10905 Memorial Hermann Dr Pearland, TX 77584
6550 Mapleridge St. Ste. 213 Houston, TX 77081
PLASTIC SURGERY & MEDICAL SPA IN HOUSTON, TX
Carrying a child is a beautiful and natural part of life. However, this process may leave behind some unwanted physical changes in a woman’s body. A woman’s breasts often lose fullness and shape after hormonal changes and breastfeeding. Furthermore, the abdominal muscles lose integrity and shape due to the stretching and protrusion of the lower abdomen from carrying a child. Loose skin and stretch marks also develop around the lower abdomen. A “mommy makeover” is a general term used to describe procedures aimed at reversing the aesthetic changes that occur with pregnancy.
Specifically, it involves breast surgery and abdominal surgery. Each woman is evaluated individually when discussing a mommy makeover, as the effects of pregnancy can vary. Specifically for the breasts, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the breasts often enlarge and can increase several sizes during this time. After breastfeeding, breast tissue volume decreases and can occasionally decrease to an amount even less than prior to pregnancy. Some women’s breasts are able to bounce back to their previous shape and volume. However, the vast majority will notice that their breasts have lost both shape and volume. Therefore, a breast lift or a breast augmentation, or the combination of both, may be considered to restore the breasts to their more lifted and full pre-pregnancy appearance. Some women’s breasts gain volume throughout the pregnancy and breastfeeding and this is maintained afterwards. Therefore, these women may be in need of a breast reduction alone to restore shape and desired volume.
The next area that is addressed is the trunk and abdomen. Obviously as the baby continues to grow throughout the pregnancy, the abdominal wall, musculature, and skin have to expand to accommodate the growing baby. This has an effect on both the skin and abdominal wall that many times is not fully restored after the pregnancy. The abdominal wall musculature itself becomes stretched and loses integrity regardless of abdominal and core strengthening exercises. Therefore, the muscle tightening portion of the tummy tuck allows restoration of this abdominal integrity. Furthermore, the skin itself is stretched often times beyond its normal limits of elasticity. This causes the skin to lose its elastic recoil; thereby promoting the typical excess loose skin along the lower abdomen that is seen after pregnancy. In addition, areas like the flanks and lower back tend to become more notable problem areas in weight loss after a pregnancy. The abdominoplasty or tummy tuck procedure is ideal at restoring both the abdominal wall integrity, as well as removing excess loose skin and stretch marks from the lower abdomen with the addition of contouring the trunk with liposuction. This procedure will allow a woman to attain a similar shape and waistline to her pre-pregnancy state.
If you are considering a mommy makeover and want to talk about your areas of concern and how they can be addressed, please call our office and set up a consultation with Dr. Christopher Hankins. He will gladly explain the procedures to you and answer any questions you may have.
Dr. Hankins practice serves all of the Houston area along with patients from afar. Please fill out the form on this page or call (713) 370-4433 to request a consultation today!
Christopher Hankins, MD is a plastic surgeon who specializes in breast, body, and face aesthetic surgery. He also has advanced training in hand surgery, breast reconstruction after cancer, and other reconstructive surgical procedures. Dr. Hankins completed five plastic surgery fellowships with highly distinguished physician mentors both in the United States and the United Kingdom, including a Plastic and Microsurgery fellowship at the Baylor College of Medicine, and a Hand Surgery fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
10905 Memorial Hermann Dr
Pearland, TX 77584
Phone: (713) 370-4433
6550 Mapleridge St. Ste. 213
Houston, TX 77081
Phone: (713) 370-4433
