Mommy makeovers are on the rise and daddy makeovers are also gathering steam, according to research in the August issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®.
The uptick in mommy makeovers is likely fueled by an increase in pregnancies at later ages and increased multiple births, in a generation of women with “a keen interest in nutrition, fitness, and a continued desire to retain a youthful figure,” the study authors write.
In a review of 40 consecutive women undergoing abdominoplasty, half of the patients were between 35 and 44 years old. Women seeking abdominoplasty between age 35 and 54 had 50% more pregnancies than younger patients. In general, women seeking postpartum body contouring want to regain a more youthful appearance, improving all areas of the body affected by pregnancy, with the least conspicuous scarring and the least amount of discomfort and recovery time. While the focus is usually on a “firmer, flatter abdomen” and more youthful-looking breasts, women may have concerns about pregnancy- and age-related changes in other areas as well, the study shows.
For plastic surgeons, performing multiple aesthetic procedures in combination entails some challenges and risks. While a number of different factors can affect the risk of complications, study authors suggest keeping the total surgical time under 4 hours.
Plastic surgeons also need to address patient concerns regarding “drains, pain, and scars” after abdominoplasty. Experience suggests that most women will accept some abdominal scarring as the necessary trade-off for achieving the desired improvement in body contour, the researchers note. They also emphasize the importance of evaluating the patient’s psychological status—especially during the emotionally vulnerable first postpartum year.
That said, “In the appropriate patient and context, multiple procedures can be safely and effectively combined to address the multiple regions affected by postpartum changes and thus deliver a synergistic improvement in postpartum body contour,” researchers conclude.
Daddy Do-Overs On the Rise?
With the increase in “mommy makeovers,” some plastic surgeons are even noticing an increased demand for body contouring by men in the same age group. “The trend in women may be motivating spouses to do their own ‘Daddy Do-Overs,’ ” says study author Alan Matarasso, MD, a plastic surgeon at of Manhattan Ear, Eye, and Throat Hospital. “Men typically target the chest and abdomen area, which includes those troublesome ‘love handles’ “
