Key Takeaways
- A 43-year-old patient who had been considering a mommy makeover for over a decade decided the time was right after years of healthy living that still couldn't achieve her desired results.
- After thorough research, she chose NOVA and Dr. Nukta, who determined she was an excellent candidate for breast augmentation, mini abdominoplasty, and liposuction.
- Because she had no breast ptosis, she received 340cc silicone implants without a lift, placed submuscularly for the most natural look and reduced capsular contracture risk.
- A mini abdominoplasty was performed rather than a full tummy tuck because her muscle separation was limited to below the belly button.
- Liposuction of the flanks and thighs completed the transformation, providing comprehensive body contouring that diet and exercise had not been able to achieve.
A 43-year old woman, whose youngest child had been born 11 years earlier, decided that after a decade of considering getting a Mommy Makeover the time was right. She had been working out, eating right, and taking good care of her body but just wasnt seeing the results she wanted. After spending a lot of time doing research on plastic surgeons and speaking to her friends about their experiences with plastic surgery she came to NOVA Plastic Surgery.
During her consultation,
Dr. Nukta explained the surgical options and techniques and determined that the patient would be a great candidate for a breast augmentation, mini abdominoplasty, and liposuction of the flanks and thighs.
This is an in-depth look at the procedures that were performed on the patient and the results that she obtained from her “Mommy Makeover” surgery.
Breast Augmentation:
Because the patient did not have any ptosis (drooping of the breasts), she did not require a breast lift with her augmentation. Her breast augmentation options included placing the implants either under the muscle or over the muscle. For the surgeon to place the implant over the muscle, the patient has to have enough soft tissue to cover the implant. Over the muscle placement also requires less recovery time. However, because the patient wanted to increase the size of her breasts from a B cup to a D cup, she and Dr. Nukta decided that placing the implants under the muscle would be the best option.
Mini Abdominoplasty:
Abdominoplasty is commonly known as a tummy tuck. Pregnancy takes its toll on the female body, so women who have had children often turn to abdominoplasty to remove excess skin from the abdomen and tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. A full tummy tuck addresses three components of the abdomen: the muscles, skin, and fatty tissues. During a full tummy tuck, the surgeon will tighten the abdominal muscles, remove excess skin below the belly button, and remove any excess fat with liposuction.
A mini tummy tuck, on the other hand, is less invasive and less dramatic than a full tummy tuck. It involves removing the loosened abdominal tissue in the area between the belly button and the pubic bone. It doesnt change the location of the belly button and has a much smaller incision.
The patient in this case did not have a lot of abdominal laxity, so she was a good candidate for a mini abdominoplasty.
Liposuction:
Liposuction is a surgical procedure to remove stubborn excess fat deposits in various areas of the body. Although the patient had been exercising and eating right, some of her fat deposits were resistant to the diet and exercise. Therefore, Dr. Nukta performed liposuction on her flanks and thighs.
5 months later, our patient looks fabulous. She says that she is happy to have a better sense of self, to have transformed her body, and is excited to wear a bikini on the beach this summer.
For more information on Mommy Makeovers please visit our pages on
breast augmentation,
abdominoplasty, and
liposuction. To schedule a Mommy Makeover
consultation with Dr. Nukta, please contact our Northern Virginia office in
Ashburn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What procedures did this NOVA mommy makeover patient have?
This 43-year-old patient received a combination of three procedures: breast augmentation with 340cc silicone implants placed under the muscle, a mini abdominoplasty to address lower abdominal skin and limited muscle separation, and liposuction of the flanks and thighs for comprehensive body contouring.
Why was a mini abdominoplasty chosen instead of a full tummy tuck?
Dr. Nukta determined that the patient's diastasis recti was limited to the area below the belly button rather than extending throughout the entire abdominal wall. A mini abdominoplasty addresses the lower abdomen only and was therefore the most appropriate and least invasive option to correct her specific concern.
Why were the breast implants placed under the muscle?
Sub-muscular placement was selected to produce the most natural-looking result and reduce the risk of capsular contracture. Because the patient did not have ptosis, no breast lift was needed, and the 340cc silicone implants under the muscle provided the additional volume and shape she desired without requiring a more complex procedure.
What motivated this patient to finally move forward with her mommy makeover?
The patient had been considering the procedure for over a decade and had spent years eating well, exercising regularly, and taking good care of her body. Despite her healthy lifestyle, she was not achieving the aesthetic results she wanted for her post-pregnancy body, which motivated her to explore surgical options.
What can other mommy makeover candidates learn from this case study?
This case illustrates that a mommy makeover is highly personalized and does not follow a fixed template. The combination of procedures, implant size, and surgical technique are all tailored to the individual patient's anatomy and concerns. A thorough consultation with a board-certified surgeon ensures the plan is right for your specific situation.
