New York Plastic Surgery Practice, www.nygplasticsurgery.com, Discusses Why Mommy Makeovers Help Mothers To Regain Self-Esteem

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- A "mommy makeover" is a term used for any plastic surgery procedure requested by a woman to restore their post-pregnancy bodies. Many critics would say that mommy makeovers are driven by unrealistic societal expectations of mothers, which includes pop culture's obsession with how quickly celebrity moms regain their "pre-baby" figures after childbirth. However, New York plastic surgeons at the New York Group for Plastic Surgery know that the reasons go much deeper than that. "Mothers want to be happy with what they see in the mirror; pregnancy can alter this in dramatic ways," said R. Michael Koch, MD of the New York plastic surgery practice.

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The most commonly requested plastic surgery procedures by women, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, are breast and stomach procedures, which are popularly requested after their last child is born. According to the ASPS, in 2009, the top procedures are shown below, in comparison to the year 2000 figures.

As the chart shows, breast and stomach procedures increased, while other procedures decreased. Very surprisingly, minimally invasive procedures such as Botox or other fillers went up dramatically. "These could all be signs of our economic times, since Botox is much cheaper than a facelift," explained Dr. Koch, a New York plastic surgeon. "Breast augmentation and tummy tucks will always be popular as these are the areas that most women complain about, especially as they work to restore their post-pregnancy bodies."

Though many critics will argue that plastic surgery is a moneymaker, the fact of the matter is that diet and exercise can't fully repair sagging breasts, stretched-out belly skin and fat deposits. "I have patients who are in great shape and exercise often that come in for these procedures, and as much as they've tried, they can't re-sculpt their bodies back to the way they were," explained Dr. Koch.

Ironically, while many women undergo Mommy Makeovers for self-esteem purposes, they are also very reluctant to let anyone know they did it. "Understandably, because they don't want to seem superficial or lazy for not exercising 24 hours day, seven days a week and because they have a baby to take care of," says Dr. Koch. "Many mothers want to un-do the changes from pregnancy; they are not looking to regain their teenage bodies."

However, Dr. Koch advises new moms considering plastic surgery to wait at least six months to allow the body to heal from the pregnancy, to try to lose pregnancy weight on their own and focus on their new babies. "But you don't have to give up everything in order to have children," advises Dr. Koch. "You are allowed to feel young, fit and good about yourself too."

SOURCE New York Group for Plastic Surgery, LLP