Pregnancy can be an enjoyable process for some, whilst for others it can be painful and there can be a number of changes that happen to the body.

This is completely natural, yet we all seem to face somewhat dismay and surprise by the amount our stomach stretches, leaving us with excess skin and stretch marks. We mourn our pre-pregnancy figures and despite our best exercise efforts, it seems that the sagging skin won’t budge.

Dr. Rice says that during pregnancy the ligament stretches and doesn’t come back meaning that no matter how much you exercise, it is extremely hard to get the excess skin tightened.

For many women pregnancy leaves us with stretched skin around our abdominal area, and you may find that the stomach muscles have also been weakened. Phil Haeck MD, a Seattle plastic surgeon and president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) says that the average women opting for a ‘mummy tuck’ in his practice are mum’s with two or more children. As re-establishing your pre-pregnancy body can take years, it is not uncommon for women to want to speed up the process.

Time For a Mummy Tuck?

For the best results it is recommended to wait at least six months before considering surgery or even after your second child so you can give yourself time to adapt to life with a new body. Your body will still be full of mind altering hormones which may end up in you making a rash decision. Waiting will mean that the body can settle back, and the tissue can relax. If you have a tummy tuck whilst the body is still changing you may not get the best results. If you are considering having more than one child, it is worth waiting for your tummy tuck as although the surgery will not affect your pregnancy, it may reverse the surgery results.

If you prefer to wait for your surgery, but are looking for a non-surgical alternative that may help with scarring or loss of skin elasticity in the meantime, then it may be worth considering the Y Theorem Repair Serum. The repair serum will help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks or scars that may have occurred due to C-section. The Amino Acids support cell regeneration and improves the elasticity of the skin which will help prevent the occurrence of stretch marks in the future, whilst the Calendula extract heals and rejuvenates the skin. The Y Theorem Repair Serum will also be useful if you do decide to have a tummy tuck in the future, as the Aminocaproic acids aids the healing process and helps to prevent scarring.

Whilst pregnant, the abdominal muscles can come away and separate meaning it is difficult to tighten the skin, and can result in a pouch of flesh or excess overhanging skin. If you have decided to go ahead with a tummy tuck, the operation will involve bringing the abdominal muscles together again by tightening them and removing and excess skin. The results will be a firmer, flatter stomach, and can also assist in improving the appearance of stretch marks.

For those that only need a small area worked on such as the lower stomach, you may be a suitable candidate for a modified tummy tuck whereby the excess fat and skin is removed from below the navel meaning that your scar will be smaller and the surgery is less extensive.

The buttocks are an area that are not easily enhanced by diet or training. With the prevalence and ubiquity of “selfies” and “belfies” saturating our social media news feeds it is of no surprise that there is an increasing interest in modifying body types to meet our vanity needs. Whilst enlarged buttocked beauties date back to the 1970’s, the technique and variety of options have changed.

According to the poll from the American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), social media activity may be influencing our desire to undertake plastic surgery due to patients “being more self-aware of looks in social media”.

Social media superstars such as the Kardashian clan are no strangers to posting photos of the derriere on the popular site Instagram, which has fuelled interest in this area of the body, but it is not just celebrity selfies that can have an effect on our desires. People are also taking photos of themselves on a consistent basis, and with constant reminders of their appearance it may create the desire for self-improvement, especially if these photos have been altered.

Plastic Surgeon Dr. Elie Levine stated that people are bringing in edited pictures of themselves and stating that they want to look like the manipulated versions of themselves. Dr Mendelson adds

Buttock Treatments Available

With the rising trend there are now many non-surgical options such as types of padded underwear, but if you are looking for a more long lasting solution, here are some alternatives (your expectations need to be realistic):

Like any other surgical procedure, if you’re considering undergoing Liposuction you should take into account the recovery period and how this will affect you. Liposuction is an invasive procedure and may take you many weeks to recover from. If you’re thinking about having Liposuction then you may find this guide helpful when it comes to making your decision. The recovery period is different for each patient and it will depend on your health and the size of the area that Liposuction was performed on. If it was performed on a small area then your recovery could be as little as two to three days. However here are some recovery tips which are beneficial for all patients.

Immediately After Liposuction

The first 24-72 hours after Liposuction you will notice some fluid drainage from the treated area. The fluid is put in to make the fat removal easier and the body will then expel it when it’s no longer needed. The fluid will leak on to your clothes and sheets so it’s recommended that you wear loose, comfortable clothes which you don’t mind fluid getting on to.

Bruising and swelling of the area will be obvious post-surgery as this is an invasive procedure, but it should subside over the next few days. However it may take months for the swelling to completely subside and for the final results of the surgery to be visible.

The Recovery Period

You must follow the instructions your surgeon gives you regarding your stitches completely. You may find that you have open incisions or stitches and you will be given steri-strips to cover them. It is vital that you don’t touch or try to removes the steri-strips , they will either fall off on their own or your surgeon will remove them for you. Keeping them in will aid the recovery of your incisions and ensure they heal faster. You should monitor your incisions for signs of recovery such as redness, increased swelling, excessive drainage, pus or bad odours. If the areas becomes too warm or you develop a temperature over 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) you should contact your doctor immediately.

Your surgeon will also give you a compression garment to wear at all times during your recovery to help reduce the swelling. You will advised as to when you can remove this garment and it can be taken off for showering, but you should take care not to get your steri-strips wet. You will be allowed to shower 24 hours after the surgery, but care must be taken not to rub the area and it should be patted dry gently. You will not be allowed to sit in water, whether it is a bath, swimming pool or hot tub, for two weeks after surgery.

You will also have to avoid strenuous exercise for at least two weeks in order to give your body plenty of time to recover and recuperate, and you should eat a healthy diet. The results of your surgery are best maintained with a healthy, active lifestyle, so your surgeon will advise you when you can resume exercise.

The majority of patients find liposuction is fairly straightforward and few have problems if they adhere to the advice and instructions given by their surgeon. Don’t forget that if you have and questions or concerns during your recovery period you can always contact the clinic and seek the advice of the patient coordinator. If you’re considering Liposuction and would like to find out more information contact us today and we can arrange a consultation for you.

A healthy diet and an active lifestyle can go a long way to helping you achieve the toned, sculpted body you want but sometimes it can’t quite get you right to the finish line. Even with a dedicated exercise routine and a fantastic diet you may struggle to shift the last inch or so of stubborn fat and can you leave you feeling deflated – especially when you’ve put in so much hard work and come so far.

This is where body-sculpting procedures like liposuction come in, they’re ideal for people close to their target weight who are struggling with diet-and-exercise resistant pockets of fat. You may have heard about different types of liposuction technique, but you might be unsure about what the actual difference between them is and which one is right for you. Below you’ll find a helpful guide about the type of liposuction on offer, how they work and what results you can achieve.

The Three Types Of Liposuction

1) Liposculpture

We use the term Liposculpture rather than liposuction because it best reflects the surgeon’s skills and ability to carefully select the area of fatty tissue to be removed, achieving the best possible results. The time of the procedure varies depending on the size of the area to be treated, the amount of the fat to be removed and the type of anaesthesia being used.After liposculpture you are usually able to resume normal activity within a week, and you can return to exercise within six weeks. Your surgeon will give you detailed recovery advice, it is essential you follow it so your body can heal properly.

2) Laser Liposculpture

This procedure uses the heat from deep penetrating lasers to break down fat cells. Liposuction lasers are designed to only target the fat cells so there is no damage to the surrounding muscle and nerve tissue. The laser also seals off minor blood vessels and promotes collagen production so, as a result, the skin smooths and tightens, and the fat cells are drawn away. The final results are usually visible after three months. After laser liposculpture you can usually resume normal activity in less than a week, and resume exercise within four to six weeks.

3) Vaser Liposculpture

This is a state of the art liposuction system which allows fat deposits to be directly targeted, achieving outstanding body sculpting. Vaser liposculpture uses uses sound, instead of heat, to break up fatty deposits. This allows the treatment to be performed much closer to the muscle than other techniques and it is ideal for targeting small areas like the back of the arm. The final results of your vaser liposculpture are usually visible within three to six months. Like laser liposculpture, with the Vaser technique most patients are able to resume normal activity in less than a week, and vigorous exercise after six.

Find out more about our non-surgical body sculpting procedures here.

With so many different surgical procedures available, and different terms used to describe them, it’s no wonder that sometimes people can be left feeling a little bit confused about which procedure is actually right for them. Whether you are considered breast surgery yourself or would just like to have a bit more information about the types of procedure available, this blog will explain the difference between breast augmentation and a breast lift.

Breast Augmentation

Technically the term refers to any procedure which augments, or changes, the breast but it is most commonly used in reference to breast implants or breast enlargement. Breast implants are one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries for women in the UK, as it makes is possible for women of all shapes and sizes to increase cup size and the fullness of their breasts. There are many different types, sizes and shapes of implant available and during your consultation your surgeon will help you decide which implant is best for you.

Surgery usually takes between one and three hours. The implants are inserted using one of three different insertion points: 1) Below the breast: the implant is inserted in the crease under the breast, the breast will then hang over the incision masking the scar, 2) Around the areola: a virtually scar-free area as the incision is made in area which, due to its colour and texture, renders the incision point barely visible, 3) Under the armpit: another virtually scar-free option as any residual scarring is not visible when the arms are no elevated. Working through the incision point, the surgeon will lift the breast tissue and skin to create a pocket and the implant is either placed directly behind the breast tissue or under the chest muscle. The implants are then cantered beneath your nipples, stitches are used to close the incisions and they may also be taped for extra support.

After surgery you will likely experience some drainage from the incisions and in some cases small drainage tubes may be inserted beneath the skin to prevent fluid build-up, but these will usually be removed before you are discharged from the hospital. To control swelling and help your skin better fit its new contours, you will be fitted with a supporting bra that you will need to wear day and night for six weeks following surgery. You will usually be able to resume normal activity within one week, and exercise after six.

Breast implants are also sometimes used for reconstructive surgeries, for example after a mastectomy.

Breast Lift

A common surgery, particularly with older women or after child birth, which lifts the breasts to make them look younger and perkier. Breasts change over time and a number of things can affect their size and shape, including pregnancy, breast feeding, weight fluctuations and gravity – which wears away the natural supportive tissue of the breast. Your age, breast size and shape and the condition of your skin will affect the results of your breast lift, and your surgeon will explain how during your consultation. Your surgeon will also measure your breasts and discuss the placement of the nipple and areola, which will be moved higher during surgery.

Breast lift surgery usually takes between one and half to three hours. The most common technique is to use an anchor shaped incision following the natural contour of the breast, which will outline the area from which breast skin will be removed and define the new location for the nipple and areola. Stitches are used to the close the incision and are usually around the areola, and then extend downwards in a vertical line and along the crease of the breasts. Patients with smaller breasts or less sagging may be suitable for procedures which use different incisions involved less extensive incisions.

After surgery your breasts will swollen, bruised and uncomfortable fora few days but you shouldn’t be in severe pain. You will wear an elastic bandage or sports bra over gauze and then after a few days this will replaced by a soft support bra, which you will need to wear day and night for three to four weeks over a layer of gauze. You can expect some loss of feeling in your nipple and breast skin caused by swelling after surgery. This usually resides within six weeks but for some patients it can take up to a year for sensation to return and occasionally the numbness is long lasting.

In some cases a breast lift is also combined with the use of implant, to restore fullness to the upper portion of the breast. If you opt for an implant then it will be inserted directly under the breast tissue or beneath the chest muscle. 

After surgery you will be given detailed information for your recovery. You should avoid lifting anything heavy above your head for three to four weeks, refrain from strenuous sports for around a month and you may have to avoid sex for a week or two. If you become pregnant this operation should not affect your ability to breast feed as the milk ducts and nipples will remain intact.