Ask Dr. Pane: Am I a Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?

The Mommy Makeover Question

When considering cosmetic surgery, one of the first questions most people ask is whether they are candidates for the kind of procedure they’re interested in. This is a big question with a lot of moving parts, including the patient’s age, overall health, medical history and desired outcomes. All of these aspects and more determine whether a specific type of cosmetic surgery is an option, and what the expectations should be. An example is the focus of this week’s Ask Dr. Pane segment. The patient, from our Instagram crowd, asks, “Am I a good candidate for a mommy makeover?” and included a picture for reference.

The Case

Dr. Pane examined the patient photo, which indicates some slackness in the breast region without a pronounced sag and a few stretch marks, but little loose skin, in the abdominal area. The patient appears to be in her thirties and in essentially good physical condition. However, patients are reminded that photographs, particularly a single photo, are not a substitute for in-person consultation and evaluation with a complete medical history.

The Answer

In this case, assuming the patient is in good health and has no medical conditions which might contraindicate surgery, Dr. Pane says the patient would be a candidate. The primary question is which complex of procedures would best suit this patient’s needs and intended outcomes, and which tradeoffs the patient is willing to make in order to achieve the desired outcomes.

Dr. Pane says the looseness but relative lack of sagging in the breast area suggests implants might be a good option for this patient. Commonly, patients with that breast anatomy want things to be completely snug on the bottom of the breast. For this reason, a vertical incision to place the implant and tighten the skin on the underside of the breast is most likely to deliver a good result. Many people with the type of breasts the patient demonstrates do well with a simple augmentation by itself and no tightening at all. Depending upon the volume of the implant, this procedure may not correct the laxity of the underside of the breast, but it will minimize the scarring from the procedure.

 Turning our attention to the abdomen, a tummy tuck is possible, although Dr. Pane says in this case he would not consider it essential depending upon the patient’s goals. If the object is to get the belly as flat as possible, a tummy tuck will do that, but it will leave a longitudinal scar at the patient’s underwear line, which is a point they will wish to consider. 

Most patients in this situation would opt for a tummy tuck and breast augmentation. Some patients, either to avoid scarring or seeking a less invasive option, may choose to go with liposuction by itself or liposuction with fat transfer instead. This patient’s build and anatomy as established by the picture they provided indicates any of these may be an option, but a great deal will depend on how open and amenable the patient is to accepting a bit of scarring as part of the bargain for achieving the results they desire.

In this case, Dr. Pane says the patient will benefit most and get the most accurate idea of which procedures will best meet their goals with an in-person consultation and clinical evaluation. Being able to see the problem areas in three dimensions, determine the patient’s primary objectives and goals at firsthand and evaluate any medical history which may argue for or against a given procedure in detail are all critical aspects of establishing the right mix of procedures for the patient. Once these things have been done, the patient and the provider would work together to craft a plan which maximizes the patient benefit and minimizes the risk of complications or dissatisfaction with the results.

 

If you have a question about any aspect of cosmetic surgery, Dr. Pane and the staff of Atlantic Coast Aesthetics are always happy to take some time to “talk shop.” Simply follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn; call us at (561) 422-4116; or email us through our Contact page. Your question might even be selected as the focus of an upcoming Ask Dr. Pane segment, allowing us to inform and educate others who share your questions, interests and concerns while giving you factual information you need to make good choices about your cosmetic surgery journey. Remember, at ACA we believe the only bad question is the one you don’t ask!