Exploring the viral trend sweeping over social media, Mommy Makeover, and the many cutting-edge options for women to reclaim their confidence this spring

by Luda Conti Owner, Avanti Day Resort

QUEEN BEE

Of the countless joys motherhood brings, it often leaves its mark on the body. On average, women gain 25-35 pounds during pregnancy, and while some are able to shed the weight naturally over the next six months to a year, for others, those extra pounds stick to the body like gum to a desk. Throw in a side of stretch marks and loose skin, and you’re thumbing through prepartum photos thinking the glory days are long behind you. Enter the rise of the Mommy Makeover: a rising self-care trend helping women escape the mom bod stereotype and reclaim their confidence and favorite sundress. There are a wide variety of cutting edge procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, available to tackle the full suite of post-pregnancy side effects, including tummy tucks for stubborn belly fat or loose skin, and breast augmentation for volume loss. Just a cursory glance at the #MommyMakeover hashtag on social media reveals thousands of mothers and grandmothers, many in their ‘60s and ‘70s, donning a frame they haven’t seen since before the birth of their first child.

Avanti Day Resort 345 U.S. 9, Manalapan Township 732.780.0222, avantidayresort.com

FACE YOUR FUTURE

Another oft-overlooked but especially irritating side effect of pregnancy is melasma, a skin condition that causes dark spots or patches on the face. Hormones are the culprit, but the spots can linger long after your baby is out of diapers. Facial therapies can help, including chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) facials. The Astrodome O2 Facial is particularly effective; it’s the first IPL therapy in the world to combine NIR (near infrared) with an anion mist spraying system, traveling deep into the skin to promote cellular turnover and reveal a brighter, clearer complexion.

NO DOWNTIME, PLEASE

While the traditional Mommy Makeover includes a tummy tuck and breast lift, the recent rise in noninvasive, super-star tech offers women several alternatives to the knife. Microneedling, for example, punctures the top layer of the skin with tiny needles to spur the healing process, and it can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Cool Sculpting, on the other hand, is a fat-freezing procedure that targets fat cells in notoriously stubborn areas like the hips, belly, upper arms, and butt. Sclerotherapy addresses spider and varicose veins caused by sharp changes in hormone levels, and EMSculpt Neo not only eliminates fat but also aids in building muscle. All of these procedures are outpatient and minimally invasive, meaning downtime is minimal but results are momentous.