| Plastic Surgery Reverses the Effects of Pregnancy’s Changes on the Body |
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Pregnancy is a time of tremendous
change on your body and mind. For nine months, your body has nurtured the
growth of your baby. Post-pregnancy, however, these marked changes to your
body’s shape may make it difficult to return to your pre-pregnancy form or
improve upon it.
Our grandmothers and mothers were told that the post-partum figure was a way of life. Short of a few sit-ups here and there, they believed that there was nothing that could be done to improve one’s shape. Fortunately, today there is a great deal that can be done to improve your appearance after pregnancy. In general, plastic surgery after pregnancy repairs skin and tissue damage. Many women turn to plastic surgery to return to their pre-pregnancy size, or to address body flaws. Some of the most frequently performed procedures include abdominoplasty (a tummy tuck); breast enhancements, lifts and reductions; liposuction; and labiaplasty.
Here
is an overview of some of these procedures:
Breast Enlargement (Augmentation) One of the most obvious places changes occur during pregnancy is in the breasts. During pregnancy, milk glands in the breast swell and replace fatty tissue. After childbirth, these glands shrink, leaving behind a “skin envelope” with little to fill it. Plastic surgery provides safe, natural-looking implants that return breast to their youthful shape. The small incisions are virtually indetectable, usually made under each breast, around the nipple or under the arm. Breast augmentation can be performed on an outpatient basis, with either local or general anesthetic.
It’s not unusual to experience extensive swelling in the breast during pregnancy. In addition to the post-partum loss of fat tissue, swelling causes the skin to stretch and sag. Exercise will not retighten this skin. Mastopexy, an outpatient procedure, can remove excess skin and reduce sagging.
The abdomen bears many signs of pregnancy – stretch marks, c-section scars and loose skin. These effects may linger long after childbirth. Lipectomy removes the “pooch” of excess skin that lies below the navel. The inpatient procedure can eliminate stretch marks and turn a visible vertical c-section scar into a small bikini line that’s easily concealed. If you have only a small amount of excess skin, you may be a candidate for a mini-lipectomy. Stomach Tightening for Muscle Bulges During pregnancy, it’s common for stomach muscles to separate when holding an expanding uterus. Often those muscles do not reconnect after childbirth. This condition can be repaired with surgery, which may be covered by health insurance.
Liposuction is an extremely beneficial procedure after pregnancy. Because new mothers often have a slower metabolism and less time to exercise, it’s difficult to lose fat in certain spots such as the thighs, buttocks and upper arms. Plastic surgery can re-sculpt the body, removing stubborn fat deposits that contribute to flabby arms or bulges. The outpatient procedure is suited for patients who have localized areas of fat, not for patients who have significant excess weight. Labioplasty It’s not unusual for the labia (the opening to the vagina) to tear or become damaged during delivery. A labioplasty can repair the damage, helping a women heal faster. Recovery from this outpatient procedure takes only a few days.
During pregnancy, changes in skin pigmentation (chloasma), may occur. Studies have found that as many as 75 percent of all women develop these changes, characterized by a blotchy brown increase in pigment. Gentle bleaching agents can eliminate these marks.
To learn more about these procedures, see extensive before and after photographs, and read more about the Cosmetic Surgery Center of Maryland, visit our interactive Web site at www.CSCMd.com. All prospective patients are invited to have a free, private consultation with an experienced surgeon at the Cosmetic Surgery Center of Maryland. |
