Therese's Mommy Makeover
Therese is the busy mother of two young children, ages 1 and 3, as well as a busy medical professional. About 10 years before having children, she researched Los Angeles cosmetic surgeons and chose Dr. Grant Stevens of Marina Plastic Surgery Associates for liposuction surgery to remove stubborn tummy fat that remained in spite of diet and exercise. She had such a positive experience at the time, that she promised herself to call Dr. Stevens in the future if she ever needed improvements after having children.
Ten Years and Two Children Later
Fast-forward 10 years. Therese delivered both of her children via C-section, and lost her baby weight through diet and exercise. Although she had reached her pre-pregnancy weight, her body didn’t return to its pre-pregnancy shape. No matter how hard she worked, she had a tummy bulge that was caused by separated abdominal muscles and stretched out skin. She also was bothered by excess fat on her upper thighs.
Being an otherwise fit, attractive, young woman, Therese refused to just accept her imperfections in the name of motherhood. “Many women feel guilty about caring for themselves after having babies,” she explained. “Although my kids are still young, I’m only in my 30’s. I decided not to waste my future years feeling unhappy about my body like my mother-in-law did after having 4 C-sections.” Therese returned to Dr. Stevens to help her improve what she couldn’t accomplish on her own.
Information, Support, & Reassurance
When she went in for her consult, Therese described her concerns about her tummy bulge to Dr. Stevens. He explained that an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) in Los Angeles could provide the improvements she desired by tightening abdominal muscles and removing excess skin and fat. She also described her dissatisfaction with the way her breasts (which had always been a large C to D cup) now sagged after nursing two children. Dr. Stevens told her about a unique procedure he developed, the Stevens Laser Bra, which would lift and shape her breasts using her own excess tissue to provide internal support. But, Therese had concerns, “Isn’t it too much to do two procedures at once?” Dr. Stevens reassured her that many women elect to have multiple procedures performed together in what is called a “Mommy Makeover.” The advantages include a single exposure to anesthesia and a single recovery period.
Dr. Stevens’ calm, approachable personality made Therese feel comfortable weighing her options. “He was not a pushy salesman,” she reflected. “He educated me and explained my options realistically.” She also appreciated how he listened carefully to her concerns. As Therese explains, “When you’re doing something as personal as this, you want to be able to trust your surgeon.” She decided to go forward with the surgery, electing to combine a tummy tuck and a Laser Bra breast lift. She chose not to have liposuction on her upper thighs because she thought the excess fat wouldn’t concern her once her other improvements were complete.
Take Care of Everything at Once
After a successful surgery and easy recovery, Therese realized that the fat on her thighs bothered her more than ever. She soon returned to Dr. Stevens for liposuction surgery, which involved anesthesia and another recovery period. “If I had to do it all again, I would have done everything at once. You might think it’s too much, but Dr. Stevens knows when it will work for you.”
Therese’s advice to other moms, “Enjoy your body while you’re young. You deserve to feel good about yourself, even if you have others to care for too. I’m so happy with how my body looks now; it’s improved, but natural looking.”
If you’re a busy mom like Therese and want to feel good about your body, request a consultation online with Marina Plastic Surgery Associates. We can help you learn more about Mommy Makeovers, the Stevens Laser Bra lift, liposuction, or any of our cosmetic surgery procedures.