What is Involved in a Mommy Makeover?

Let’s face it. Pregnancy can wreak havoc on a woman’s body. In order to get back their pre-pregnancy shapes, many women choose to undergo liposculpture or smart lipo, which is also known as a mommy makeover.

A mommy makeover can be whatever you want it to be. If you’re still carrying some excess fat around the middle or if you have a lot of loose abdominal skin, tummy tuck surgery may be just what you need to get you back in shape. During tummy tuck surgery, also known as abdominoplasty, the abdominal muscles are tightened and excess fat and skin are removed.  After tummy tuck surgery, you should wear an abdominal binder to help with your tummy tuck recovery for best results.

If you don’t have a lot of loose skin, but you find you’ve got some stubborn areas of fat that you can’t get rid of, or liposculpture or liposuction might be a good option for you. During a liposuction procedure, tiny incisions are made in the problem areas and fat is suctioned out.  Compression garments are an important part of the after surgery recovery.  Make sure your plastic surgeon knows which post surgical support garment will give you the best results.

Sagging breasts are quite common after pregnancy. If your breasts have lost their volume, you might want to consider breast augmentation surgery, also known as breast enhancement or breast implant surgery. During breast augmentation surgery, breast implants are surgically placed beneath the breast tissue or under the muscles of the chest. If your breasts are also drooping, a combination breast augmentation and breast lift may be an ideal choice for you.  Post surgery, it is important to wear a support garment to help keep your implants in place.  Compression support bras, breast augmentation bras and other compression support vests are a good idea for the best results.

Because pregnancy can result in more than one problem area, you may want to ask your plastic surgeon about combining plastic surgery procedures.  And as always, make sure you speak with him/her about the best compression garments for the surgery procedures you are undertaking.

Abdominal Binder by ContourMD

With swimsuit season in full swing, you may be considering liposuction to get rid of those unsightly bumps and bulges. But should you go with a laser liposuction procedure or a traditional liposuction procedure? You may be tempted to choose laser liposuction over traditional liposuction because it’s less expensive and recovery time is quicker, but before you make such a big decision, it’s important to know the facts.

Laser liposuction, also known as Smart Lipo, or laser-assisted lypolysis, is a cosmetic surgery procedure that melts away fat through the use of lasers. During laser liposuction, tiny incisions are made in the skin through which a laser is inserted. When the laser is fired, it melts fat and tightens the surrounding skin.

But unlike traditional liposuction, laser liposuction is not intended to be used on large areas like the stomach or hips. It is, however, useful for people who want to have small pockets of fat in the face, neck, arms, or breasts removed.

Before scheduling your liposuction procedure, consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine which type of liposuction is best for you.

Once you have decided which liposuction technique meets your requirements, you will need to prepare for your liposuction recovery. This will include the purchase of a liposuction compression garment. If you are undergoing traditional liposuction, you will need an abdominal binder, girdle, or body shaper.

For laser-assisted lipolysis, the type of recovery garment you need will depend on the area being treated. For liposuction of the breast or arm, you will want to purchase a compression vest, or a post-surgical bra. For liposuction of the face and neck, a facial compression wrap is the compression garment of choice.

If you are planning to have liposuction, you’ll need to think about buying a recovery garment to wear immediately after your liposuction surgery and for several weeks thereafter. The purpose of these post-surgical garments is to decrease swelling, increase circulation, and reduce plastic surgery recovery time.

The key to choosing a liposuction compression garment for liposuction surgery is to find one that offers support, but is also comfortable. Among your garment options are abdominal binders, girdles, and body shapers.

Abdominal binders are generally used after liposuction of the abdomen, and are designed for both female liposuction and male liposuction. Since abdominal binders only cover the abdominal region, they can be easily hidden under clothing, and may be the most comfortable choice for liposuction recovery during the hot summer months.

Girdles and body shapers come in many shapes, and are worn following liposuction of the hip, thigh, buttocks, or abdomen. Mid-calf girdles or mid-calf body shapers may be a good option if you are planning to wear skirts or dresses following your liposuction procedure. Ankle-length girdles or ankle-length body shapers may be a more comfortable option if you prefer to wear pants, and can serve as an extra source of warmth during the winter.

Plastic surgery recovery garments are typically worn continuously for several weeks, so it is a good idea to have more than one on hand.