The most common plastic surgery procedures performed after child birth
Congratulations on the birth of your new child! After nine months of carrying a precious, little infant, your body will experience changes that are normal. These changes may leave you feeling less than happy about your figure.
If plastic surgery is an option you are considering it is important you are back to good health. Many women experience feeling “the blues” in the weeks or months after delivery and this is not the time to consider plastic surgery.
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Breast Lift or Tightening (Mastopexy)
During pregnancy as your body prepares to nurture a child, milk glands in the breasts swell and replace fatty tissue. After childbirth these glands shrink. What is left is a skin envelope; with little breast tissue to fill the skin envelope.
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Stomach Tightening (Abdominoplasty)
You will experience abdominal changes after pregnancy. Skin laxity, muscle weakness, Cesarean section scars and the occasional hernia are some of the abdominal changes you may experience.
Abdominal muscles are stretched and often separated during pregnancy this is called rectus diastasis, and may be associated with an umbilical hernia or ventral hernia. No amount of exercise including endless situps will reconnect these muscles.
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Liposuction
Liposuction is the most commonly requested cosmetic procedure. This procedure is often most beneficial to women after pregnancy. Many women after pregnancy complain they cannot loose fat in their hips, thighs, buttocks, and upper arms.
Liposuction is not appropriate for women who are overweight and have large fat deposits. The majority of weight loss must occur before liposuction, leaving only specific fatty deposits to be treated.
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Feminine Rejuvenation
During pregnancy the muscles of the pelvic region are placed under a great deal of tension, and the lining of the vagina becomes stretched. The labia (minora and majora) surrounding the vaginal opening become swollen and distorted. During normal vaginal delivery many women tear or otherwise damage these tissues. A vaginaplasty can repair a lax or torn vagina. Labioplasty corrects and re-contours the ripped and over distended labia. Both procedures allow women to regain pleasure in sexual activity and to feel more comfortable wearing certain types of clothing such as bathing suits and jeans.
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Cesarian Section Scars
Scars initially appear red and sometimes raised, but over the course of time C-section scars mature and fade into a pencil- thin line. If this does not occur a surgical scar revision with a plastic surgery closure will improve the appearance and turns the scar into a fine line.
Some women however may have persistent problems with a hypertrophic or keloid scar. The use of silicone gel or sheeting, massage and pressure may serve to improve the scar. If these less invasive treatment methods are not successful, injections with a steroid or a steroid combined with 5-fluorouracile are recommended.
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Leg Veins
During pregnancy your enlarged uterus presses on abdominal and pelvic vessels. This causes dilation of the veins and capillaries in your legs, and is further exacerbated by the effect of your body’s hormones (estrogen) on the walls of these vessels. After the birth of your baby your may notice leg veins, both large and small spider veins, that are very prominent. Many of these veins