Perhaps it’s the winter “blahs,” but SignatureForum talks to its fair share of women inquiring about “mommy makeovers” this time of the year.

While any mother would tell you having a baby has been a wonderful addition to her life, she probably wouldn’t say the same about the extra pounds, stretch marks, and that chronic, fatigued look. Fortunately, with the improvements made in aesthetic laser technology and non-surgical cosmetic treatments, the “grin and bear it” approach to your post-baby body can now be a thing of the past.

A Few Things to Consider…

Just like every woman’s pregnancy is a bit different, so is their physical and emotional response to their body after a baby. For some women, regaining their comfort level with their changed physique is a matter of exercise, cutting down on the calories, and maybe a trip to the drugstore for some stretch mark removal cream. For other women, the physical changes in their body are more noticeable, whether it’s to others or only themselves, and are not as easily overlooked.

If you’ve ever thought, “I just want my body back,” then consider yourself in good company. It was reported that last year, over 325,000 surgical “mommy makeovers” were performed in the United States (an 11% increase compared to 2005). However, not every woman needs, or is even ready for more invasive surgical procedures like breast augmentation, liposuction or a tummy tuck. That’s why it’s important to make a clear distinction between your surgical and non-surgical options, exactly what conditions these options treat, and the cost and downtime associated with each one. Only then, can you really determine how much of yourself, your money, and your family time you’re willing to contribute to regain your pre-baby shape.

To make wading through your aesthetic options a little easier, we’ve outlined three categories of treatments types, including “Laser & Light-Based Therapies,” “Non-Surgical Body Shaping,” and “Cosmetic Surgery Options.”

Timing is Everything

Timing is crucial when determining whether or not to have a mommy makeover…especially if you are considering cosmetic surgery. For example, if you were to call a SignatureForum guest services liaison to schedule a tummy tuck consultation with one of our network providers, one of the questions he or she would ask you is, “Do you plan on having any more children?” This isn’t to pry into details of your family planning, but they want to make sure you understand that having more children can work against, or sometimes reverse the effects of some cosmetic surgery procedures. This is especially the case with a tummy tuck, as well as breast lift or augmentation surgery as naturally, the skin will stretch again.

With this in mind, there has been an increase in the number of women with college-aged children who are finally having the cosmetic surgery procedures they’ve been thinking about for years. On the other hand, women in their 30’s may decide to postpone their plans for cosmetic surgery indefinitely, and instead opt for non-surgical procedures that offer little downtime and less financial commitment.

Thanks for Reading

Thank you for reading the SignatureForum lifestyle newsletter this month. If you have any questions regarding mommy makeover services in your area, we hope you contact us. We'd be happy to answer any questions you may have and connect you with a local SignatureForum network provider.

Next month, we’ll see what the fuss is all about when it comes to LipoDissolve™ and other non-surgical body contouring methods. Meanwhile, be sure to check out SignatureForum's network of consumer friendly websites that will give you the resources you need to look and feel your very best.