‘Mommy Makeovers’ Are A Thing, And They Involve Scalpels, Not Makeup

“Mommy makeovers” sound kind of awesome. The words bring to mind a day of foot-rubs, massages and hair appointments, don’t they? Wrong. Think tummy-tucks, liposuction and breast lifts. Nothing like a little major surgery to make being a new mom easier!

This post-pregnancy surgical fad was brought to my attention by the Times of India this morning. Apparently, mommy makeovers are sweeping the globe. The article claims India ranks third in cosmetic procedures per year, after Brazil and the United States. A quick trip to the Google-machine confirmed that these makeovers are, in fact, a thing in this country.

From The American Society of Plastic Surgeons:

Following pregnancy, despite regular diet and exercise, some women may find that they have excess skin in the lower abdomen, and others may find that they have breasts that have lost volume and “sag,” even after returning to their pre-baby weight. A mommy makeover describes the surgical procedures done to correct these changes and may include an abdominoplasty (also known as a “tummy tuck”), liposuction, and either a breast lift, breast reduction or breast augmentation.

I totally understand wanting some semblance of your former body back. I just can’t imagine subjecting yourself to major surgery after what the body has already been through in pregnancy. Recovering from a c-section is a total bitch. I can’t imagine opting for elective surgical procedures when you’ve just been through nine-plus months of labor and then childbirth.

I don’t believe in shaming people who want plastic surgery. I just think advertising surgical procedures that all women opt to get, whether they’ve had children or not, as “mommy makeovers” is kind of stupid. I also wish we could all just be happy with our bodies – but that is never going to happen. I’ll leave the “mommy makeovers” for those who aren’t terrified of going under the knife, and stick to a nice pedicure and some stretch-mark cream. After all, if I get rid of my saggy breasts and belly, how will I guilt-trip my children for ruining my body? Kidding, kidding.

(photo: a_v_d/ Shutterstock)