When it comes to caring for baby, many new moms arm themselves with the best information possible, but what about caring for yourself?
ATLANTA, March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Moms-to-be are inundated with information about preparing for baby, leaving little time to prepare themselves for how having children can change their own body, and what to do to restore it.
For many women, diet and exercise alone cannot fully restore their bodies after childbirth. Dr. Paul Feldman, MD, FACS, FICS of Advanced Aesthetics, knows how hard this can be for moms. "Women enjoy feeling confident in their own skin," says Feldman. "We see women who have had children, who put so much work into their bodies, but still feel uncomfortable in their own skin. It's because they have conditions such as excess skin, or sagging — which can't be treated with targeted exercise."
Pregnancy is a beautiful process, but can also be scary for some women as they watch their bodies quickly transform. "The Mommy Makeover is a great way to get the body back after having a child," says Feldman. "After going as far as possible with diet and exercise, this procedure can assist in treating problem areas that are left, like excess skin around the navel."
While Mommy Makeovers are becoming more common, there are still many misconceptions. To help women better understand their options, Dr. Feldman weighs in on 5 major Mommy Makeover myths:
A mommy makeover always consists of a breast augmentation and a tummy tuck.
"Not entirely true," says Feldman. "A mommy makeover typically addresses these two areas, but is not limited to them. Any makeover should be highly personalized, and may include a breast reduction or lift instead of augmentation, or liposuction in addition to, or in place of, a tummy tuck."
After breastfeeding, augmentation is the only effective way to correct deflated breasts.
"False. A breast lift may be a good restorative option as it can aid in resizing the areola which is often left larger than desired after childbearing," explains Feldman. "A breast lift may be performed alone or in combination with a breast augmentation, depending on what the patient wants."
Diet and exercise can get you back to your original shape, if you simply work hard enough.
"Not usually, especially if you've had more than one child. Muscle separation and laxity caused by the swelling of the uterus during pregnancy require more than diligent physical activity and healthy eating," says Feldman. "The truth about mommy makeovers is that a tummy tuck or even a mini-tummy tuck, which targets just the lower portion of the abdomen, is often necessary to polish off the work that started in the gym."
Women who have had a c-section or hysterectomy should think twice about having a tummy tuck, because the procedure will leave additional scarring.
"This isn't true," says Feldman, "Women who have had a c-section or hysterectomy often actually benefit from tummy tuck surgery because the procedure can minimize scars and smooth excess skin, resulting in a smoother contour in those areas."
Being dissatisfied with your physique is just part of being a mom, and the sooner it's accepted the better.
"Completely false. Part of being a mom is taking care of yourself emotionally and physically," explains Feldman. "If diet and exercise haven't been enough to restore a mom's body back to where she feels confident, a Mommy Makeover is an effective way to add to that work."
Moms spend a lot of time caring for others. The right combination of mommy makeover procedures in addition to good diet and exercise, is just one way to prioritize self-care, and maintain a healthy, happy body.
About Advanced Aesthetics, PC: Advanced Aesthetics is one of the most successful Atlanta-area cosmetic surgery practices, with offices in four south Atlanta locations: Fayetteville, LaGrange, McDonough, and Newnan. Advanced Aesthetics and Truffles MediSpa share the building at One Prestige Park, 874 West Lanier Avenue, Suite 100, Fayetteville, GA 30214. They can be reached by phone at 770-461-4000 or at http://www.plasticsurgerycorner.com.
Media Contact: Dr. Paul Feldman, Advanced Aesthetics, PC, 770-461-4000, http://www.plasticsurgerycorner.com