Body After Baby
For most women, the rewards of motherhood far outweigh the toll that pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding takes on our bodies. Despite the joy our little ones bring, having a baby can also change a woman's body in ways that even diet and exercise can't completely reverse. Does having a baby mean saying goodbye to our pre-pregnancy figures forever?
A growing trend among mothers is the "mommy makeover," a variety of procedures to rejuvenate the post-partum body. From eliminating stretch marks to flattening the tummy and lifting the breasts, these procedures can change not only how a woman looks, but also how she feels about her body after baby.
Here are some common concerns mothers have regarding their post-partum bodies:
Stretch Marks
Stretch marks that result from pregnancy, technically known as "striae gravidarium" occur in up to 90% of pregnant women. While they pose no physical harm, they can be quite distressing aesthetically. Most stretch marks appear on the lower abdomen, but also frequently occur on the breasts, hips and thighs. Stretch marks appear when the deeper layer of skin known as the dermis stretches beyond its capacity, creating small scars.
What can women do to treat stretch marks? While many products claim to prevent or diminish stretch marks, unless a product penetrates the deeper layers of skin, it is physically unable to produce a dramatic effect. While there is some evidence that topical retinoids (i.e., Retin-A) may reduce the appearance of stretch marks, they are contraindicated during pregnancy, and not advised to be used during breast-feeding.
The only effective treatments for stretch mark removal are either direct excision or laser removal. Traditionally, treatment for stretch marks on the lower abdomen has been tummy surgery, which removes both the belly skin and stretch marks. Recently, the Fraxel laser has been gaining popularity for its ability to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. It requires several treatments, but has little down time and few side effects.
Loose Belly Skin
The primary area of a woman's body affected by childbearing is the abdomen, including both the skin and the muscles. Pregnancy not only necessitates expansion of the abdominal skin, but also causes the abdominal muscles, specifically the rectus abdominus muscle (i.e., the "6-pack" muscle) to stretch. These changes are caused not only by the expanding uterus pressing against the abdominal wall, but also by the pregnancy hormones that relax connective tissue.
The result for many women after childbirth is extra belly skin and stretched muscles that no amount of abdominal crunches can tighten. What can be done? First, I always remind mothers to give their bodies time to heal. If, however, a focused exercise routine and sensible eating are insufficient to restore the skin and muscle tone of a woman's abdomen, then abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery may be a good option.
Depending on the amount of abdominal laxity, tummy tuck surgery ranges from a simple procedure where a mild amount of excess skin below the navel is removed, to an extensive operation where skin and fat are removed from the belly and the abdominal muscles are surgically tightened. Liposuction is often combines with tummy tuck surgery to address fat deposits of the hips and flanks commonly present after having children.
Abdominoplasty is a dramatic operation with nearly immediate results. However, it is important for mothers to realize that abdominoplasty is performed after childbearing is completed, as a subsequent pregnancy is likely to reverse the effects of surgery.
Sagging Breasts
While many women enjoy an increase in breast fullness during pregnancy and breastfeeding, breasts often appear deflated afterward. The combination of breast atrophy with stretched skin is primarily responsible for the saggy appearance of breasts after childbearing.
While a good bra does wonders for a woman's shape in clothes, improving the shape of the breasts often requires a breast lift. With a breast lift, the extra breast skin is removed and the breast is reshaped to a more youthful position. Sometimes, an implant is used with a lift or alone to restore the lost volume, particularly in the upper aspect of the breasts. Women with a mild droop will get sufficient elevation of the breasts with implants alone without the lift procedure.
Like tummy tuck surgery, breast lift and augmentation produce an immediate effect, ideally to bring back the appearance of the breasts before their volume loss.
While stretch marks and extra skin may be a small price to pay for the privilege of motherhood, with a little help, many women today are enjoying their bodies after babies.