Gastric sleeve is the common name for a procedure that is medically known as a sleeve gastrectomy, which is a type of surgery involving the removal of up to 80% of the stomach to help the patient achieve weight loss. This results in a stomach that is shaped like a “sleeve” around the size of a banana.
There are two main benefits of undergoing a gastric sleeve procedure related to weight loss. The first benefit is that making the stomach smaller means that you cannot eat as much food at any given time. Secondly, the surgery affects your hormones, resulting in a lower appetite and food intake.
One thing that many patients wonder about is if they can undergo a mommy makeover procedure after they have already had a gastric sleeve procedure. Before getting into those details, it may be helpful to understand what is involved with the mommy makeover procedure.
Can I have a mommy makeover after gastric sleeve surgery?
You should be able to have a mommy makeover performed following gastric sleeve surgery. But there are some precautions and considerations that you should be aware of. Your surgical time frame is dependent upon how you recover and progress after your gastric sleeve surgery. Every woman recovers at their own individual pace.
One other thing to consider is that you need to reach a weight that is healthy and that you are able to maintain. It is often recommended that women maintain their ideal weight for about six months before undergoing any type of body contouring so that they do not risk compromising their final results.
Another consideration is that it is common to experience vitamin deficiencies following any type of bariatric surgery, particularly iron deficiency. So make sure that you are carefully following your gastric sleeve surgeon’s instructions after your procedure, particularly any supplements they recommend that you take. This is because having a vitamin deficiency can affect both your immune system response and your ability to heal after a procedure like a mommy makeover.
The Takeaway
The mommy makeover is a fantastic procedure that can help you achieve, or regain, a sleek and more youthful appearance. A customized plan can be created just for you and your individual needs and goals.
You should be able to have a mommy makeover performed after gastric sleeve surgery if you give your body several months to heal and recover. Don’t underestimate how serious this type of surgery really is. Your body will need time to properly recover before you undergo any type of body contouring procedure, including a mommy makeover.
Stay in close consultation with your plastic surgeon and let them know of your desire to undergo a mommy makeover procedure after your gastric sleeve surgery. They will monitor your recovery and progress to let you know when undergoing a mommy makeover would be safe and appropriate.
The Mommy Makeover
Many people mistakenly believe that the mommy makeover is one singular procedure. In reality, it is a combination of procedures that are performed in combination in one operation. In most cases, a mommy makeover includes the following procedures:
- Breast lift
- Tummy tuck
- Liposuction
- Breast augmentation
Since many women undergo unpleasant changes to their bodies following pregnancy and breast-feeding, the mommy makeover was developed to address their concerns. For example, many women experience weight gain and skin stretching, as well as a loss of firmness in their breasts.
By undergoing a mommy makeover, women can achieve all of their goals at once. They will also not need to have a separate recovery period for each individual procedure, saving some downtime in the process. This allows a woman to achieve, or regain, her desired body image in one period of time.
Mommy Makeover Procedure
As mentioned earlier, there is no one specific procedure called a “mommy makeover.” The specifics involved with each mommy makeover depend upon the unique needs of each individual patient. You will be meeting with your plastic surgeon to determine which procedures will make up your customized mommy makeover procedure.
Best Candidates
The most appropriate candidates for a mommy makeover are women who are no longer breast-feeding. One consideration is that if you undergo a breast augmentation procedure, it could impact your chances of breast-feeding in the future, depending upon the specific way that your individual surgery is performed.
If it is important to you that you breast-feed your child, you should consider postponing breast augmentation until after they have weaned. If you are a smoker, you need to quit for a minimum of two weeks before and after your procedure, since smoking can have a negative impact upon your recovery and healing process.
Another very important aspect of considering a mommy makeover is your expectations. If you have unrealistic expectations about what a mommy makeover can achieve, you will probably be disappointed in your results. Your plastic surgeon will carefully explain all details of your procedure so that you have a full understanding of the risks and most likely outcomes for your individual procedure.
Here are some common elements included with a typical mommy makeover:
Breast Augmentation
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia, lasting about an hour. The location and length of your incisions will depend upon the type and size of breast implants to be used. The most common location for the incision in the breast crease. After your surgeon makes the incision, they will create a space, or pocket, for your implant.
Next, your surgeon will actually place the implant, which they will carefully position before closing the incision.
Women sometimes undergo breast lift surgery in conjunction with a breast augmentation to increase the size of the breast and restore a more youthful breast appearance.
Tummy Tuck
The abdominoplasty, more popularly known as a tummy tuck procedure, helps tighten the abdomen and remove excess fat and skin. What you are left with is a sleeker and flatter abdominal contour in proportion to your weight and body type.
The tummy tuck procedure is performed using general anesthesia, lasting about three hours. The incision is most commonly placed horizontally near the pubic area, allowing you to hide the resulting scar with undergarments or swimwear. An incision around the navel may be needed if there is excess skin above the area.
Liposuction
Liposuction is useful for reducing local fat pockets that are stubbornly resistant to changes in diet and exercise. Some common areas that liposuctions are performed for include:
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Thighs
- Back
- Chin
The liposuction typically last about an hour or two and is performed under general anesthesia. The needed incisions are usually small and can be concealed within the body’s natural folds. Your surgeon will insert a cannula, or hollow tube, into the incision to loosen up excess fat. They will then vacuum out the fat through the cannula tube. You would need to wear some type of compression garment for a couple of weeks after your surgery to help minimize swelling and bruising.
