When is the right time for a mommy makeover? It can be tempting to want your pre-baby body back right away. But waiting can be worth it.

The months immediately following the birth of a new baby are hard on the entire family. As a parent, you have to find ways to juggle your own needs and those of the family as a unit. You’re running on no sleep, younger children want time you don’t have, and you’re still dealing with all of the normal stressors that accompany life. Struggling to process the extreme physical changes that come with childbirth is just one more difficulty you may face after your baby is born.

When you are ready, visit the best plastic surgeon has at Linville Plastic Surgery.

Your Body After Baby

Pregnancy puts your body under enormous strain. Your abdominal muscles are stretched to their limit, often ripping down the middle. Your breasts become swollen as you prepare to lactate, and even the veins in your legs come under increased strain as you put on water and baby weight. For some women, this is just par for the course.

They choose to see their stretch marks and new curves as loving reminders that they brought their children into this world, but not everyone feels this way.

The truth is that there is no shame in disliking what pregnancy has done to your body. It’s a drastic change, and wanting your pre-baby body back doesn’t mean you love your child any less. Mommy Makeovers were designed for women just like you: women who adore their children but want to love their bodies just as much as before pregnancy. As an umbrella term, the Mommy Makeover actually refers to a group of procedures that new mothers typically request. Your Mommy Makeover could include:

• A Breast Lift- Reverses the sagging that women often experience after pregnancy.
• A Breast Augmentation- Enlarges and re-shapes the breast to create a fresher silhouette.
• A Tummy Tuck- Stitches the abdominal muscles back together and removes excess skin left after pregnancy.
• Liposuction- Removes small, unwanted pockets of fat that remain after regular diet and exercise.
• A Labiaplasty- Reduces the size of the labia minora if they become stretched during childbirth.

The process is completely customizable, so you can pick and choose what you would like to include in your Mommy Makeover based on your body’s reaction to pregnancy and childbirth. However, it is important to understand that these are serious surgeries, so timing and your overall health are crucial to their success.

Knowing You’re Ready

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons suggests that all women wait a minimum of six months between the birth of their child and a Mommy Makeover. Within those six months, your body will continue to change as your skin and muscles repair themselves. You have to allow that process to happen naturally, so your board-certified plastic surgeon can work with a body that has healed as much as possible. Allowing the healing to happen will ensure that your recovery and results are as smooth as possible. Waiting for the right time for a mommy makeover means better results. Worth it!

In addition to waiting six months after birth, you should also try to be as close to your ideal weight as possible. Try to avoid weight goals that you cannot sustain long term, as noticeable weight gain can compromise your results, but make sure you are within a healthy range before undergoing a procedure. You should also avoid having a Mommy Makeover if you plan to become pregnant again, as another pregnancy will reverse your results. By waiting until your weight is stable and healthy, you will enable your surgeon to create realistic and flattering curves in all the right places.

Finding The Right Surgeon For You

If you are comfortable that you have reached the right time for a Mommy Makeover, you need to find a board-certified plastic surgeon you can trust. Look for highly rated, board-certified surgeons in your region, and schedule an initial consultation to discuss your vision for your body. Ask to see examples of past work, and feel free to ask as many questions as you need. The relationship you have with your plastic surgeon matters, so feel free to be picky and check their certifications.