The Greater Princeton Area Ask the Doctor Spring Issue March/April 2018

QUESTION: What Is A Mommy Makeover?

Thomas A. Leach, M.D. Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery Recognized by Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd. “Top Doc for the New York Metro Area” since 2005 CERTIFIED COOLSCULPTING TREATMENT CENTER Serving Princeton & its surrounding communities since 1992 The toll that pregnancy may have on a woman’s body is something that most women do not prepare for. The good news is that many of the changes that diet and exercise cannot fix may be addressed through a single surgical experience – the “Mommy Makover.” This is a customized combination of procedures that rejuvenate the most commonly affected areas after childbirth – the breasts and abdomen. The fullness of a breast due to pregnancy and longer if one breastfeeds, is sometimes followed by a rather deflating experience as the breast tissue shrinks and the skin envelope does not. Fortunately there are surgical options for rejuvenation. These include reducing the enlarged skin envelope (mastopexy), refilling the envelope with an implant (breast augmentation), or more frequently a combination of the two. The exact approach is tailored to the patient’s desires with guidance from her plastic surgeon based on her specific situation. A woman’s abdomen stretches to accommodate the growing baby, and more for large or multiple babies. The skin stretch is obvious but beneath this the core abdominal muscles are also affected. A midline separation of the rectus muscles is called a diastasis and may not be corrected with exercise alone. The adjacent oblique muscles may also be over stretched. A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is an operation that addresses both skin and muscle. The muscles are retightened with permanent deep sutures that create an internal corset. The extra skin (typically including areas of stretch marks) is then removed and the umbilicus is also surgically rejuvenated. New techniques now allow this procedure to be done without the inconvenience of drains that had been required in the past. The result is a dramatic aesthetic improvement as well as a stronger core with the muscles back where they belong. These breast and abdominal rejuvenation procedures may be performed in the same session for most patients. The surgery is done in a hospital and typically is safest with one overnight stay. The patient is discharged home the next day and most daily activities are resumed with a week or two. Full unrestricted exercise usually resumes in another month or so. While a mommy makeover is a significant operation, it is tremendously satisfying for both the patient and the doctor. These are some of our happiest patients! 932 State Rd • Princeton, NJ 08540 • (609) 921-7161 • www.princetonsurgery.com Follow us on:

I A M B E A U T I F U L

26

ASK THE DOCTOR September/October 2016

MARCH/APRIL 2018