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Mommy Makeover for African Americans?

asked 2 years ago by mikimom in Chicago
Latest answer by Jaime Perez MD
Question viewed 5,830 times
Tags: age 25-34, abdomen, breasts, stretch marks, female, 150-169 lbs, silicone implant, weight loss, African American, lollipop, pregnancy, results, scar

After only 1 pregnancy, I've looked this way for 10 yrs. It's been devastating. I'm currently 29 years old, and hope I'm a good candidate for a Mommy makeover. I've been researching procedures and really like the short scar vertical (lollipop) breast lift with silicone breast implants, but don't much see it performed on African Americans.

Also with my severe striae, will a tummy tuck help, or only add more scars? I don't expect plastic surgery to make me perfect. But can I expect good results from a Mommy makeover or in my case make matters worse. Note: I weigh 165lbs-plan to lose 30 before considering surgery.

28 answers to Mommy Makeover for African Americans?

Am I a GOOD Mommy Make-Over Candidate?

Regarding: "Mommy Makeover for African Americans? After only 1 pregnancy, I've looked this way for 10 yrs. It's been devastating. I'm currently 29 years old, and hope I'm a good candidate for a Mommy makeover. I've been researching procedures and really like the short scar vertical (lollipop) breast lift with silicone breast implants, but don't much see it performed on African Americans. Also with my severe striae, will a tummy tuck help, or only add... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Mommy makeover for African Americans

You will be a good candiate for mommy makeover, especially after 30lbs of weight that you are planning to lose. With breast augmentation/lift and tummy tuck/lipo of waist, you will get a good body contour. As long as you do not have tendency to form keloid scar, your scar will heal well. The good thing with tummy tuck in your case is that most of your striae (stretch marks) are in your lower abdomen, which will be removed from tummy tuck! You will have a hip-to-hip... more

Sugene Kim, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Mommy makeover for African-Americans

Yes, I do this procedure quite routinely for African-American women. You look like a reasonable candidate for the procedures. As always, you have to consider the trade-offs. There will be some scars, from both the breast work and the tummy work. If you make a reasonable quality scar, the trade-off is probably in your favor, overall. If you are a known bad scar former (keloids & hypertrophic scars), you may feel that the trade-off is not as good. A... more

Thomas Fiala, MD
Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon

Mommy Makeover for African Americans

You can definitely consider a mommy makeover. As you have likely read, most surgeons refer to a "mommy makeover" as a series of cosmetic surgery procedures intended to restore a woman’s figure after pregnancy. I perform these procedures as part of a “mommy makeover” for patients who want an improved figure after having children. Pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding can take a serious toll on a woman’s body, and many moms find that no amount of... more

C. Bob Basu, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.basuplasticsurgery.com

Mommy makeover for African Americans

African-Americans make great candidates for a mommy makeover. As you know, a mommy makeover is a great combination of abdominal and breast surgery performed at the same time. It is best to be evaluated by an experienced surgeon who has performed the surgeries simultaneously. Discuss your concerns regarding the shape and size of the breast and abdomen and describe your aesthetic goals as fully as possible. In African-American patients, a discussion should he have regarding the size and... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Good candidate for a Mommy Makeover

Based on the picture you provided, you are an excellent candidate for a mommy makeover. Since you are planning to lose weight prior to surgery, you will have an amazing result. It is clear that you have been doing your research. The best advice would be to make sure you are finished having children and that you find a board certified plastic surgeon to perform your surgery safely. I have many African American patients who benefit significantly from plastic surgery. For more information, go... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Mommy Makeover in African Americans

The other plastic surgeons have made some very good comments. I would like to emphasize a few points. African Americans do have a higher incidence of keloid formation. If you have a family history of this, or if you yourself have had one, then one would have to be concerned that it might happen in the surgical scars. If there is no history, then that is a positive, but not a guarantee that you won't form one. Having said that, I have performed such surgery in many many African Americans... more

Paul W. Loewenstein, MD
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

Mommy Makeover is an excellent option

Hi there- You appear to be an excellent candidate for a Mommy Makeover! I would give you the following advice: Lose the weight you are planning on losing FIRST Your priorities should be (in order of diminishing importance): Finding a SURGEON you like and can trust Carefully communicating your goals Listening to the options and what you could reasonably expect Investigating the anesthesia provider and facility Do NOT shop for a surgeon willing to perform the procedure you think you want-... more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Mommy makeover only if you do not plan to have any more children

Unfortunately, there is no perfect solution to your situation. I would discourage you from large implants. I would suggest a full breast lift with reduction of the areola circumference. You may add small silicone implants for upper breast fullness. The quality of the inverted T scar is unpredictable although over the last 30 years, and that is how long I have been in practice, I had a fairly successful outcomes. One can better predict upon consultation when the quality of you skin is... more

Helen S. Colen, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Race is irrelevant in Mommy Makeover

You have what can be improved with a breast lift and tummy tuck. You race is not important, your understanding of the procedures and desire to have them fixed is all that counts.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Mommy makeover breast lifting and abdominoplasty in Afro-Americans

You have great thoughtful questions and a good case for analysis. The weight by itself cannot be used in assessing a patient. The weight to height ratio is more helpful. If a patient is in the process of losing weight it is better to wait for a stable weight before doing any body contouring surgery (abdominoplasty, breast lift or reduction etc.). The doctor needs to work from a baseline body habitus in order to plan an appropriate surgery. The patient who is in a state of flux with respect... more

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Mommy makeover is the correct choice for you!

You indeed are a candidate for the mommy makeover procedure. I would recommend to get to your goal weight before you consider moving forward with the procedure. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in the mommy makeover procedure for best results. Good luck.

Jaime Perez MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

Mommy makeover for the African American

You certainly can have a mommy makeover and should expect to see a good result. Any planned weight loss should be accomplished before you proceed with surgery, but even with no weight loss there still is the potential for a very good appearance. I would think that a breast lift with or without implants could give you a more youthful appearance, and although all of the stretch marks may not be removed( those above the belly button will be moved quite low on the abdomen) the tone... more

Francis (Frank) William Rieger, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

African American female mommy makeovers are safe and scarring can be minimzed

Best time to have your body evaluated for a mommy makeover is when you are done having children and you have reached your targfet body weight. African Americans and women of color (Asian, Hispanic, American Indian, Indian etc) all have a higher risk for visible scars. If you have never formed keloid scars you will typically not with these surgeries. It is critical that your Plastic Surgery use techniques to minimize scars and that you treat your early scars so their appearnace is minimized. more

Laurie Casas, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.casas.md

African American and Mommy Makeover go well together!

You will have a tremendous result from both a tummy tuck and a Breast lift. You mentioned that you wanted a lift and an implant? Im not sure the implant is needed as your natural amount of breast tissue will create a quite beautiful breast alone. Only if you suspend your breast higher and that amount of tissue seems deficient should you consider an implant. As mentioned by one of the other commentiing surgeons, your scars will tend to be darker for some time, Keloid formation is over quoted... more

Charles Virden, MD
Reno Plastic Surgeon

www.virdenmd.com

Mommy makeover candidate

Hello, Yes a mommy makeover with a full tummy tuck and either a breast lift or a breast lift and breast aug (depending on your goals) will be a good choice for you. Make sure you have a good idea of your goals and you speak with a handful of plastic surgeons before making your decision. All the best, Dr Repta

Remus Repta, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

www.aaaplasticsurgery.com

Mommy makeover for you

The fact that you are African American should not defer you from having a mommy makeover. Your abdominal stretch marks will be remarkably improve and a majority removed with tummy tuck surgery. Depending on your desires for your breast size, a Brazilian Mastopexy with lollipop scar would give you nice fullness and an excellent lift. The choice of an implant would be up to you.

Richard Linderman, MD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

Mommy makeover in African American

Having a tummy tuck will most certainly remove the majority of your stretch marks from below the umbilicus to the pubic region. A vertical breast lift will probably be enough for you unless you want implants for more volume.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Mommy Makeover

From the photo you have posted it looks like you would be an excellent mommy makeover candidate. It is very wise of you to lose the weight before undergoing surgery because that will award you the best results. The amount of scarring depends on your individual healing response; the thickness and quality of scars you have developed in the past (from previous surgeries or injuries). In African Americans receiving a breast lift or reduction there is also a small... more

Neil J. Zemmel, MD
Richmond Plastic Surgeon

Mommy makeover in African American patient

Most patients with darker skin coloring tend to have slightly darker scars, in general. However, the scars on the breast usually heal quite well due to the thin skin-even in African American patients. The abdominal skin which is much thicker, tends to heal slightly darker in almost all patients. Based on the photos you provided, you appear to be a reasonable candidate for a tummy tuck. Once you lose the weight you plan to lose, you will be an even better candidate and... more

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Scars are the issue with mommy makeover for darker skin

First the good news, which is that you would have a very nice result from the mommy makeover, which would include a tummy tuck and breast lift. The important issue is how you would heal the scars and whether you have any tendency for keloids, the thick, dark sacrs that can form in darker skinned people as well as fair-skinned redheads. If you have any scars from surgery somewhere else on your body that would be a good predictor. If you heal with normal scars then I believe you will be very... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

baxterplasticsurgery.com

African Americans do well with mommy makeovers.

Hi. Based on your picture, I would recommend a mommy makeover, which in your case means a tummy tuck and a breast lift. Women accept the scars if they love their new shape. I would do it even if you don't lose thirty pounds.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Mommy Makeover

Loose the weight first, it will improve on the final result. Also will determine the shape and size of the breast after weight loss, your abdominoplasty will look much better after the weight loss. Then choose a Board Certified Plastic surgeon with experience. Remember, there will be scars on the abdomen (well, in the Bikini line). and on the breast. there are no quarantees to the scars, thse are detrmined by how they heal and the care in suturing them anfd most importantly on YOUR GENES. more

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Mommy Makeover in an African American

I would definitely lose the weight first to assess the appearance of your breasts and possible volume loss. Currently you have adequate breast volume and I would discourage your from implants and urge you to consider the vertical breast lift alone. In darker skinned individuals, we always have a greater concern for possible keloid development and there may be little you can do to prevent this. In regards, to the tummy, you are an excellent candidate for t a full tummy tuck given the limited... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Great Candidate

I agree with the other physicians. You are an excellent candidate for a mommy makeover (lift and tummy tuck). I do not think that you would need implants unless you wanted to be larger then you are now. A lift will give you a nice result and most of your stretch marks will be removed with a tummy tuck. You will be trading the stretch marks for a flat tummy with a long incision very low down on you belly. This procedure is done on African Americans all the time. You will look great. more

Kari L. Colen, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Mommy Makeover in African Americans

Based on your pictures, you can expect a fantastic result from a mommy makeover (tummy tuck and breast lift). I think you would get the best result in your breast with an inverted T incision instead of only a vertical incision. If you want to compromise results for a shorter incision, then insist on the vertical only incision. However, I feel this would be a mistake since you will be limiting the final shape of the breast. Since you do have significant ptosis, you may be a candidate for... more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Mommy makeover

You look like you'll be fantastic candidate for a mommy makeover, which I assure you is often done in African Americans. A breast lift with a vertical incision is certainly an option, and you may not even need implants placed at that time. A tummy tuck will leave a long scar in the hairline (same location as a C-section scar, but longer). The skin below the umbilicus will be gone forever, along with those stretch marks. The stretch marks above your umbilicus will remain, but they will... more

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Mommy makeover

After a 30 pound weight loss, you could have a very nice mommy makeover. About 75% of the stretch marks would be removed and the extra lower abdominal skin and muscle laxity would be resolved. The breasts would also benefit from a lift plus or minus an implant. Vertical vs anchor lift would be good, the key is to get the best shape and in my opinion that comes from the central pedicle lift with an anchor scar. You might go and visit Dr. Placik in Chicago to get some concrete ideas! more