Do you remember the sheer joy you felt when you found out you were pregnant? Or the superhuman love you experienced the first time you held your newborn baby? Becoming a mom is full of happiness, excitement, and heartwarming moments. However, most new mommy patients have shared that out of all the wonderful things they experienced during and after pregnancy, their post-pregnancy body is not one of them.

Child bearing takes a toll, between stretch marks, dimples, hanging buttocks, saggy breasts, a jiggly tummy, or even a damaged, wider vagina combination of factors such as age, the weight of the baby, or even a genetic predisposition, can and will change our bodies in ways we don’t necessarily love. However, instead of fearing your post-pregnancy body, there are many options within postpartum plastic surgery.

Thanks to the many options that our experienced VIDA cosmetic surgeons offer, plastic surgery after pregnancy can help women look and feel as they did before the most magical day of their lives. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not! Nowadays, there’s an option for everyone – from a completely customizable Mommy Makeover that can leave you flawless from head to toe to an expertly done mini tummy tuck that will help disappear that stubborn fat roll in your lower abdomen. It’s no wonder how common surgery after childbirth has become!

Will my body change after pregnancy?

As we just mentioned, it varies from woman to woman and their pregnancy. But it’s unrealistic to think that your body won’t change at all. Here’s why: when you get pregnant and give birth, weight gain and weight loss are usually fast. This doesn’t give enough time to your body to adjust, which can be reflected on some of the most common problem areas for new moms: their abdomen, love handles, breasts, and vagina. You might struggle with one, two, or all of these areas. First, you should know that it is completely okay not to bounce back to a tight and slim body. Second, remember that it is common for women to look for post-pregnancy plastic surgery options for 100% confidence in their body.

Problem area # 1: abdomen

Solution: a post-baby tummy tuck.

As your pregnant belly grows, your abdominal muscles stretch and separate to make space for the baby. It is extremely common for the abdominal muscles to not completely return to their original tightness. Exercise and a healthy diet will definitely help, but the only solution that is 100% effective is an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. When performing a tummy tuck after pregnancy, your plastic surgeon will carefully bring the ab muscles back together. Some women might only require a lower tummy tuck, under their belly button, while some might decide to combine the tummy tuck with liposuction.

When can I get a tummy tuck?

For tummy tucks, plastic surgeons recommend waiting between 6 to 8 months after giving birth. Also, you’ll see the best results if you’re back to your pre-pregnancy weight since an abdominoplasty is not a weight-loss surgery.

Problem area #2: the love handles

Solution: a post-baby liposuction.

A combination of weight changes, hormonal fluctuations, and water retention can promote fat storage in your love handles. If you’ve lost all the weight you gained and the love handles are still there, liposuction can do wonders for that problem area. Your surgeon will go over the procedure and the results you can expect in order to say ‘see you never’ to your new love handles.

When can I get liposuction?

Liposuction can be performed after 6 months. It is best to wait until you’ve lost excess weight and are back to following a workout routine.

Problem area #3: breasts

Solution: a post-baby breast lift, a breast augmentation, or both.

For many women, there’s a sweet period of time where pregnancy gives their breasts an attractive boost: the breasts become larger and rounder. Unfortunately, as the old saying goes: what goes up must come down. Once you give birth, start losing weight and start breastfeeding, your breasts will probably deflate, sag and present some more changes. With breastfeeding or multiple pregnancies, the size of your areolas can grow and the orientation of your nipples can change. The most effective solution depends on the state of your breasts postpartum. Some women, especially those who have smaller breasts, might benefit from a simple breast augmentation. For women who see major changes in that department, a combination of breast augmentation and a breast lift might be the best route. The major difference is that with a breast augmentation, your surgeon will be placing implants without making significant changes to the natural ‘hang’ or look of your breasts and nipples. A breast lift, on the other hand, will allow the surgeon to reposition how low or high your breasts sit on the chest wall and modify the size and appearance of the nipples.  You can combine both approaches too!

When can I get a breast lift or a breast augmentation?

If you are not breastfeeding, you can get a boob job done as early as 3 months postpartum. However, surgeons suggest that you wait a bit more, at least 6 months, so you evaluate the state of your breasts and are able to make the best decision for your aesthetic goals. If you are breastfeeding, you should wait until you’ve stopped. While these surgeries won’t interfere with your body’s ability to breastfeed, as long as you continue to do so, your breasts will continue to change. Once you stop breastfeeding and are back to your normal weight, you can rest assured you’ll get the best possible results.

Problem area #4: vagina.

Solution: a post-baby vaginal rejuvenation surgery.

A vaginal birth, albeit natural, can be damaging. This is more common than some women care to admit – giving birth can elongate our labia and widen the vaginal canal. While everything should shrink back after a couple of months, most women notice that their postpartum vagina is looser and their labia is enlarged to the point where it affects their sex life or their ability to hold in pee. With a vaginoplasty, your VIDA surgeon can repair any injury caused by childbirth and tighten the area to help combat incontinence and lack of sexual satisfaction.

When can I get a Vaginoplasty?

If you’ve been reading our article, you probably know that our expert surgeons suggest waiting at least 6 months after giving birth to your last baby.

If you feel you could use help in most of the problem areas, perhaps you would benefit the most from a Mommy Makeover. When planning a Mommy Makeover, your VIDA surgeon will discuss with you the areas you want to improve and plan a combination of post-pregnancy plastic surgeries that will yield the best results. It’s always important to remember that just as you are adjusting to life with your new baby, your body needs to adjust as well! Wait at least 6 months to allow your body to ‘normalize’ and see what you want to improve. Our VIDA surgeons will happily assist you and help you decide the best time to get surgery!

Are you a new mom or mom to be, feeling anxious about your post-pregnancy body? Give us a call at (619)738-2144 so our team of expert surgeons can help you get your body back!