May is Mother's Day month, a good time to celebrate the heroes in our life. They comfort us, nurture and protect us, and their jobs are the most difficult of all. While extremely gratifying, motherhood may leave some undesirable reminders of pregnancy, as seen with stretch marks, saggy breasts and shapeless tummies. Behold! Mommy Makeovers are on the rise! These combined-procedure surgeries allow women to regain their figures and feel good about their bodies once again.

It's for the Post-Childbearing Era
Today's moms looking to regain their pre-pregnancy figures are asking for personalized procedures to raise their breasts, flatten their tummies, take off the weight they gained over multiple pregnancies, and sometimes to freshen up their faces, too. more

In rare cases, men with enlarged breast tissue, known as gynecomastia, seek liposuction to remove the excessive localized fat deposits around the breast.

The best candidates for body sculpting are men who:

• Have firm, elastic skin and are in good health
• Have tried diet, exercise and weight loss programs
• Have fat deposits disproportionate to the rest of their bodies
• Have realistic expectations and are only slightly overweight
• Don't expect liposuction to change their lives dramatically.

What areas can be treated by liposuction?
The most frequent areas treated in men are:

• the "love handles"
• breasts
• abdomen
• neckline

Before	After
Brain V. Heil, MD

Is the fat removal permanent?
Yes! It seems that after puberty, we do not create new fat cells. When you gain weight, you expand the fat cells that you have. Tumescent liposuction permanently removes fat cells to improve your body's contour.

Should you gain weight after liposuction, it goes to the fat cells that remain in your body. The localized fatty deposits that existed prior to liposuction can no longer balloon up out of proportion to the surrounding areas.

How many procedures will I need?
Most likely, one procedure will be sufficient. However, some patients require a fine-tuning procedure at a future date.

How will my skin look after surgery?
Dimples, ripples and stretch marks remain unchanged following liposuction. The changes following liposuction are similar to what you would expect if you could lose an equal amount of localized fat through diet and exercise alone.

I've heard some people complain about sagging skin after liposuction.
That's a problem associated with outdated technology. Today we use smaller cannulas that allow the fibrous connections between your skin and body to remain. These connections will contract over time. As a result, excessive skin folds have become rare.

Before	After
Brain V. Heil, MD

What will my recovery be like?
The recovery time from liposuction varies with the individual, the amount of fat removed from the patient, and the area on which the procedure was performed. Generally, a man can return to work in one to two weeks, but those with more strenuous jobs may want to take up to four weeks to fully recover.

The swelling and bruising can actually take a month to six months or longer to disappear. You will wear a snug elastic body garment over the treated area for one to two weeks after the operation. This helps to reduce the swelling and mold the tissue that has been disturbed back into shape.

Make a Conscious Decision
Remind yourself that along with the physical change can come some unexpected psychological changes as well. Make yourself aware of these, and then exercise your power of choice.

One way is through topical serums and creams. Says Certified Medical Aesthetician and Paramedical Specialist, Lisa Bostjancic, "Hyaluronic acid topicals are superior hydrators. They feel light on the skin and will not clog pores, so they're good for oily or acne-prone skin, as well."

L-Lactic Hydration Facial - This highly effective medical-grade facial combines a blend of acids: hyaluronic, glycolic and lactic, plus Vitamin A. It leaves your skin exfoliated, nourished and wonderfully hydrated.

Taking It to the Next Level: Injectable Fillers

Restylane and Juvederm contain hyaluronic acid in the form of a crystal-clear gel. They are injected into the skin to lift the lip, wrinkle or fold. Once in your skin, they create volume, resulting in a healthy and vital appearance. When injected into the lip, they can restore a more natural and/or sensuous look.

There is so much magic this time of year--colors are enhanced and brilliantly vibrant. The warmth of the first sun on our skin...the excitement and exuberance of children anticipating summer break, knowing that this summer break will be the best yet!

Children are magic. We mothers know it. And while being a mom tests us to the limit, a wise mother finds ways to restore herself so she can always give her best to her family. One of the gifts of an Acqua Blu experience, I've discovered, is how it allows us to return to our daily lives relaxed, in a mood of love and gratitude. For busy wives, mothers and daughters, it is a retreat from the world, if only for an hour.

When you celebrate your loved one this Mother's Day, you celebrate the love and life around her. Take care of her. Help her relax. She makes magic.

I hope to see you soon!
Dana, Practice Administrator & Spa Director

Pregnancy is Not Kind to Bodies
No one in her right mind would deny that pregnancy and childbearing play heck with a woman's body.

As a baby grows it forces the uterus against the inside of the muscle wall of the abdomen. The two vertical muscles that hold in the tummy (the so-called "six pack muscles") get stretched apart and elongate, resulting in a bulge that cannot be fixed with diet and exercise alone.

Only surgery can bring the muscles back together again.

A tummy tuck can remove the "pooch" of excess skin that lies just below the navel. It can get rid of most stretch marks and turn a visible vertical C-section scar into a small bikini line that's easy to conceal.

Breasts
The breasts grow and get larger during breastfeeding. But after breastfeeding they typically decrease to a size smaller than before the pregnancy.

Result? Stretch marks and hanging breasts. You can't exercise those away.

A breast lift can remove stretched skin and excess tissue to recreate the firm, perky breasts we had before pregnancy. If you want a larger breast size, however, saline or silicone gel-filled implants may be an option.

Weight Gain and Cellulite
The daily grind of caring for children doesn't mix well with rigorous gym schedules. The first few sleepless months after delivery usually kill women's attempts at physical discipline. If that doesn't do it, years of sacrificing one's needs to the children's probably will.

The result? Weight gain, loss of tone, and more cellulite.

Fortunately, recent innovations in ultrasonic liposuction make this procedure highly desirable among healthy, active moms who just need a little extra help getting rid of the extra fat deposits remaining from their pregnancy.

Shadows of Their Former Selves
Faces often get careworn, too. Sleepless nights may accelerate aging around the eyes. Fortunately, there are some effective procedures for rejuvenating the eyes.

Botox
BOTOX® Cosmetic may be used to rid your face of the wrinkles around your eyes and on your forehead. A BOTOX® treatment takes only minutes and the results last for months.

Eyelids
Surgery on the eyelids or Blepharoplasty requires longer recovery than a Botox treatment, but the improvements are long-lasting and substantial. When moms have "hooding" of the upper eyelids or bags under the eyes, they are typically good candidates for eyelid surgery. The scars are minimal and you may return to your normal routine within days of surgery. The results can be dramatic.

Whether you are a new mom or have been raising kids for a while, plastic surgery is a well-deserved reward after the physical and emotional challenges of motherhood. With our help you can restore your body to its former glory.