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Mommy Makeover

Mommy Makeover in Houston, TX

Houston mommy makeover surgeon, Dr. Chris Livingston, is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), as well as a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). He has extensive experience in full-body procedures and provides natural-looking and stunning results.

Whether you’ve recently given birth, or have been struggling with body confidence after not seeing results years post-partum, you may be interested in learning more about a group of procedures known as the mommy makeover.

These total body treatment plans often include a breast lift (with or without breast implants), a tummy tuck, and liposuction. Performed to counterbalance the effects of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and childbirth, these surgeries offer a variety of benefits, including rejuvenating the breasts and improving nipple position, reducing exercise-resistant fat, and correcting the vertical separation of abdominal muscles.

Are you ready to learn more about mommy makeovers in Houston, Tx? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Livingston today by calling (281) 501-1812

Dr. Livingston

Christopher Livingston, MD

“The most important part of plastic surgery is achieving a youthful, refreshed look, with minimal downtime.”

Board-Certified Plastic & Reconstructive surgeon

Chris Livingston, MD

I believe that every design is personal. The connection we have with clients determines how the projects will look at the end of the design process. We must understand the clients and bond with them, be a part of their dream. Their dream is our dream.

POST-BABY BODY SHAPING OPTIONS

Breast Lift

Breast lifts are commonly included in treatment plans to correct aesthetic changes caused by breastfeeding and weight changes, which cause drooping tissue. Your lift can also include breast implants if a loss of tissue volume or asymmetry are among your concerns.  All individuals have their own goals and needs, and each surgery is designed to reflect those goals and needs. At Livingston Plastic Surgery, we use consultations to create your customized plan for surgery.

The ideal patient for a breast rejuvenation has realistic expectations, is in good health, and has adequate time to spend recovering, as there will be downtime in which you won’t be able to go about your normal routine.

During a breast lift surgery, or “mastopexy,” the patient is given general anesthesia before an incision is created either:

  • Around the areolas
  • Around the areolas, and vertically proceeding down to the breast crease
  • Around the areolas, down the breasts, and horizontally along the breast crease

Once the incision is made, excess skin and heavy breast tissue are both removed. Sutures are then placed within the layers of breast tissue to help support the new contours and position of the breasts. Though swelling from the procedure may last for a few weeks, results are immediately noticeable. The final shape of the breasts can develop as soon as one to three weeks after the procedure has been completed.

Dr. Livingston is an amazing surgeon, with a phenomenal bedside manner, and office staff you’ll fall in love with.

– Meredith (Google Reviews)

Tummy Tuck

Pregnancy may take the most significant toll on the midsection, as the soft tissue and muscles shift to accommodate a growing child. When the abdomen region becomes stretched and begins to sag, it can take more than diet and exercise to correct the issues. Also known as abdominoplasty, the tummy tuck procedure can successfully create a lean stomach, by slimming both the abdomen and flanks (love handles).

Weak abdominal muscles, a loss of skin elasticity, the formation of stretch marks, and fat build up around the stomach are common concerns for our mommy makeover patients. Though a tummy tuck can assist with all of these issues, it’s important to note that diet and exercise are still necessary for achieving and maintaining a healthy figure.

Just as with a breast augmentation, a tummy tuck procedure requires general anesthesia, after which a horizontal incision is made in the lower abdomen. Because of this placement, the incision will be hidden. Then, sutures are placed within the muscles to tighten the abdominal wall and hold the new shape in place. During this time, any excess skin and the fat-causing protrusion are removed, creating a flatter midsection.

If a patient has minimal loose skin and muscle separation, a mini tummy tuck surgery may be more appropriate. This is a topic that can be discussed with Dr. Livingston during your initial appointment, so your treatment plan meets your needs and goals.

The entire surgery lasts between two to five hours, and the patient will immediately notice a firmer abdomen. Often, the recovery period is two weeks, in which drainage tubes may be placed under the skin to allow the release of fluid. A compression garment is also used to help will swelling and bruising, as well as promote faster healing. After these initial two weeks, most patients can return to work. After six weeks, the patient will be permitted to resume physical activity

Liposuction

One of the procedures often added to a mommy makeover is liposuction. If you have localized fat deposits that diet and exercise have failed to minimize, surgical fat removal can meet your needs. Specifically, liposuction removes these localized and excess fat deposits and creates smooth skin, free of fatty lumps and bumps. Liposuction can be performed on various areas of the body, including:

  • Chin
  • Neck
  • Abdomen
  • Waist
  • Inner/Outer Thighs
  • Flanks (Love Handles)
  • Buttocks
  • Hips
  • Arms
  • Back

Dr. Livingston offers both traditional suction and ultrasonic liposuction to assist in permanently removing these undesired deposits. Before the liposuction procedure can be scheduled, it is necessary to discuss the following topics with Dr. Livingston:

  • Your individual goals and expectations
  • Your medical history
  • What to expect both before and after surgery
  • Possible risks and side effects associated with liposuction

Similar to the tummy tuck procedure, liposuction is not a means to stop eating healthy or exercising. Further, liposuction is not a treatment for obesity or weight loss but meant to improve the features a patient already possesses. Patients who have a BMI of less than 32 are ideal for liposuction.

During the liposuction procedure, the patient is placed under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Then, a small, subtle incision on the target area(s) of the body is made. It is through this small, subtle incision that a sterile solution of saline is infused with an anesthetic and vasoconstricting medication is placed into the affected areas, minimizing bleeding, swelling, and bruising post-surgery.

Also inserted through these incisions is a small, hollow tube that gently removes loosened fat via suctioning, ultimately leaving the body’s shape looking slimmer and more contoured.

Once the liposuction procedure has been completed, a compression garment will be put in place for six weeks to help ensure your skin will form to its new shape. It may take up to three months (sometimes longer) for swelling and bruising to diminish. Again, liposuction results can be permanent, but only if a healthy lifestyle (i.e. eating mindfully and working out regularly) is continued.

WHY CHOOSE DR. LIVINGSTON FOR YOUR POST-BABY BODY LIFT?

Doctor Christopher K. Livingston is a renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeon, who has been helping patients from all walks of life achieve their plastic surgery goals since 2003. A board-certified member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) since 2005, Dr. Livingston has extensive experience and expertise in multiple areas of plastic surgery. Dr. Livingston’s practice philosophy can be summed up with one quote: “The most important part of plastic surgery is achieving a youthful, refreshed look, with minimal downtime.”

A comfortable, non-pressuring environment has been created at Livingston Plastic Surgery, allowing all patients to not only feel welcomed. Dr. Livingston individualizes each procedure, ensuring complete satisfaction for patients’ unique concerns. Before, during, and after your Houston mommy makeover, you will feel safe, informed, and completely prepared.

beauty in the hands you trust

Celebrate a new you

Livingston Plastic Surgery: MOMMY MAKEOVER FAQs

The following are frequently asked questions about what to expect before and after your full body contouring procedures:

The best candidates are healthy overall and do not plan to have more children. While the latter isn’t a necessity, it does make sense (especially financially), as additional pregnancies could alter the results of the surgeries.

Dr. Livingston will discuss your goals and expectations. Since it is important to be aware of your medical history to provide safe and effective treatment, Dr. Livingston will spend time understanding any past procedures or health concerns. If you have any additional questions regarding the procedures, your consultation is the perfect time to have them addressed. We ensure you leave your appointment feeling completely informed.

Your full treatment plan can be completed in one or two sessions, depending on your individual wants and needs.

The cost of a mommy makeover in Houston, TX depends on a variety of factors, including the types of procedures you choose and the scope of your overall plan. A detailed estimate will be provided for you after you meet with Dr. Livingston in a consultation. We offer several patient financing options, including Care Credit, Smart Beauty, Medical Financing, and Prosper Health Care.

It’s important to remember that any surgery recovery is gradual but constant. The first day after your procedure, you might not be able to do much, but each day you should see some new improvements and be able to do more. Some women are able to return to work just two weeks after a tummy tuck but most take 3-4 weeks; with liposuction, some patients are able to return after just 3 or 5 days but most require one week. Your recovery will also largely be based on the procedures elected for your mommy makeover. Talk with us about your expected recovery to better determine exactly how much time you will need to take off.

For most mommy makeover patients, the recommended time off from high intensity exercising is between 6 and 8 weeks. Light walking is highly recommended after about 3 days of rest and recovery, and only if you are feeling well enough to do so. Before doing any strenuous activities, it’s important to first see Dr. Livingston to make sure that you are healing properly and that you have no signs of complications. If you are healing well, you can begin to ease back into your previous exercise routines.

 

After your mommy makeover procedure, you will want to take some time off from driving. The amount of time you should take off can vary from person to person as well as the extent and procedures you elected to include in your mommy makeover. However, most patients are able to get back behind the wheel after three weeks. It’s important that you are off all pain medication and can move freely without any pain in case driving requires you to make any fast or hard movements. Always speak with your doctor before getting behind the wheel following surgery.

You are encouraged to wait to have your mommy makeover until you are finished having children as the significant bodily changes that occur during pregnancy will affect the results of your surgery. However, accidents do happen, and just because you had a mommy makeover doesn’t mean that you can no longer get pregnant. Here are Livingston Plastic Surgery, we are committed to helping patients feel confident in the timing of their mommy makeover and will be here to assist in planning for revisions if an unexpected pregnancy arrives.