Pregnancy is nothing short of a miracle if you consider how much a human body can endure just to bring new life into the world. However, it can also be tough on a woman’s body as it entails rapid weight fluctuations, stretch marks, hormonal issues, and pigmentation problems, among others. These issues, too, continue way after childbirth. It is no wonder then that 45% of women who had a high BMI during childbirth expressed high levels of body dissatisfaction.
There are, of course, preemptive ways to keep your body in shape during pregnancy, such as working out, so that the changes after childbirth are not as glaring. However, there are bodily changes that cannot be addressed through natural remedies. The good news is that there are cosmetic procedures that new moms can look into to help them look and feel their best.
Surgery for a Firmer Tummy
One of the most common things that moms want to know is how to tighten the loose skin on their stomach after pregnancy. This is to be expected. As your stomach stretches to accommodate your baby growing inside you, it’s normal that it does not immediately (or at all) go back to its original elasticity after you give birth. Another cause of a saggy belly after childbirth is diastasis recti or abdominal separation, which is when a literal gap is formed in between your left and right abdominal walls. A saggy stomach is not exactly a cause for concern, but it is understandable that some women feel uncomfortable about it.
If your tummy does not shrink back to its original shape even months after giving birth, one option for you to consider is getting a tummy tuck. In this procedure, a surgeon will sew the muscles in your abdominal walls, and then pull your skin tightly over it to create a firmer and flatter-looking midsection. It’s quite a popular procedure, especially among new moms. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 124,869 tummy tucks were performed on women as compared to 4,884 procedures done on men. This discrepancy is most likely due to tummy tucks being performed after child birth.
Vaginal Repair and Tightening
After giving birth, your body goes through a not-so-visible yet just as significant change – sometimes, the delicate skin of the inner labia, called the labia minora, stretches during childbirth. Typically, this stretching will heal within seven to ten days. However, in some instances, this stretching leads to the development of flaps that protrude beyond the labia majora. This protrusion, in turn, can be uncomfortable and even painful, especially since it is also prone to chaffing, making it difficult for some women to engage in exercise or sexual activity.
To ease the discomfort that this change can bring, you can get a labiaplasty, which entails contouring the labia by removing the excess skin from it. However, as this procedure is done on quite a sensitive area, it is best to have an open and honest discussion with your doctor first. If you are hesitant to go under the knife just months after childbirth, you can also try going for a minimally invasive vaginal tightening procedure which is less likely to have complications in the long run. This procedure will help restore your labia minora without the prolonged healing time that regular labiaplasty requires.
Remedying Sagging Breasts
One long-term effect of childbirth and motherhood in general is that your breasts tend to never look the same again. Contrary to popular belief that breastfeeding is the cause of saggy breasts, studies show that breastfeeding your baby does not exactly cause your breasts to droop. When your baby is born, breast milk fills your breasts, which can stretch the skin around the area. It’s the stretching out of the connective tissues within your breasts (called Cooper’s ligaments) that make your breasts seem saggy. Your breast milk can also dry out eventually, and when this happens, your breasts end up looking saggy and less full.
One popular procedure among new moms is breast augmentation surgery. In 2020 alone, more than 193,000 women went through this procedure, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This procedure entails inserting an implant behind the breast tissue to make your breast look fuller. This is relatively safe as well, since studies also show that a woman with breast implants still has a 75% of breastfeeding if desired, no matter the type and volume of the implant itself.
Motherhood is such a wonderful experience, but it brings with it changes that tend to make one feel dissatisfied and uncomfortable about how they look. These changes should not take away from the experience of giving birth and raising children. As such, there are cosmetic procedures that you can take advantage of to remedy these changes that you are not comfortable with. After all, as a mom, you deserve to feel good about yourself.
