New mothers sometimes find the many changes in their body and mind overwhelming. Emotional and psychological changes can be dealt with in time, but here are a few physical changes that you can get done to bring back your youthful body.
Motherhood is a blessing, and brings with it an amalgamation of not just immense joy, beautiful surprises and countless sleepless nights, but also a body that changes so much in a matter of just a few months, that for some it is almost like an identity crisis and a shock.
Dr Mohan Thomas, cosmetic surgeon, says, "Pregnancy can thus take a toll on a woman's body, affecting her breasts, tummies, legs and more. After pregnancy, especially multiple pregnancies or unusually large births or twins, women find it difficult to return to their pre-pregnancy shape." It is common knowledge that pregnancy can cause the stomach skin to stretch beyond natural repair, loosen the vagina and the breast shape and elasticity can also get damaged.
One can choose a healthy regimen of diet and exercise along with some surgical procedures that can improve the changes that women see with their bodies after pregnancy. Dr Thomas says, "This correction surgeries involve a tummy tuck, breast augmentation and/or a breast lift. A combination of all these procedures can help distraught mothers achieve the desired shape and also make them feel fit."
Here are the corrective measures...
Breast surgeries
Breast augmentation
Breast augmentation is a type of plastic surgery performed to improve the appearance of a woman's bustline. It involves the insertion of breast implants into the breast mounds to add volume and enhance shape.
Breast lift
This is for droopy breasts (may at times require a breast implant for loss of volume)
Breast reduction
This is to reduce large breasts enlarged further post pregnancy and is accompanied by a lift.
Body contouring
Liposuction
Liposuction is surgery to improve the contour of your body by removing pockets of excess fat from specific areas of the body.
Abdominoplasty
This procedure has many variants like:
-Mini tummy tuck where in the laxicity is only below the belly button and hence a predetermined portion of skin and fat is removed keeping the scar in the panty line.
-With relocation of belly button and tightening of the abdominal wall — this procedure is done when there is laxity above and below the belly button, looseness of the abdominal wall with protrusion of the abdomen.
-Pelvic slide, which often occurs following pregnancies, is also addressed at the time of the abdominoplasty by a pelvic lift.
Vaginoplasty
This procedure helps address the laxity of the vaginal canal by tightening it after the delivery. Dr Satish Arolkar, a senior plastic surgeon, cautions, "These procedures of vaginoplasty should not be undertaken before one year of delivery as immediately after delivery the tender areas tend to bleed excessively. Undue eagerness may result in a tighter impenetrable opening months later."
When should a new mother go for breast enhancement?
Surgeons suggest waiting till breast feeding is complete. Drugs administered to the mother find their way into the breast milk and harm the infant. Dr Arolkar states, "The option of breast implants is getting less popular for various reasons. The latest is again autologous fat transfer to the sagging breasts which may require two sittings six months apart. An increase of two cup sizes can be expected with this technique. It is undertaken under general anesthesia and is not a day care procedure as is made out to be. This transferred fat behaves like 'Stem Cells' and also helps contour unwanted bulges a welcome 'side-effect'."
Sex is not permitted for six weeks post surgery in both vaginoplasty and breast enhancement.
Case study:
Prerana Singh*, 35, a senior manager in an event management company had a precious pregnancy after 10 years of marriage thanks to many cycles of IVF treatment. These treatments caused her to put on a lot of weight and the birth of her child took her mind away from her mis-shapen body issues for very long. When the child was about a year old, and she stopped breast feeding, she noticed her deflated breasts, fat deposits and loose skin in her abdomen and sides. Moreover, because of the normal delivery and a large child her genital area had become roomy. She felt unattractive. She wanted to go back to her work but also, wanted to look youthful and attractive and so underwent a complete makeover hospital-based procedures that included shaping her midriff by a combination of liposuction and tummy tuck, breast rejuvenation by a combination of an implant and a lift, and a vaginal tightening procedure.
She recovered quickly and she went home in three days and joined work in two weeks, confident, attractive and more youthful than ever before.
Keep in mind:
This is a very safe procedure and primarily involving the outer shell of the body leaving all important organs totally shielded and safe. These procedures should be done only after the child has stopped breast feeding and preferably after the family is complete.
