Regaining Your Pre-Pregnancy Figure
Many women, after giving birth, feel they'll never be the same again. Their abdominal muscles and breasts in particular have been stretched and changed in ways that seem beyond recovery. No matter how much dieting and exercise they manage to work into hectic, post-baby schedules, it seems there are still sagging, bagging bits that refuse to go away.
Truthfully, pregnancy is very hard on a woman's body. The rapid expansion of the abdomen, and the almost as dramatic enlargement of the breasts, pulls skin into shapes it's never held before. The abdominal muscles are also stretched so much that often the fascia, or supportive tissue, separates in a way that can't be remedied by diet and exercise alone.
Because the aftereffects of pregnancy are so extensive, and don't always respond to diet and exercise, many women consider cosmetic surgery to help bring their bodies back to their pre-pregnancy condition.
Procedures commonly chosen to tighten the body after pregnancy include:
- Tummy tuck
- Breast lift
- Thigh or buttock lift
- Body contouring
Tummy tucks and breast lifts are the most common choices, since pregnancy causes the most extreme changes to the abdomen and breasts. A tummy tuck removes excess, stretched skin as well as pockets of stubborn fat that remain behind after pregnancy. Also during a tummy tuck, your cosmetic surgeon will stitch together separated abdominal muscles. After surgery, your abdomen will be toned and firm'maybe even more so than it was before you became pregnant.
Breast lifts can be performed with or without breast augmentation. The breasts increase in size during pregnancy and breast-feeding, and the results are similar to those from the expansion of the abdomen. The skin is stretched beyond its usual size, and the resulting loss of elasticity means it can't easily bounce back. This often leaves your breasts sagging and loose, rather than firm as they were before.
A breast lift reduces excess skin and brings your breasts back to their pre-pregnancy position. If you wish to add size and additional firmness, you could have a breast augmentation, as well.
Body contouring generally combines several cosmetic surgery procedures, such as a tummy tuck, breast lift, and thigh or buttock lift, for even more dramatic results. It could also include liposuction to help eliminate fat pockets and smooth your profile even more.
To determine what cosmetic surgery procedures might be best for you, your first step is to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. He or she can give you recommendations on what procedures will help you regain your pre-pregnancy figure, and feel good about your body again.
About the Author:
For more information about post-pregnancy cosmetic surgery, please visit the website of Dr. Matt Chhatre, Summit Hills and Kansas City, Missouri cosmetic surgeon.