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Do I Have to Lose Weight Before a Mommy Makeover?

Posted July 31, 2021 in Mommy Makeover

If you’re planning to get a Mommy Makeover, managing your body weight will be an important part of preparing for the procedure. Ideally, you should be at a stable body weight that at or near your goal weight before you get a Mommy Makeover.

The Importance of Having a Stable Body Weight

Mommy Makeover surgery is designed to improve the contours of your body, and the surgical adjustments are tailored to your body at its current weight and size. Therefore, if your body is at a stable weight, you will achieve the most reliable results. On the other hand, if you lose weight or gain weight after a Mommy Makeover, the weight fluctuations could undo the results of your surgery. Many surgeons will recommend that you be at a stable weight for at least 6 months before surgery. Having a stable body weight will help you achieve the best possible results from Mommy Makeover surgery.

Not a Weight Loss Procedure

Liposuction, which is often included in a Mommy Makeover, helps to trim body contours by eliminating stubborn fat. However, liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. Liposuction carefully extracts fat cells from specific target areas of the body, and the total amount of fat removed may be up to 5 pounds. Women who are actively trying to lose weight may need to shed much more than 5 pounds. Unfortunately, attempting to remove more fat during the Mommy Makeover would make the recovery significantly more difficult, and it would also reduce the safety profile and increase the risk of complications.

It is best to undergo a Mommy Makeover when you are already at or near your goal weight, but you have pockets of stubborn fat in places such as the lower belly, thighs, or hips. Your surgeon can remove this excess fat during your Mommy Makeover to help smooth and refine your body contours. Often, this strategic contouring makes it look as though you have lost much more than 5 pounds!

Correcting Loose Skin

The Mommy Makeover procedure corrects areas of sagging, loose skin by trimming away excess skin and pulling the remaining skin tight over the body contours. If you get a Mommy Makeover and then lose more weight after the procedure, the once-tightened skin may become loose again. This could undermine or even eliminate the results of your surgery. By making sure you are close to your goal weight before surgery, you help to ensure that your Mommy Makeover results are long lasting.

Helping Your Body Recover

A Mommy Makeover is a major surgery, and it will take your body time to recover. Being at a healthy body weight before surgery is crucial to helping your body have the smoothest recovery experience. Extensive scientific research has demonstrated that individuals at a healthy body weight have the lowest risk of surgical complications and usually have the best, quickest, and safest recovery experience.

How Much Weight Should You Lose?

Ideally, Mommy Makeover patients will have achieved their desired body weight before surgery (give or take a couple pounds). However, if you have had a difficult time losing weight, don’t despair: a few extra pounds will typically not be a problem. The general recommendation is to be no more than 10 or 20 pounds over your goal weight before you get a Mommy Makeover. Just remember that the closer you are to your ideal weight beforehand, the better your treatment experience and your results will be.

Tips to Help You Lose Weight Before a Mommy Makeover

The key to weight loss before a Mommy Makeover is making consistent, healthy choices. Behaviors such as going on a walk every day with your new baby, adopting a regular exercise routine, substituting sugary snacks for healthier alternatives, watching food proportions, and being as active as possible are all achievable ways to trim down. These lifestyle changes will help you prepare for your Mommy Makeover and put you in the best position to enjoy and maintain your Mommy Makeover results.

A Mommy Makeover can remove stubborn fat, lift sagging breasts, flatten your tummy, and improve your contours to give you the figure you desire. To schedule your consultation with Dr. Andres Taleisnik, our board-certified plastic surgeon, call (657) 294-8375 or contact us online.

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