Mommy Makeovers: a Growing Trend
December 26th, 2013
Women are postponing motherhood, waiting longer to have children today. What is the best age to have a baby? Many factors enter into this equation. From a purely biological viewpoint, the late teens or early twenties are best biologically, according to John Mirowsky, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Austin. Women in their twenties are least likely to have developed health problems that would put them or their babies at risk, and they have the lowest rates of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, and infertility. Physically speaking, it is apparent that younger women are able to weather pregnancy and bounce back more quickly than older moms.
Perhaps the growing trend of considering a Mommy Makeover reflects the desire to erase the physical toll that later childbearing sometimes brings. Many will agree that having children at any age is one of the most rewarding experiences a mother will have. However, the physical effects of pregnancy, especially multiple pregnancies, can leave unwanted and unflattering changes to your body. Common complaints from my patients include, loss of breast fullness and/or sagging, excess abdominal skin, stretched or torn abdominal muscles and umbilical hernia. Even if you adhere to the 25-35 pound weight gain during pregnancy, it’s often more difficult to get back into shape the older you are when you have a baby. No amount of exercise or weight loss can fix some of these problems. Fortunately, cosmetic surgery is an option to help a patient return to a pre-pregnancy appearance and restore the natural feminine shape following their pregnancy. Some of my happiest patients are women of all age-ranges who have chosen Mommy Makeovers.
Be sure to watch KSTP-TV’s Twin Cities Live, when we share a personal story of a Mommy Makeover.
Pencil Test for Sagging Breasts
November 4th, 2013
What is the pencil test? Plastic surgeons use this test to measure the extent of ptosis of the breast, a medical term to describe droopy or sagging of the breasts. According to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, more than 127,000 had breast lift surgery last year and it ranks in the top 5 of requested cosmetic surgery procedures. When a woman is considering having surgery to correct sagging, several factors are taken into consideration. Sagging of a woman’s breasts can occur due to any significant weight change, such as after a pregnancy. True ptosis or sagging refers to nipple position falling below the crease beneath your breast. The “pencil test” is the way to find out if surgery might be indicated. By placing a pencil beneath your breast and if your nipple hangs below the pencil when you sit or stand, then you may need a breast lift. If the nipple is above, increasing the fullness may correct this. For more information, see Breast Augmentation and Lipo Fat Grafting for Natural Breast Enlargement.
Breast lift surgery repositions the nipple and areola (pigmented skin around the nipple) upwards to a more natural position. This natural position is about ½-3/4 of an inch above the crease under the breast. Careful positioning is important. Positioning them higher than this may result in an odd breast appearance. The size of the areola can also be reduced during surgery at the same time, if the patient desires. Breast list surgery is an effective remedy for droopy or sagging breasts and restores a more natural appearance to the breasts.
Scars from a breast lift are the similar to breast reduction surgery and are positioned around the nipple and beneath the breast as well. They are usually covered by most swimming suits. Many women can still breastfeed following breast lift surgery, if they choose to do so. However, it is not uncommon for women to choose to have completed having children before scheduling a breast lift or reduction surgery.
Most of my patients return to work 2 days following surgery with some activity restrictions. Both breast reduction and lift patients report being pleased with the change in their figure after the procedure and are happy with their decision to have surgery.
Image: Victoria Secret Catalog
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