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[COSMETIC SURGERY] - H. Christopher Coley, MD, Cosmetic and Hand Surgeon of Coley Cosmetic & Hand Surgery Center was named a 2009 Top Doctors by Business Leader Magazine. Learn more about H. Christopher Coley's background, professional achievements and community involvement.

 THE MOMMY MAKEOVER
Restoring a youthful figure

by Dr. H. Christopher Coley

What exactly is a mommy makeover? To answer this question, let’s first take a look at a few changes that occur during pregnancy.

The abdominal skin and wall stretch to accommodate a child; breasts become larger as they prepare for milk production; hormonal changes might bring on differences in facial skin color, tone and texture; and weight is gained.

For many pregnant moms, exercise and other methods to keep these changes to a minimum are not possible. Therefore, a woman is left with not much more than mother nature to aid in restoring her body back to its original shape.

After delivery, there’s a period of recovery, depending on how well the pregnancy and delivery went and what type of birth it was. Hormonal changes can affect one’s desire to exercise to restore a pre-pregnancy figure, and changing priorities such as taking care of a newborn and returning to work can limit time even more. Speaking from experience, this no doubt is a life-changing event.

Here are some tips to help regain that pre-baby shape.

Know your options
It should be noted that surgery should not be the first option, but should be considered as a viable option. Common surgical procedures include breast augmentation and breast lifts, tummy tucks, and liposuction. Nonsurgical options for facial rejuvenation include Botox and Dysport, injectable fillers, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and a medical skin care regimen.

If your breasts have lost their fullness, then give them a lift. This can be accomplished with an implant alone or combined with a lifting procedure. Each individual is different and there are different options available for breast enhancement, so it’s important to schedule a consultation with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon to help you make your decision.

Tummy tucks are a good option for the stubborn area around the belly button or stretch marks that no amount of sit-ups and dieting will remove. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, removes excess skin and tissue and tightens the abdomen and waistline, re-creating a pleasing abdominal contour. Often, stretch marks from the belly button and below can be permanently removed with a tummy tuck. The results can be quite amazing.

Liposuction, the process of removing excess tissue under the skin to contour an area of the body, also is a popular option. It has a quick recovery time and can be performed virtually anywhere on the body, but is commonly done in the neck to remove a double chin or in the abdomen, hip, thigh, and lower back to restore a curvaceous contour. For areas in which you’d like to add more fat — such as a depressed scar, lower eyelid areas or even the buttocks — the fat from the liposuction procedure can be re-infused to give a lift.
Are you ready for your mommy makeover? Take the first step and schedule a consultation with a board-certified specialist today.

Dr. H. Christopher Coley, board-certified and fellowship-trained in both cosmetic and hand surgery, is owner and chief surgeon of the Coley Cosmetic & Hand Surgery Center in Greensboro.
To learn more, call (336) 617-8645 (336) 617-8645 or visit www.coleycosmetic.com.