Plastic surgery options after pregnancy and childbirth

Tuesday October 24, 2006 | Posted in: Plastic Surgery Procedures
Becoming a mother doesn't mean one woman can't look as good or better than before pregnancy. Most women enjoy being pregnant and are happy to become mothers. But for some, the physical changes caused by pregnancy can take away some of the joy.

Today, there are exciting options in plastic surgery to help one regain their npre-pregnancy form - or even improve on it.

Here explained, not only how a woman’s body changes during and after pregnancy, but ways to counteract these changes that won't interrupt a woman’s busy lifestyle or compromise her privacy. You see, many cosmetic procedures can be done on an outpatient basis.

Breast Enlargement (Augmentation)
Whether or not to breastfeed is one dilemma mothers-to-be face. Many worry that breastfeeding will ruin the shape of their breasts. The truth is breastfeeding is not the culprit and it offers women and their babies numerous health benefits. Changes in the breasts actually occur during pregnancy. As the body prepares to nurture a child, milk glands in the breasts swell and replace fatty tissue. After childbirth, these glands shrink. What's left is a skin "envelope" with little to fill it.

This causes the breasts to look less full or sag. Plastic surgery offers safe, natural-looking implants that return your breasts to their youthful contour. Your plastic surgeon can perform breast augmentation on an outpatient basis, with either local or general anesthetic. The small incisions are virtually undetectable, usually made under each breast, around the nipples or in the armpits. Implants may be inserted just under the gland of the breast or beneath the muscle tissue. Stitches are removed after approximately one week.

Breast Lifting (Mastopexy)
Some women experience extensive swelling in their breasts during pregnancy. In addition to the postpartum loss of fat tissue, swelling can cause the skin to stretch and sag. And no amount of exercise will re-tighten this skin. An outpatient procedure called "mastopexy" can remove excess skin and reduce sagging. Plastic surgeons use local or general anesthetic to tighten skin on the lower half of the breasts, which lifts and firms them.

Stomach Tightening (Abdominoplasty or Lipectomy)
Nowhere else is pregnancy more evident than a woman's abdomen. It was the nine-month home to your infant. It's also the place where stretch marks, C-section scars and loose skin may linger long after childbirth. Lipectomy is a procedure that can remove the "pooch" of excess skin that lies below your navel. It can get rid of stretch marks and turn a very visible vertical C-section scar into a small bikini line that's easy to conceal. Many women have this operation done at the same time as a tubal ligation or a hysterectomy.

Stomach Tightening for Muscle Bulges
For many women, excess skin is not the only abdominal change they experience after pregnancy. It's not uncommon for the stomach muscles to separate when holding an expanding uterus. Often those muscles fail to reconnect after childbirth, even with endless sit-ups. This condition can only be repaired with surgery and is sometimes covered by health insurance.

Women having difficulty regaining their pre-pregnancy weight can benefit from the immediate and dramatic improvement a lipectomy can make on their figures. It frequently provides the emotional boost they need to commit to a healthy dieting and exercise regimen.

Spot Fat Reduction (Liposuction)
Now the most commonly-requested cosmetic surgery procedure, liposuction can especially benefit women after pregnancy. A slower metabolism, less time to exercise, whatever the reason, some new mothers complain they just cannot lose fat in certain spots like the thighs, buttocks and upper arms.

The plastic surgeon can re-sculpt the body, removing fat deposits that contribute to flabby underarms or bulges in the thighs. Liposuction is an outpatient procedure, and for small areas, can be done under local anesthetic. It is not appropriate for large fat deposits or for women who are generally overweight. However, it can be the impetus to encourage a healthy weight loss. When larger amounts of fat are involved and in special cases ultrasonic liposuction is needed.

Labioplasty
During a normal vaginal delivery, many women tear or otherwise damage the labia (the opening to the vagina). A labioplasty can repair this damage, helping a woman heal faster from such injuries. The plastic surgeon may perform this outpatient procedure under local or general anesthetic. Recovery takes only a few days.

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