What is a "Mommy Makeover" anyway?
Motherhood, we wouldn’t trade it for anything, but it often leaves behind tummy paunches that won’t go away regardless of exercise or dieting, stretch marks, or gravity taking hold where it hadn’t before.
Mommy Makeover refers to a series of body contouring procedures that addresses post-pregnancy body issues that can often be corrected in a single session of surgery.
These procedures may include Tummy Tucks (abdominoplasty), Liposuction, Breast Lifts or Enhancements, and Lower Body Lifts, depending on the individual results you wish to achieve.
We hope our resource blog will help answer questions. Our Mommy Makeover will help restore your body and help you look and feel youthful while keeping up with your new super active lifestyle! Call Runnels Center for a consultation –– because we think You’re Worth It, Mom!
Step 1: Education
Learning all about the procedure is always a good first step. Dr. Scott Runnels or Dr. William North can advise you on which procedures and techniques would be best suited for your body and the look you desire:
Liposuction and Liposculpture
Removes unsightly fat deposits from under the skin.
If you are tired of unsightly fat deposits on your body, the Runnels Center can help. Liposuction and liposculpture are frequently used on the buttocks, hips, thighs and stomach where excess fat tends to accumulate. This treatment is equally effective for women and men. With a liposuction or liposculpture procedure, Dr. Runnels or Dr. North can remove fat deposits from under the skin and reshape the curves of your body to give you the smooth contours you desire. *
Tummy Tuck (Full or Mini)
Tightens abdominal muscles and removes excess skin or fat.
Reduce the appearance of fat and tighten muscles around the abdomen with a tummy tuck procedure at the Runnels Center. With this procedure, Dr. Runnels or Dr. North can eliminate loose and sagging abdominal skin caused by pregnancy, weight loss or inherited conditions. A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, can also help minimize the appearance of unsightly stretch marks, especially those located below the navel. Recovery time is around two weeks. *
Lower Body Lift (Inner/Outer Thigh and Buttock)
Shapes and tones the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs
Achieve the look you desire with a lower body lift at the Runnels Center. This procedure surgically tightens loose, sagging skin in the buttocks, hips and thighs to create a smoother and more youthful contour of the lower body. If needed, Dr. Runnels can also tighten the skin in the abdominal area to create a more proportional look. Recovery time is approximately four to six weeks. *
Breast Lift with Augmentation
Enhances breast shape and size in addition to raising the breasts
A breast lift and augmentation procedure will restore your youthful figure and give you the fuller, more appealing shape you desire. The procedure will raise and re-shape your breasts, helping to correct problems such as underdevelopment, sagging and asymmetry. Normal activity may be resumed one to two weeks, following surgery. *
On our blog, you can learn more details about Breast Augmentation procedures.
Step 2: Consultation
Your most valuable information resource is a personal consultation with our physicians: Dr. Runnels or Dr. North.
A consultation doesn’t take long, and with an expert’s opinion, you’ll be better able to understand the benefits, risks, and discover which options and procedures are best for your body and lifestyle.
Call the Runnels Center at 601.939.9778 to schedule your consultation or email at info@runnelscenter.com
Step 3: Surgery
Knowing what to expect before you go into surgery helps to make it a much smoother experience. Our certified, state-of-the-art surgery center provides all the technology of a hospital setting within a specially designed surgical facility. All procedures, from body contouring and breast enhancement to reconstructive surgery and facelifts, are performed at our Outpatient Surgery Center.
Our fully accredited Ambulatory Surgery Center features two surgery suites and four recovery beds, as well as its own entrance and waiting area. Patient confidentiality is of the utmost importance, and the Runnels Center allows for the privacy and ease of access that you won’t find in a traditional hospital or large plastic surgery group setting.
With today’s technology, anesthesia, and pain control, less invasive procedures are routinely performed as outpatient surgeries. Appropriate procedures for outpatient surgery are those whose post-operative care requirements can be easily managed at home.
Conveniently located in Central Mississippi’s Metro Jackson area, the Runnels Center is less than five minutes from River Oaks Hospital, the Jackson airport and the major thoroughfares of I-55 and I-20. The Runnels Center provides transportation service from the airport for out-of-town patients and overnight accommodations where private duty nurses are available. The Clinic, Outpatient Surgery Center, and SKIN the Spa share a common location with separate entrances for confidentiality and comfort.
Pre-op Appointment: Before surgery, you will meet with Dr. Runnels or Dr. North to discuss the procedure, sign consent forms, and receive prescriptions to fill after the surgery. If you are receiving breast implants, this is also a good time to confirm which Natrelle® silicone gel breast implant you have chosen and ask any additional questions.
Day of Surgery: We recommend that you wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothing that is easy to remove to make it easier for your post-surgery: zipper front or button-up shirts/tops, simple pants or bottoms with elastic waists, simple slip-on shoes and cotton socks. Avoid any of the following: jewelry, contact lenses, makeup, hair clips. If you have been given particular pre-op body cleaning instructions at your pre-op appointment, please follow them exactly.
The procedure: Depending on your health, several procedures can be scheduled for one day. Breast implant surgery usually lasts 1 to 2 hours depending on the incision, implant, and personal circumstances. Tummy Tucks can take up to 1 to 4 hours, thigh lifts taking about 2 to 4 hours, and liposuction varies from 2 - 4 hours. Dr. Runnels or Dr. North will be able to give you a better estimate during your pre-op appointment.
Support: We advise that you arrange for a close friend or family member to take you home after surgery and keep you company for a few days or up to a week. Having help around the house after any surgery makes a positive difference in rest and recovery.
Step 4: Recovery
On average, most patients recover in 2 - 6 weeks, depending on the number of procedures needed. As every patient and Mommy Makeover is different, there is no set time for recovery. Ask Dr. Runnels or Dr. North, so you know what to expect. We have a selection of helpful guides and blog links dedicated to pre- & post-op on our Pinterest Page.
Plenty of rest and relaxation is in your future for the next few weeks. Compression garments and surgical bras may be issued to help at this time. If you've had breast procedures, no lifting or raising your arms above you head. Walking around your home (with assistance, if needed,) is a good way to reduce the chance of blood clots and alleviate swelling. Please call for medical help immediately if you experience any chest pains, shortness of breath, or an unusual heartbeat.
Most individual return to work in about 2 - 3 weeks, but we strongly stress that you avoid any heavy work or heavy lifting for up to 4 - 6 weeks post-op. If you like to exercise frequently, be sure to discuss with your surgeon about when you can expect to return to the gym.
Your body's healing will continue for the next several weeks, as the post-op swelling decreases and the overall shape of the breasts and body improve. For optimal results, it is always best to follow Dr. Runnels' or Dr. North's instructions and return for scheduled follow-up visits at the clinic.
If your makeover included any type of breast surgery, we also advise that you avoid using from underwire bras for at least one month following the procedure. All surgery will result in some scarring. To help reduce their appearance, it's best keep your scars out of the sunlight or discontinue use of tanning bed, as UV rays will make the scars much more visible.
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