Cosmetic Surgery Specialists of Memphis, PLLC

As everyone knows, pregnancy profoundly changes women’s bodies. The unmatched joy associated with having children is unfortunately frequently also associated with unwanted changes in women’s figures which cause embarrassment and self-consciousness. While the vast majority of women cherish their children, most would love to regain their pre-pregnancy appearances.

The spectrum and combination of figure changes that may be the result of pregnancy and breast feeding - the sagging breasts, the flabby tummies, the stubborn pockets of fat, the sagging bottom and others- are disappointing to any woman who cares about her appearance and are manifested differently in each woman. Since each pregnancy brings about specific, individual changes in each woman, there is no single solution which is uniformly successfully applicable to all women. To achieve success, each woman requires an individualized approach to reverse her particular unwanted post-pregnancy anatomical changes. Depending on the presenting problem(s) and your concerns and desires, one or several cosmetic surgery procedures (i.e. breast enlargement, breast lift, tummy tuck, thigh/buttock lift or liposuction) may be needed to restore and reclaim your body. The beauty of the "Mommy Makeover" is that in consultation with Dr. Aldea or Dr. Eby, you will choose which cosmetic surgery procedure(s) is right for you.

ABDOMEN

- Do you have the dreaded “Mummy Tummy”, “Bulge” or “Pooch”?
- Do you find yourself pinching your midsection or sides in the mirror wishing you could just pinch it off painlessly and flatten your tummy?
- Do you find yourself frequently “sucking it in” in social situations and hate having your picture taken from the side?

You are not alone. Every mother had, has and will have a variable manifestation of this very common anatomical post-pregnancy phenomenon. Before discussing potential solutions, it is important that you really understand what pregnancy (or intra-abdominal obesity) does to your abdominal wall.

The normal anatomy of the abdominal wall consists of two paired vertically straight (rectus) muscles, the Rectus Abdominis (aka Six Pack) muscles in the midline which are attached to one another with a white, dense ligament - the Linea Alba.

On the sides, the abdominal wall resembles a radial tire with 3 muscles stacked on each other with their fibers running at right angles to the muscle above or below; The External Oblique, Int. Oblique and Transversus Abdominis muscles. As a result, weaknesses and hernias are uncommon along the sides of the abdomen. In addition to stretching the skin, the growing baby also stretches and causes a permanent separation between the rectus muscles - a Diastasis Recti.

The BAD News - Although most pregnancies are followed by some excess skin shrinkage and exercise may produces a very mild improvement, the inter rectus diastasis is a permanent structural and physical separation. As such, despite much of the hype out there, it cannot be reversed by diet and exercise. Although exercise may improve it slightly, it will never flatten the tummy to the way it was prior to your pregnancy(ies).

Why? Because physically strengthening your rectus muscles will not shorten the stretched Linea Alba ligament between them and bring the displaced muscles back to the midline much. In other words, exercise will define the muscles BUT they will largely remain on the sides where the pregnancy(ies) left them and the bulge/pooch will persists.

The GOOD News – These “Mummy Tummy, Bulge, and Pooch” deformities are completely correctable with surgery.

An Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) will remove all lower abdominal skin excess (including most of the stretch marks under your belly button) and will flatten any overhang or “pooch”. It will do away with “the hammock” by bringing your displaced muscles to the midline, giving you a much flatter tummy. In cases where your private areas have drooped and rotated inferiorly to face the floor, a more youthful and lifted appearance can be restored. Finally, by lifting the SFS subcutaneous layer of the upper thighs, the thigh skin is elevated and smoothed, nicely improving any existing “cellulite” condition of the anterior and lateral thighs. A tummy tuck can be combined with another procedure, either gynecological surgery or, for instance, liposuction of the hips and saddlebags of the thighs.

But – to make these results last, you should consider having an abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) only after you completed having your children. Otherwise, a subsequent pregnancy will stretch you (and the repair) out again and mar the results). Please, also read the Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) page on this website.

An Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) performed on the right person is a GREAT procedure with long-lasting results. The positive transformation is immediate and our patients LOVE it !
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BREAST
Pregnancy, with or without subsequent breastfeeding, is always associated with a temporary great enlargement of the breast tissue and a resulting increase in the overlying breast skin envelope. When the hormonal influences stabilize, the breast volumes gradually decrease leaving behind deflated, sagging often downward-pointing breasts. The needed correction would depend on your particular circumstances and desires.

A breast lift (mastopexy) will remove this excess breast skin, making your breasts perkier by restoring the desired ratio of a smaller amount of breast skin envelope around your existing breast volume. If the breasts would not be as full as you would like them to be, the breast volume would need to be increased by placing breast implants and combining a breast augmentation with a breast lift.

Athough many women suffer from sagging, deflated breasts that have lost their shape after having children, this can be coorected. Breast Lift (Mastopexy) with or without Breast Augmentation can restore your breasts while keeping them attractive and natural looking. 

Peter A. Aldea, M.D.       Patricia L. Eby, M.D.
Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery
Members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Fellows of The American College of Surgeons