Do you have a recent new addition to your family? Nothing matches the pure joy brought about by the arrival of a baby. Nothing compares to the responsibility, rewards, challenges, and accomplishments of raising a child. Your life is forever changed. And because of the physical changes brought about by pregnancy and breastfeeding, you may feel like your body is forever changed as well! All mothers know that it can be really difficult, if not impossible, to get back their pre-baby bodies with diet and exercise alone.
When it comes to excess fat in particular, you may be wondering if liposuction is the right way to bounce back. For isolated areas of extra fat where the overlying skin has good elasticity, liposuction can be a great option. To find out if you are a good candidate, and how our experienced plastic surgeons can help you achieve your cosmetic goals, please call Grossman | Capraro Plastic Surgery in Denver at 303-557-4972.
How Pregnancy Changes Your Body
Pregnancy causes fat to accumulate on certain areas of the physique, primarily the breasts, belly, buttocks, thighs, hips, and arms. Your body naturally needs to expand some of your fat cells to help you get through a healthy pregnancy. In most cases, after the baby is born, you do not want the extra fat to stick around.
If you’ve already had a child, you may know that your body will slim down somewhat in the weeks and months after childbirth. Eating healthy food, exercising, and generally taking care of yourself can do a lot to restore your body, fitness, and well-being.
And yet despite all this, you may still have pesky problem areas you’d like to slim. Certain fat cells stubbornly remain enlarged no matter how many crunches you do or how many times a week you hit the treadmill. It is these fat cells that liposuction very effectively reduces.
What Liposuction Does
Liposuction removes selected fat cells. There are many areas of the body our plastic surgeons can treat, including:
- Hips
- Waist
- Abdomen
- Back
- Breasts
- Neck
- Face
Liposuction works well for isolated areas of fat. It does not work well for areas of significant sagging skin. When the fat is removed with liposuction, the skin should be elastic enough to conform to the new contour. Deflated skin will need to be removed and tightened with other surgical methods.
The procedure: Liposuction works by breaking apart excess fat cells and suctioning them away. There are a few techniques, one being VASER® liposuction. VASER® is an advanced technology favored by our plastic surgeons. It uses ultrasound energy to emulsify fat cells. Once emulsified, they can be removed more efficiently, causing less bleeding, bruising, and post-op discomfort.
Is Liposuction the Best Procedure for Your Goals?
This procedure may be right for you if you want to slim stubborn areas of fat following pregnancy and childbirth. It should be noted that liposuction alone is not always the best option for the post-pregnancy belly area, which is often a primary concern for women who have had children.
A woman’s abdomen and uterus expand and stretch to accommodate the developing baby inside the womb. This feat of the human body allows the baby to grow to a healthy size and stage of development before being born. Once your child is delivered, your abdominal skin and tissue will begin to retract into a tighter contour over time; however, oftentimes a puffy bulge or loose skin is left. The skin and tissue can be stretched past the point of returning to their pre-baby contour. For this type of deflated skin and tissue, a tummy tuck is often much more appropriate. This procedure removes the excess tissue and tightens the remaining skin.
It is possible that liposuction can accompany a tummy tuck for the best possible results. It is also possible – particularly if you’ve had only one or two children – that liposuction alone is all that is needed. A tummy tuck may not be necessary for a woman whose skin was not stretched much, and whose skin retains elasticity after the baby is born.
Will Liposuction Fit Into Your Lifestyle and the Duties of Motherhood?
As a mom, you may wonder whether the demands of motherhood and family life will allow the time, money, and energy needed to complete the surgical process. We will discuss all aspects of timing and surgical requirements during your consultation. You will have a complete picture of:
- The timeline from start to finish
- How much liposuction will cost
- How many appointments you will need to schedule
- How much downtime you will need after the procedure
- How long you will need to stay home from work
For the first 24-48 hours, you will need to have someone else take over your normal responsibilities. That includes getting your kids to and from school, getting the kids dressed, cooking meals, grocery shopping, cleaning, and any other family and household chores you normally perform. During these first couple of days, rest and relax, making sure to get up and walk around to improve circulation.
The majority of liposuction patients return to work within one week. Strenuous physical activity must be delayed for four to six weeks.
Every family has different routines and lifestyles. Our doctors and staff will make sure that you know what the procedure will require of you so that you can plan accordingly.
What About the Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is a comprehensive approach to rejuvenating a mother’s body. You and the plastic surgeon will first discuss all areas of your physique that you would like to improve. It may include breasts, belly, hips, thighs, and other areas. To rejuvenate each area, the surgeon will recommend a combination of procedures. This plan may include liposuction, tummy tuck, and other surgeries. The goal of the plan is for you to look and feel your best, and to rejuvenate all of the aspects that you would like to see improved.
Tailoring Procedures to Your Goals and Your Body
If you are interested in liposuction to regain some of those pre-baby physical characteristics, the next step is to speak with one of our experienced plastic surgeons to find out if you are a good candidate. At Grossman Plastic Surgery, our board-certified plastic surgeons make sure that you know e every option that can help you to accomplish your goals. To arrange a consultation in Denver, please call our experienced staff at 303-557-4972.
