The mommy makeover has become an increasingly popular option among women, but if there’s any trend that’s emerged over the last few years, it’s a preference for non-surgical alternatives. New moms have plenty of things to worry about, so surgery may not always be a possibility. If you’re a new mom considering your mommy makeover options, Reflections Center offers a variety of non-surgical procedures that can help you restore your pre-baby body.
What is a Mommy Makeover?
The mommy makeover is most commonly known as a combination of plastic surgery procedures performed that address the areas of the body most affected by pregnancy and childbirth. Traditionally, this includes restoring the stomach and breasts using a tummy tuck and breast augmentation or lift. This has many benefits, including reducing stubborn fat, lifting and reshaping the breasts, and tightening stretched muscles.
There are pros and cons to the traditional mommy makeover methods using surgery. Many women find transformative results that last for years after surgery, making it an effective option for candidates. However, it can require a long recovery due to its invasive nature and use of general anesthesia, with some patients being unable to pick up or play with their child for several weeks. Additionally, a mommy makeover can cost upwards of $12,000, putting a financial strain on some new moms who have other expenses to take care of.
Why Choose a Non-Surgical Mommy Makeover?
Most non-surgical mommy makeover patients have obvious reasons for opting against surgery, such as reduced downtime, no visible scarring, and natural-looking results. Some patients are also unable to undergo surgery, whether due to health or a history of complications. This is because weight and hormone fluctuation can affect surgical results, meaning patients might require additional procedures. Each woman’s body is different, and this can mean that some patients wait a long time before they are ready for surgery (and taking downtime with a toddler can be much more difficult than taking downtime with a newborn). Additionally, if patients are hoping to have more children in the future, surgery may not be the best option.
What Can I Include in My Non-Surgical Mommy Makeover?
There are many different options when it comes to customizing your non-surgical procedure. A non-surgical mommy makeover generally addresses the same areas as a surgical one but has greater freedom in addressing other, less common areas. During a consultation, we can recommend the best non-surgical techniques for you. Here are some of the most common procedures:
Fat Reduction
Many new moms struggle with stubborn weight-gain. In particular, the hips, saddlebags, and tummy pouch (the tummy “donut”) seem to be the most common areas that don’t budge with diet and exercise. There are a few non-invasive and minimally-invasive options that can address these areas, including SculpSure, CoolSculpting, and Liposuction. SculpSure and CoolSculpting are non-invasive techniques that require no downtime and can gradually reduce fat in stubborn areas through a series of treatments. Alternatively, Liposuction is a minimally-invasive procedure that requires tiny incisions and can produce long-term results with one procedure. Most liposuction patients require only a few days of downtime and see immediate results.
Muscle Tightening
EmSculpt is a non-invasive treatment that can tighten abdominal muscles and reduce fatty pockets over the course of a few treatments without any downtime. Although a tummy tuck procedure can completely repair stretched and separated muscles in the abdomen(diastasis recti), EmSculpt requires only a half-hour treatment session that uses the muscles’ own contractions to repair and reshape them, and is the only non-surgical treatment that has been shown to improve diastasis recti.
Vaginal Rejuvenation
Most women experience uncomfortable changes in their vaginal health after childbirth, including urinary incontinence, sexual dissatisfaction, and a lack of pelvic support. Both ThermiVa and Exilis Ultra Femme can restore the vaginal area by boosting collagen production, leading to increased vaginal tightness and labial reduction. Both vaginal rejuvenation treatments require no anesthesia or downtime and can produce results within a few treatment sessions.
Skin Tightening
Although many patients find great results with fat reduction, the course of childbearing can leave behind stretched and loose skin. Surgical procedures can leave behind extensive scarring when it comes to lifting and recontouring the body, so treatments like ThermiTight or Exilis Ultra can jumpstart your skin’s restorative functions and collagen production to tighten the skin and increase volume. These treatments are most commonly performed on the abdomen and hips for postpartum patients.
Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are one of the most common frustrations of women that go through pregnancy since they can be famously difficult to get rid of. VBeam and Fraxel are laser treatments that can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and can reduce redness when they’re treated soon after they appear. These treatments require little downtime and only a few treatment sessions. For textured stretch marks, microneedling with Vampire Therapy can restore collagen and smooth the affected skin.
Cellulite
Cellulite is a common accompaniment to the weight gain experienced during pregnancy and usually requires professional treatment. We recommend Cellulaze, Qwo Injectons, and Exilis Ultra to restore the skin and reduce the dimples associated with cellulite, most commonly in the lower body and buttocks.
Acne and Acne Scarring
Because pregnancy and childbirth recovery both come with hormone fluctuations, many women experience increased acne and acne scarring. We can formulate a customized skincare plan for treatment afterward, as well as professional treatments and at-home care during pregnancy and breastfeeding to help combat congestion and reduce the chance of scarring. Melasma is another common skin concern that arises because of hormones, and we can create an IPL, TXA Restore, and/or Clear+Brilliant Laser treatment plan to reduce pigmentation.
Scar Revision
For women that undergo a c-section birth, scarring can be a common concern. We commonly perform these revisions with laser liposuction, which can effectively revise scar tissue from underneath the skin using minimally-invasive techniques and minor incisions. Additional topical skincare treatments or laser techniques can also produce excellent results.
Surgical vs. Non-Surgical: Which is best for me?
It can be difficult to determine your best options since each woman is unique and has a very different experience with pregnancy and childbirth. Generally, women who require extensive techniques and who have skin that won’t respond to non-surgical treatments should look at surgical options. Most plastic surgeons prefer patients to be finished having children for best results. The ideal candidate for a non-surgical treatment plan is a mom of one or two kids (or who has plans for more pregnancies) with mild concerns like skin laxity and stretch marks. When looking at your options, it’s important to consider your goals and expectations for your procedures, as minimally invasive and traditionally invasive methods may vary in results. However, if you’re hoping to avoid surgery, scarring, high costs, and downtime associated with a traditional mommy makeover a package of non-surgical treatments could be the right choice for you.
Schedule a Consultation
A mommy makeover procedure can be one of the best ways to restore your body and confidence as you begin the next chapter of your life. The Reflections Center is the leading provider in minimally invasive techniques and cosmetic medicine to address your unique concerns with effective solutions. To begin discussing your options, schedule a free consultation with Dr. Ellern by calling or filling out our online form.
