensure your candidacy for the procedure and that it is as safe as possible.

On the day of surgery, Dr. Allegra and the NW Face & Body team will review your individualized surgical plan. They will also take your vital signs and make sure your body and health are ideal for a mommy makeover.

After initial health screenings, Dr. Allegra may make surgical markings to guide him during surgery. At this point, you will then be prepped for surgery and placed under general anesthesia.

During Surgery:

The actual mommy makeover procedure varies widely based on the procedures Dr. Allegra performs and the techniques used. For example, some patients may undergo a lollipop breast lift with a tummy tuck or a breast augmentation with silicone implants and liposuction.

Regardless of your chosen procedures, Dr. Allegra uses his highly advanced techniques to limit the size of incisions and minimize future scarring. Before you undergo your mommy makeover, Dr. Allegra will explain all of the specifics of your procedure to you.

After Surgery:

After surgery, you will wake up and see an immediate difference in the contours of your body. This will give you a rough idea of your final results. However, results after any cosmetic surgery take time to set in. Most patients see the final, long lasting results of their mommy makeover in about three to six months, although this varies from patient to patient.

You will require a caregiver to drive you home and care for you for at least a day after surgery. Most patients go home around a few hours after they wake up and do not require an extended hospital stay.

Dr. Allegra will likely prescribe you pain medication and antibiotic for the first few days of recovery. This will keep you more comfortable and prevent infection. Depending on the procedures, he will give you specialized aftercare instructions. This may include: lifting restrictions, how to care for your incisions, wearing compression or other garments, and propping up your body when sleeping.

Most mommy makeover patients return to work within two weeks of surgery, although some may return within a week. Working with Dr. Allegra and attending your post-op appointments will allow him to best monitor your recovery and give you the most accurate timeline. Exercise will be limited for at least two weeks and strenuous exercise even longer. However, you should still get up and walk slowly and carefully throughout your recovery to prevent blood clots.

Who Is A Candidate?

Almost any woman who experienced unwanted changes in their breasts or stomach is a candidate for a mommy makeover surgery. Most patients tend to be between the ages of 30 to 50, the procedure can suit anyone who requires the correction a mommy makeover can provide.

As with any elective surgery, you should be in good general health and major medical conditions should be under control. Likewise, your body should exhibit the need for a mommy makeover. While you may have concerns that cosmetic surgery can address, not all of them warrant a fully mommy makeover procedure.

The best way to know if a Kirkland mommy makeover will serve your needs and is compatible with your health, schedule a consultation with Dr. Allegra at Northwest Face & Body. He can precisely examine your medical history and anatomy to determine if you are a candidate for a mommy makeover.

The Best Mommy Makeover In Kirkland At Northwest Face & Body

Northwest Face & Body has served the Kirkland and Greater Seattle area for over three decades. Maintaining a Medicare certified facility and the highest standard of surgical technique, we offer the most advanced cosmetic, plastic, and ENT surgery.

Dr. Ludwig Allegra

Dr. Ludwig Allegra is a double board certified surgeon with certifications from The American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and The American Academy of Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery. In addition, he has participated in multiple prestigious surgery fellowships.

Among one of the founders of Northwest Face & Body, Dr. Allegra has decades of experience providing the gold standard of cosmetic surgery to his patients. An expert in cosmetic surgery of the face and body, he achieves some of the best results for mommy makeovers in Kirkland.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Ludwig Allegra at Northwest Face & Body, call us at 425-576-1700. You can also reach us online through our contact form, chat, or Price Simulator™ app.