Mommy Makeover

Few things in life are as rewarding as growing a family. For mothers, however, having children may take a major toll on their bodies. These women may take comfort in knowing that it is now possible to turn back the clock on these physical changes through cosmetic surgery. Increasing numbers of mothers are seeking mommy makeovers from their plastic surgeons when childbearing is completed.

A top to bottom makeover would start with the eyes. Years of sleepless nights may accelerate the aging around the eyes. Friends may ask, "Are you getting enough sleep?" even when you feel well rested. Fortunately there are some effective procedures for rejuvenating the eyes. Botox may be used to soften the "crow's feet" or the frown lines that are early signs of aging. The Botox treatment takes only minutes and the results last for months. When a person experiences the benefits of Botox, they frequently comment that they're surprised how easy it is to shave years off of their appearance.

Surgery on the eyelids requires a longer recovery, but the improvements are permanent and substantial. When patients have hooding of the upper eyelids or bags under their eyes, they are typically good candidates for eyelid surgery. The scars are minimal and patients may return to work within a few days of surgery.

When breastfeeding is done, women may feel sad to say farewell to their full and shapely breasts, especially when they are left with breasts they hardly recognize as their own. Patients complain of sagging, asymmetry, enlarged areolas, loss of upper fullness and nipples pointing south. The Laserbra breast lift uses the patient's extra breast skin to create an internal brasserie of the patient's own breast tissue. Laserbra patients experience a dramatic increase in upper breast fullness and a longer lasting lift. It is possible for many mothers to achieve the fullness of breast implants while using only their own breast tissue.

If a mother wants a larger breast size, however, implants are necessary. Saline implants are currently the most popular type of implant. For patients preferring silicone, a new generation of cohesive gel implants, the "gummy bear" implants, are being used in FDA trials. The cohesive silicone implants, or "gummies," are more solid than liquid so there are fewer worries of the implants leaking. Patients rave about the natural feel of these silicone implants.

When the breasts are made perkier, young mothers may next notice that their lower abdomen is fuller than it used to be. The "postpartum pouch" may be a combination of excess skin, fat, stretch marks and distorted belly button. It may be impossible to improve the lower abdomen with exercise alone. A tummy tuck procedure is the most common solution for mothers, once they are done having their children. The muscles may be tightened and the excess skin and fat removed for a remarkable return of their flat, pre-pregnancy abdomen.

When excess fat alone is the issue, liposuction may be indicated. After having children, a mother's fat redistributes to different areas even if she has not gained weight. Excess fat may accumulate on her hips and flanks, causing her to lose her hourglass figure. New deposits of fat on the inner and outer thighs may make it difficult to fit into the clothing that she wore before pregnancies. Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) is the ultimate tool for body sculpting to resolve these problems. Because it is safer and more effective than other liposuction methods, PAL is able to achieve smoother results with less bruising and swelling. After undergoing PAL to reshape unattractive bulges into complimentary curves, most patients are able to return to work within a few days.

For many women cosmetic surgery is a well-deserved rewa