The Pros and Cons of “Mommy Makeovers”
One of the trends in plastic surgery growing in popularity is “mommy makeovers” – a combination of procedures aimed at mitigating the effects which pregnancy and motherhood leave on the female body. And while it is true that a visit to a London breast clinic for a quick breast lift will hide some of the traces of pregnancy or breastfeeding, there are nevertheless a number of things which mothers unhappy with their post-pregnancy bodies should consider before either choosing a particular procedure or opting for the whole mommy makeover package.
A lot of plastic surgery clinics nowadays offer what has become known as the “mommy makeover” package – a marketing term describing the combination of a breast lift with or without breast implants, a tummy tuck and liposuction of certain body areas. The purpose of the mommy makeover is to hoist slackened skin, as well as to reduce stretch marks and fat accumulated during pregnancy.
Yet, before rushing to a London breast clinic or a liposuction facility for any or all of the above procedures, mothers need to be aware of what they must consider. As with any surgical procedure, there is always a minimal risk of complications. Mothers should also note that even though there might be no need for an overnight stay post-surgery, there will be some recovery time required and arrangements will have to be made for help with the kids and other responsibilities. There is also the issue of cost to consider since quality cosmetic surgery procedures do come with a price tag.
The critics of mommy makeovers also argue that this type of marketing “pathologises” the post-pregnancy body, defining the effects of pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding as maladies rather than natural. And while it is true that the one-size-fits-all concept of mommy makeovers might not always be the best way to address the effects of motherhood on the female body, it is also true that a lot of women feel self-conscious and insecure after giving birth and perhaps unable to wear the same clothing etc. as before.. In addition, women who try to tackle their post-pregnancy body with exercise and diet sometimes discover that fat in certain areas tends to be particularly resistant or that losing weight doesn’t always solve the problem of a sagging stomach.
Despite varying opinion on the question of contemporary rigid beauty standards as being imposed by media and pop culture many women feel better knowing that they at least have the option of restoring their pre-baby body shape with a little help from cosmetic surgery. Yet, as with plastic surgery in general, in the case of mommy makeovers, there is a thin line between a much-needed self-esteem boost and relying too much on surgery.
In any case, women should look for the balance between a supposedly universal surgical solution and the lack of any action (surgical, physical or dietary) whatsoever. In the case of opting for a surgical intervention, it is important to consider whether a woman actually needs the whole mommy makeover package or just part of it. For instance, women may try to skip the tummy tuck by tightening up their abdominal area through diet and exercise and only visit a London breast clinic for a breast lift. Some women’s breasts actually return to normal after birth, meaning that the women in question might only need to take care of excess fat which does not respond to diets and exercise.
When it comes to mommy makeovers, women need to focus on themselves and their own needs. So, if a woman feels her post-pregnancy body may be improved by visiting a local London breast clinic, she should go for it, but carefully consider what surgical procedures are really necessary for her and what she can perhaps address through non-surgical means.
