Body after Baby
For most women, the joys of motherhood far outweigh the toll that pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding takes on our bodies. The physical effects of childbearing and nursing can profoundly change a woman’s body in ways that diet and exercise cannot always reverse. To make matters more challenging for mothers, our instinct to care for our families often takes priority over our own needs. As women plastic surgeons, we have a special interest in helping Bay Area mothers restore their bodies and their self-confidence after having babies.
The parts of the body most women are concerned about after childbearing are the skin, abdomen, breasts and fatty deposits through the hip and thigh area. Duet Plastic Surgery offers San Francisco Bay Area residents a variety of procedures to address these areas of concern and help rejuvenate your body after baby.
Skin - Abdomen - Breasts - Body
Skin
Up to 90% of women will develop stretch marks from pregnancy. Technically known as "striae gravidarium," stretch marks pose no physical harm, but 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 tears, leading to linear scarring.
Women frequently wonder what, if anything, can be done to diminish their stretch marks. While many products claim to prevent or diminish stretch marks, unless a product penetrates the deeper layers of skin, it will not have a dramatic effect. While there is some evidence that topical retinoids (i.e., Retin-A) may reduce the appearance of stretch marks, it is contraindicated during pregnancy, and not advised to be used during breast-feeding.
The most effective treatments for stretch mark removal are either laser treatments or direct excision of the scarring. Stretch marks that appear on the lower abdomen are often associated with extra, loose skin. Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, can remove the extra abdominal skin, and often most of the stretch marks, while tightening the abdominal muscles.
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Abdomen
One of the primary areas of a woman's body affected by childbearing is the abdomen, 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. In some cases, the muscle actually separates in the midline in order to accommodate the growing baby. These changes are caused not only by the expanding uterus pressing against the abdominal wall, but also by the pregnancy hormones that cause tissue to relax. Many women find that no amount of exercise seems to help shrink the belly skin or bring tone back to their muscles.
Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, is a dramatic procedure that removes excess skin, stretch marks and fat from the belly, flattening it and improving its contour. A muscle-tightening component is often added to tummy tuck surgery to narrow the waistline. Liposuction is added when appropriate to further sculpt the abdomen and flanks.
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Breasts
Many women enjoy an increase in the size of their breasts during pregnancy and breastfeeding. While the benefits and joys of breastfeeding are incredible, the breasts are often left with a drooping, deflated appearance afterward. Breast augmentation with either saline- or silicone-filled implants can restore the lost volume to the breasts and lift the breasts to a more natural, youthful position. In some cases, an additional breast lift may be required to fully correct drooping breasts. During your consultation, Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub will discuss the details of these procedures and help you determine what approach is best for you.
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Body
Even with a focused exercise routine, many mothers find that their figures never quite return to their pre-pregnancy shape. It is common for women to notice areas of fullness in the hip and thigh area after pregnancy that are resistant to toning with exercise. Localized areas of fat, particularly in the thighs, hips, upper arms and belly respond well to liposuction. Liposuction is used for body contouring, not for significant weight loss. Liposuction can be done alone or can be combined with other contouring procedures to help restore your pre-pregnancy figure.
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