At 35 years old, I had my first child. Nine days later, I was back in the office, taking phone calls and handling scheduling matters. A month later, I was back to seeing patients at The Yates Institute where I am a plastic and reconstructive surgeon.

Many of the women I see in my practice have experienced this scenario. They are climbing the corporate ladder or starting their own businesses. And they’ve also decided to start and finish their families later in life. By the time they have children, they’ve dedicated 15 or 20 years to their careers and don’t feel like they have the luxury of taking extensive time off after giving birth. Many end up returning back to work within weeks or even within days to ensure they don’t miss too much or aren’t passed over for new opportunities.

The pressure to perform professionally at the same level, before having children, can be challenging. And then there’s another added complication that we don’t often talk about – the reality of “bouncing back” physically as an older mom. It’s a fact that your muscle mass is reduced and your skin’s elasticity is weaker as you get older. Having a cesarean or breast-feeding your baby will often exacerbate those issues. Some women experience hernias where the tissue is permanently altered. It’s a fact that your body goes through trauma after pregnancy which can lead to negative feelings about how you look and decreased self-esteem and self-confidence. It can be hard to focus on your new family or your career when you don’t feel like yourself. Sadly, in our society, it’s almost assumed that feeling unhappy with your body after you have kids is a normal part of the pregnancy process. It doesn’t have to be. Women should know that they have an option. As I listened to my patients, I realized our society needs to change the way we talk about cosmetic procedures like “mommy makeovers”.

 “Mommy makeovers” have become a catch-all phrase but there is no one procedure that defines the term. When I conduct consultations, I explain that it refers to any combination of procedures that improve physical variations that occur in a woman’s body after childbirth. For example, for women who have breastfed, a breast augmentation can renew fullness in their breasts. A tummy tuck can remove excess, loose skin in the abdominal area. Many women choose to have combined procedures so that they only have to go through one recovery period. Many working moms simply don’t have the time to get multiple procedures spread over several months. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), almost 18 million people underwent surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures in the United States in 2018. Breast augmentation, liposuction, and tummy tucks were some of the most requested procedures. Given these statistics, it’s time that we stop judging women for exploring their options for getting back to feeling like themselves again. 

The physical perks of these procedures are clear but there are also psychological benefits we do not often consider. After you have children, it’s easy to lose your identity or wish you’d look like your old self. It’s important to remember who you were before having kids. A mommy makeover can allow you to regain that self-confidence and personal drive that may be missing.

We often only talk about mothers in terms of their ability to care for others but as a plastic surgeon, I understand the delicate ties between physical and emotional wellbeing. And as a new mom, I understand how hard it can be to take care of your family when you aren’t feeling great about yourself. To be clear – any cosmetic procedure comes with cost – both financial and otherwise. Anyone seeking cosmetic procedures should ensure they visit a board certified, properly trained surgeon. It is important that you find a surgeon who will work with you to ensure the most natural, aesthetically pleasing result is achieved. I am not writing this to advocate for all women having plastic surgery. I am writing this to remind women they have a choice.