At 46, Sunaina Mishra, a chartered accountant, decided to undergo a tummy tuck and breast lift, an idea she had been toying with for several years. It was after her daughter left for college that Mishra had the mental space to make the change. This decision, says Dr KM Kapoor, senior plastic surgeon and director of Anticlock Clinic and Medispa, who operated on her, was part of her journey to reclaim her body and focus on herself after years of devoting herself to family and her children.
“Such cases highlight the multifaceted motivations that drive women to undergo these transformative procedures,” says Dr Kapoor, adding that it is paramount that the procedures are performed by qualified and experienced doctors, in facilities equipped with the best machinery, technology and emergency incidents.
As a plastic surgeon, Dr. Kapoor has seen a significant increase in the number of women in their 30s and 40s opting for procedures such as fat reduction, stretch mark treatments, breast lifts and tummy tucks after childbirth. There could be several reasons behind this wave, many women today enjoy greater financial independence which allows them to invest in themselves and after giving birth, there is often a strong desire to have a body and mind that reflects how they feel inside them — healthy, vibrant and confident. “The ‘you only live once’ mentality has also influenced many to prioritize their well-being and appearance, rather than simply accepting the changes in their bodies. Additionally, as women enter middle age, there is a natural desire to maintain a youthful and natural appearance, which these procedures can help achieve,” she adds.
Dr Akhil Garg, Consultant (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) at Fortis Hospital, Mohali, says pregnancy and childbirth bring a plethora of changes to a woman’s body. Abdominal skin becomes loose and hangs in folds, breasts sag and lose their shape, fat accumulates in the buttocks and arms and these are not corrected by exercise alone. “Mommy Makeover is a term for a set of cosmetic surgeries that can help a woman regain her pre-pregnancy body. The primary targets are the abdomen and chest. Tummy reshaping includes removal of loose, hanging skin folds, liposuction and scar repair, in caesarean sections. Breast reshaping includes a breast lift to make the breasts more youthful and if needed breast augmentation. In addition, buttock reshaping, buttock lift and upper arm contouring can be done,” explains Dr Garg.
Surgery, she adds, is tailored to a person’s needs, expectations and body type and depends on the amount of recovery the woman wants, the need for any implants, etc. and other factors. “These procedures are safe and effective and have minimal downtime. Many women say they want to feel more confident, wear their pre-pregnancy clothes and get back in shape to go back to work, and many say these changes inspire and motivate them to start an exercise and fitness program. We have quite a few women in their 30s opting for these procedures and many of them are from the task force,” adds Dr Garg.
Dr Divya Chaudhry, Consultant (Cosmetology and Dermatology) at Livasa Hospital, Mohail, says every woman’s body goes through huge changes during pregnancy and to accommodate the growing baby, there is stretching not only in the uterus but also in the overlying muscle fascia and skin. Skin changes such as acne, pigmentation and loose skin become more apparent. This combined with lack of sleep and self-care has a profound effect on a woman’s physical and mental health.
There are several ways, he explains, that early intervention can help navigate this journey, prevent to some extent, and treat and reverse these changes. First on the list is regular exercise focusing on core strength, which helps prepare the body for pregnancy. Stretching, massage and exercise during pregnancy also go a long way in improving the tone of the abdominal wall, reducing sagging after delivery.
Hydrating the belly and keeping the skin hydrated reduces the incidence of stretch marks and the importance of a good diet rich in protein and antioxidants cannot be over emphasized. After giving birth, Dr. Chaudhry adds, many young women in their early and late 30s come in with complaints of facial skin changes that include increased pigmentation, fine lines and dark circles. Stretch marks on the lower abdominal wall, buttocks and thighs are another common problem, as is a sagging belly with excess fat.
There are some non-surgical interventions, the doctors add, that can help reverse these changes to some extent. Initially, under-eye circles can be treated with under-eye peels and fillers, Q-switched laser and retinol peels help treat pigmentation on the face, neck, underarms and dark lines, and for abdominal wall, different Technologies can work on any layer of the abdomen.
“Radiofrequency and ultrasound treatments tighten loose skin and are ideal for patients with minimal abdominal fat. They stimulate the natural production of collagen and elastin. Cryolipolysis is a technique that freezes fat cells and melts away that extra fat while Emsculpt helps improve abdominal muscle tone without scarring or surgery. Treatments such as platelet-rich plasma, or PRP as it is commonly known, are now combined with lasers to help improve the texture of stretch marks and reduce their appearance. PRP works well in reducing postpartum hair loss and restoring radiance to the skin,” explains Dr. Chaudhry.
“Among surgical options, mommy makeover is a set of surgeries like breast augmentation, tummy tuck and liposuction etc. which are custom made and combined by a plastic surgeon, based on the patient’s health and requirements. More and more women are not shy about asking for these changes, they are willing to make changes and with new technology, and in the hands of experts, the procedures are safer, shorter and do not involve long hospital stays,” adds Dr. Chaudhry.
