Health Focus is a weekly article in the Lake County News Herald featuring a Q & A with Dr. Vanek.
Q: Now that we’ve had our last baby, I’ve been interested in getting my body back in “pre-baby” shape. I’ve heard of Mommy Makeovers, but are they all done the same?
A. Typically, three procedures are included in an abdominoplasty, often called a “Mommy Makeover” – breast augmentation, tummy tuck and breast lift.
If you have excess fat in your abdomen, in addition to excess skin and sagging muscles, then an abdominoplasty would probably give you the best result.
But if your main concern is excess abdominal fat, then you’re probably a candidate for Vaser liposuction alone. This will selectively remove excess fat deposits, but it may not cause all the excess skin to shrink down. If you have excess skin already, it could appear even more loose and sagging after liposuction. With an abdominoplasty, this wouldn’t be a problem because excess skin would be removed along with excess fat. In addition, an abdominoplasty will repair weakened abdominal muscles, for a slimmer and tighter figure.
Other combinations of Mommy Makeovers
Depending on your shape, you can safely combine a tummy tuck with Vaser liposuction (lipoabdominoplasty). This “surround sound” Vaser treatment uses ultrasound energy to liquefy the fat cells selectively on the back, flanks, abdomen, and around the breast areas.
If the shape of your breasts is your concern, a breast lift will restore your breasts to a youthful position. Many women notice a loss of breast volume after childbirth and as they get older, a breast augmentation can be combined with a lift to restore volume and raise the breasts.
Combining these procedures gives you the benefit of a single anesthesia and recovery, with less downtime. To learn if you are ready for a Mommy Makeover, please call my office or visit MentorPlasticSurgery.com.
Dr. Paul Vanek MD, FACS
Vanek Plastic Surgery
9485 Mentor Ave #100
Mentor, OH 44060
440-205-5750
