In UK, Regaining Pre-Baby Body Is A Priority

Immediately following childbirth, it is hard for a woman to regain her pre-baby body. Child bearing can lead to sagging skin, stretch marks, weight gain, cellulite and drooping breast. A new survey conducted by British TV show My Face My Body reveals that 39% of UK women would consider a ‘mommy makeover’ procedure after having children.

The researchers interviewed 326 women and found the top body concerns for women post-pregnancy to be:

Weight-34%
Stretch Marks-24%
Loose Skin-21%
Cellulite-14%
Sagging Breasts-7%


An overwhelming 93% of women admitted that reclaiming their pre-baby body was a priority to them, regardless of whether or not their partner shared their concerns. Of the men interviewed, 71% said they didn’t care about their partner gaining weight after childbirth. On the contrary, 67% of women feared their partners would not find them attractive post-baby.

"While most women enjoy being pregnant and the changes it brings to their bodies, many are concerned about these changes, such as weight gain and stretch marks, becoming permanent,” said My Face My Body presenter Stephen Handisides.

The survey also found that 57% of women would undergo a cosmetic procedure while they were still in the hospital following labor. For a mother who is considering plastic surgery, I urge you to wait at least six months following childbirth to allow the body to heal properly.

For women who are considering plastic surgery as a way to regain their body following pregnancy, the ‘mommy makeover’ is a popular option. The ‘mommy makeover’ can be any combination of procedures including liposuction, abdominoplasty, breast lift, reduction or augmentation.

In our Florida office we see many 'mommy makeovers', with breast surgery, especially breast lifts with implants, being the most popular. The difference in the popularity of aesthetic breast surgery in the U.S. and U.K. may be due to national trends, or even regional trends for South Florida.

Could Invisible Bra Set Off New Trend?

Cosmetically, women can achieve the appearance of perkier breasts through breast augmentation or breast lifts. A new product, which guarantees a long-term boost, may be something to watch out for.

Breform™ surgical breast support is a new system termed as the “invisible bra”. A polyester mesh material is inserted through surgically under the skin. Breform™ is placed under the epidermis of the breast and stitched to the layer of fat above the breast tissue.

The material, which is cone-shaped, looks like a bra and can enhance the shape of the breast without undergoing surgery. Reportedly, Breform™ feels completely natural and cannot be felt through the breast skin.

Breform™ is inserted under the skin via an incision around the nipple with the assistance of general anesthesia. Just as with any surgery around the nipple, there is the possibility of loss of sensation. Breform™ claims that any lost nipple sensation, however, should return within six months following insertion.

TopNews.co.uk reports that a Breform™ procedure, which is manufactured by Aspide Médical in St Etienne, France, costs and average of 5,900GPD—or $9,100. While Breform™ can be used as an alternative to breast reduction in certain patients; the benefits of the product can also be reaped if used in conjunction with augmentation and reduction.

So what is our take on the invisible bra? Breform™ may be beneficial to ensure optimum results and prevent future sagging in patients who have undergone breast augmentation or reduction. By itself, however, Breform™ does not seem to be worth the investment. Breform™ is currently only available in parts of Europe and Asia, however, it has already received national media attention in the U.S.

It's the big things that move you...

A long-standing problem with breast implants, particularly saline implants that are a bit on the larger size, has been their tendency to move around over time, often requiring a breast lift to shore them up. The tiny silk worm is coming to the rescue in the form of a silk-based biodegradable mesh that provides more support than skin alone.

As Colin Stewart reported last week in his "In Your Face" blog, Allergan’s recent purchase of the cosmetic and reconstructive surgery unit of Serica Technologies, SeriScaffold, the above-mentioned silk-based mesh, joins Allergen’s ever-growing product line which includes the Natrelle brand of breast implants, Botox, Juvederm and Latisse, all big favorites among the beautiful.

“Serica’s scaffold biomaterial expertise provides Allergan with a new tissue engineering platform technology for use in tissue regeneration, including breast augmentation, revision and reconstruction and bariatric applications,” said company spokeswoman Caroline Van Hove.

“The technology represents the first silk-based medical device cleared by the FDA. We are always looking for ways to bolster our medical aesthetic franchise, and our acquisition of Serica is another example of our intent to further develop our leadership and expertise in breast aesthetics and reconstruction.”

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton