Mommy Makeover- The Restoration

Often I use the term 'frumpy' to describe the changes that pregnancy brings on both to the breasts and abdomen.  The tissue is loose, hanging, soft and redundant.  Often patients will say "I am not that bad and all I need is liposuction".

This sometimes is true, but in the end the outcome depends on your goal.  Liposuction might be fine if your skin elasticity allows it, but often I look at the patient, who is pictured on the left and describe her as 'frumpy'.

My goal is to contour and sculpt the patient so that they look the opposite of 'frumpy'.  This means restoring their tissue to make them tighter, sculpted and lifted to the original anatomic contour.  Believe it or not, the after photograph on the right is the same patient after her mommy makeover.  This included tummy tuck with lipo-sculpting and breast lift with a gel implant.  This patient has a restored self appearance and can feel confident that she can walk around in a bathing suit without any tell-tale signs of surgery.  This is the power of Mommy Makeover procedures.    

The Great Intersection- Why Plastic Surgery Is Unique

There is no doubt that plastic surgeons are scientists.  We are doing surgical procedures that are based on sound scientific principles of anatomy and re-arrangement of tissues.  However, I am always striving to find that Intersection, where science meets the art of plastic surgery.

Plastic surgery is also just as much an art as it is science.  When I see a patient, I try to examine each patient very carefully and approach each case with an eye to find that balance and intersection of science and art.  I am a sculptor, who is guided by scientific principles to get the most natural result possible for each patient.   

Is it Liposuction or Liposculpting? What am I getting?

Patients often ask me what is the difference between liposuction and liposculpting.  To me they are very different if you look at what we are really doing.

Liposuction is simply the removal of unwanted fat from a particular anatomic region.  Usually, these areas are resistant to diet and exercise.  If your skin elasticity is still well-maintained, then this is a great way to contour your body.  Here we are letting your body re-drape and contour.

Liposculpting is when we use liposuction to actually contour an area to our desired endpoint.  With liposculpting, I might liposuction an area, but not liposuction an area adjacent to that.  This means that the area that I left behind still has fat left.  This often leaves an area that you might call sculpted.  For instance, trying to create a six pack abdomen.  I might liposuction the inscriptions but the area above and below the inscriptions might not be suctioned.  Often I use liposculpting techniques during my tummy tuck procedures.  Some plastic surgeons might refer to this as etching.

In either case, these techniques give me the chance to be a sculptor.  I can carefully and artistically create an area that looks amazing!

When you come for your consult, be sure to ask these questions.