Today we will discuss effective care for Mommy makeover scars. The Mommy makeover remains a sought-after choice for women aiming to enhance, firm, and redefine their bodies post-pregnancy.
Undoubtedly, the integration of plastic surgery procedures like breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck, liposuction, and certain facial treatments by a certified plastic surgeon can lead to a notably rejuvenated appearance.
Today, we’ll aim to explore the typical scarring patterns associated with mommy makeover procedures, understand the process of incision healing, and discover effective ways to minimize the visibility of scars over time.
We encourage this conversation as we consider it a crucial aspect of ensuring that each patient comprehends the potential outcome for their body after the procedure.
What To Know About Mommy Makeover Scars
Mommy makeovers can leave visible scarring, but careful incision placement and proper post-operative care can help minimize visibility over time.
Scar appearance can vary depending on the types of plastic surgery procedures performed. Factors like skin tone, body type, pre-existing medical conditions, and the bodies individual healing response will all play a role.
Every individual procedure has its own unique scar shape and size; The challenge comes in minimizing them.
Proper wound care, including silicone gel sheets, avoidance of direct sunlight on affected areas, and proper wrapping techniques can reduce the risk of excessive scar tissue from cosmetic surgery procedures.
Understanding Your Mommy Makeover Scars
Following pregnancy, many women do not regain their pre-pregnancy physique, leaving them searching for solutions to regain their desired body shape.
Mommy makeovers present a viable option for women to get the desired post-pregnancy body they crave. Regardless of the specific procedure undertaken, there is consistently a potential risk of noticeable scarring.
Incisions Leave Scars
Scar tissue forms as a natural part of the healing process after incisions are made during plastic surgery, like in mommy makeover procedures. The visibility of these scars after the surgery can be affected by factors like the location and size of the incisions.
A skilled plastic surgeon, during a consultation, will offer guidance on effective wound care practices to minimize the prominence of scars as they heal.
Utilizing products like silicone sheets or cortisone cream, adopting proper cleansing, and moisturizing routines, and incorporating massage therapy can contribute to the gradual fading of scars once they have fully healed.
What Effects Scar Visibility?
The visibility of mommy makeover scars depends on various factors. No matter what, incisions create scars. The degree of sagging, skin elasticity, underlying medical conditions, and the scope of procedures performed collectively influence the prominence of scars following surgery.
Each procedure presents its own set of surgical challenges. A proficient cosmetic surgeon endeavors to make incision placement as inconspicuously as possible, ensuring that scars are barely visible, especially when wearing revealing items like swimwear and lingerie.
During breast lift and breast implant surgery, surgeons deftly navigate multiple layers of tissue, aiming to preserve nipple sensitivity while minimizing incisions for faster healing and minimal scarring.
If liposuction is necessary for body contouring, it can also impact the subtlety or visibility of scars, depending on the person.
Most Common Mommy Makeover Procedures:
The most common mommy makeover procedures performed include breast augmentation, breast lift or with fat transfer, abdominoplasty(tummy tuck), and liposuction. The size and visibility of scars may differ based on the specific procedures, along with factors such as skin tone and body type.
Breast Lift/ Breast Augmentation
Visibility of breast lift scars and breast augmentation scars is very common. However, due to advancements in technology and methodologies, these scars significantly diminish with time and seamlessly blend into natural skin creases and folds.
To enhance the healing process and reduce scarring during wound care, physicians typically recommend that patients refrain from vigorous scrubbing or exfoliation.
It is also advised to avoid activities that exert excessive pressure on the treated areas, such as wearing tight clothing. Steer clear of lotions containing chemicals that may irritate sensitized healing tissues, including fragrant oils.
Tummy Tuck
The largest and most noticeable of scars among all mommy makeover procedures are tummy tuck scars. This procedure involves the removal of excess skin and the repositioning of the abdominal muscles, which can lead to substantial tummy tuck scars.
To reduce visibility, board-certified plastic surgeons aim to keep scars low, especially in areas exposed by swimwear or lingerie. Additionally, they strategically place incisions in natural creases and folds of the skin, such as below the bikini line, to minimize their appearance.
Depending on the type of abdominoplasty performed, there may or may not be a circular scar around the belly button. Advanced technology and techniques, including the use of a liposuction cannula through the shorter tummy tuck incision, often allow for the minimization of these scars.
Liposuction
Liposuction constitutes a standard part of the mommy makeover process, typically involving minor incisions that result in minimal and inconspicuous liposuction scars. The small size of these incisions is sufficient for the surgeon to effectively eliminate excess fat from the designated area.
In contrast to procedures like tummy tucks or breast augmentation, liposuction yields significantly fewer visible scars. This makes it an attractive choice for individuals seeking a mommy makeover with minimal discernible traces of surgical intervention.
Multiple Procedures:
A mommy makeover may encompass a variety of procedures, leading to the presence of different types of scars. For instance, breast augmentation and lift procedures result in scars, and may come with scars from tummy tucks or liposuction as well
The formation of scars is an outcome of any incision, and the likelihood of their visibility increases when multiple incisions are made, persisting for several months after the surgery. Combination scars frequently arise when breast augmentations and lifts are combined with abdominoplasty, as they share similar placement along the chest wall and extend to the lower abdomen beneath the belly button and hip creases, forming a dual closure line.
The appearance of these combined scars can vary based on an individual’s healing capacity. With proper management during the mommy makeover recovery period, these scars may appear smooth, but without adequate care, they may become raised.
Mommy Makeover Tips To Minimize Scars:
Proper wound care and scar management will greatly reduce the visibility of scars over time.
Silicone Sheets/Gel:
Silicone sheets, scar cream, and silicon gel, offer an effective approach to managing mommy makeover scars in women who have undergone surgical procedures.
These silicone-based products help maintain scar moisture, create a protective barrier against excessive skin, and diminish the presence of Platelet Derived Growth Factor, a factor linked to overactive healing responses leading to hypertrophic and keloid scars.
Application of silicone gel or sheets is recommended for extended periods, typically spanning several hours. The use of these silicone products helps wounds heal faster and is generally associated with minimal side effects, including occasional redness and skin irritation.
Proper Wound Care:
Effective wound care plays a crucial role in minimizing the visibility of scars. It significantly influences the success of your surgical outcome. Maintaining cleanliness and dryness of incisions can reduce scars.
Applying medical-grade silicone sheets or gel for protection during the healing phase, engaging in scar massage to enhance texture and appearance, abstaining from smoking, and ensuring proper nutrition, can all contribute to minimizing scarring after undergoing mommy makeover plastic surgery.
Initiating scar management immediately after surgery is essential to lower the risk of infections, support optimal healing, and diminish noticeable signs of scarring. It is important to consider the varying healing times required for different types of incisions when tending to postoperative scar care.
Scar Massage:
Often overlooked, scar massage serves to diminish the appearance of scars resulting from procedures like a mommy makeover.
Engaging in regular massaging of the scar tissue, optionally with oil, enhances blood circulation and stimulates collagen production. This, in turn, contributes to the softening of the scar, reducing inflammation, and alleviating tightness.
Scar massages also aid in the relaxation and desensitization of sensitive areas surrounding the affected region, which may experience occasional pain or discomfort. It is advisable to initiate scar massage at the earliest opportunity after surgery.
During the process of scar massage, it is recommended to apply gentle pressure and move your hands in a circular motion over the new scar tissue until all areas are thoroughly massaged. This routine should be performed for approximately five minutes each day over several months, extending as needed.
For optimal mommy makeover results, mommy makeover patients should adhere to safety precautions, including the use of appropriate lubrication during massage, avoiding excessive pressure, selecting a technique tailored to individual needs, and refraining from picking at scabs.
Questions and Answers
Does Mommy Makeover Leave A Scar?
Many women worry about mommy makeover scars, but modern technology and techniques ensure minimal scarring, often discreetly placed in natural skin creases.
How Much Weight Is Typically Lost With a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover has the potential to assist a woman in shedding between five to fifteen pounds, although this outcome is not assured. Various factors, such as overall health and lifestyle habits, can influence the results for each person.
What Is the Best Scar Treatment For A Mommy Makeover?
Silicone sheets and gel can offer successful scar management for women who have undergone mommy makeover procedures.
How Long Do Mommy Makeover Results Last?
Although the results of a tummy tuck and liposuction can be long-lasting, breast implants typically require revision over time. Nevertheless, numerous women can relish their enhanced physique for approximately a decade before considering further adjustments.
Book A Consultation
Do you have any questions or would you like a mommy makeover consultation?
If you would like to learn more about mommy makeover surgery, please fill out our contact form and we will be happy to assist you!
Please call to schedule a consultation with us at Galanis Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills at 310-858-8930.
References
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/what-will-your-mommy-makeover-scars-look-like
