The Evolution of the Mommy Makeover
by Beauty Blogger Emmy Owens
There’s a relatively new phrase in the world of plastic surgery: the “mommy makeover,” used to describe a combination procedure that treats multiple areas affected by pregnancy in a single operation. Any attempt to pinpoint the moment when a tummy tuck, liposuction, and boob job coalesced into the “mommy makeover” probably leads to a marketing conference room rather than an operating room. What appears certain, though, is that the combination of procedures usually performed during a mommy makeover became increasingly popular after someone coined the catchy nickname.
Even though neither of the 2 major plastic surgery organizations — the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)® nor the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) — keep statistics on mommy makeovers, the increase in tummy tucks and cosmetic breast surgery between 2000 and 2014 is significant. The number of tummy tucks performed increased nearly 90{f4e1575822752660c3387461b06f16047197db710b64f29e8565d582c3a8cd4f} during that time, with breast lifts jumping 75{f4e1575822752660c3387461b06f16047197db710b64f29e8565d582c3a8cd4f}. And there’s lots of anecdotal evidence.
“The growing interest in ‘mommy makeovers’ reflects the increase in pregnancies at later ages and increased multiple births, in a generation of women with ‘a keen interest in nutrition, fitness, and a continued desire to retain a youthful figure,'” says an August 2015 article published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®.
Tummy tuck and breast lift surgery isn’t limited to women with kids, of course. But moms in their 30s and 40s who feel self-conscious about their bodies are more inclined to see a plastic surgeon.
“Cosmetic surgery can help restore confidence in a body changed by pregnancy,” says Dr. Josh Olson, a Scottsdale, Arizona, breast augmentation specialist, in a blog post on his website. “That’s one of the main motivations I hear from moms who come in for consultations. But it’s critical to consult with a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon to create a treatment plan that meets your unique needs.”
Those unique needs no longer include just tummy tucks, breast surgery, and liposuction as part of the mommy makeover package. In recent years, vaginal rejuvenation, which includes both surgical and non-surgical procedures, is being requested by more and more women.
In fact, labiaplasty was among the procedures that showed the largest growth in volume on a year-over-year basis in 2014, according to the ASAPS.
“Consumer satisfaction with labiaplasty has dramatically increased over the years, which suggests that women are very satisfied with the outcomes,” says Tom Seery, CEO of RealSelf, in an article published by Plastic Surgery Practice.
Labiaplasty represents only one option for women seeking vaginal rejuvenation after pregnancy and childbirth. The list of surgical procedures includes vaginoplasty, clitoral hood reduction, and hymenoplasty. Several minimally invasive treatments introduced in recent years, including laser and radiofrequency procedures, are designed to tighten the vagina and improve its appearance without the discomfort and downtime of surgery.
Some women pursue vaginal rejuvenation with the hope having a more aesthetically appealing vagina and improving their sex lives, but other patients are more concerned about functional issues that occur following pregnancy. Those can include incontinence and discomfort.
Most plastic surgeons expect the popularity of these procedures as part of a mommy makeover to continue to grow. In fact, the Aesthetic Surgery Journal has created a new Genital Rejuvenation section to feature research and articles about the topic.
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