February 02, 2010
February 2010 ~ Issue #017
~ TABLE OF CONTENTS ~
- Plastic Surgery After Twins
- Take A Poll
- Parents Needed For Interview In TWINS Magazine
- Multiples Magazine - Only $5 For A Whole Year!
- TwoCute™ Twin Photo Contest
We were so lucky to get some of the best information on plastic surgery after twins from a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon. This informative article covers our interview with Karen Horton, M.D., and her advice on getting your body back after twin pregnancy via plastic surgery. Her knowledgeable, straightforward counsel will help anyone who is interested in what's commonly referred to as a "Mommy Makeover". You will definitely get a better grasp on what's involved, recovery and costs. She also dicusses what happens to our bodies after twin pregnancy, as well as what to look for in a plastic surgeon and other available procedures. A must read!
WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN?
I am a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon and Reconstructive Microsurgeon, practicing in the Pacific Heights area of San Francisco, California. I specialize in both reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery for women, and in particular, Moms!
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR BODIES. ABDOMENS, BREASTS AFTER PREGNANCY
(especially a twin pregnancy)?
Many women find their abdomens have permanent changes following pregnancy, including stretch marks, loss of abdominal tone, excess skin and extra fat deposits that have accumulated since having babies. Most mothers do not have complete recovery of their bodies after children. Many of my patients are personal trainers, who also need a little help once they are mothers! Regardless of whether you breastfeed or not, having babies "suck the life right out of them" (your breasts)! The breasts are usually more and more deflated with each subsequent pregnancy. This loss of volume is usually addressed by a breast augmentation, and sometimes a breast lift is incorporated to move the nipple and areola up to a more aesthetic position and to tuck excess breast skin. Twin pregnancies and multiple births can amplify the changes to a Mom's body. Often the abdominal skin and rectus muscles are stretched so far apart that a hernia occurs, which is visible when you try to do a sit-up as a protruding bulge in your midline. This is repaired in a standard abdominoplasty, together with tightening your muscles and removing excess skin. There is no substitute for this incredible operation, which is one of my favorites to do! How a mother feels about herself as a mother and a woman is integral to her self image and self esteem. For a mom to want to take care of herself and feel youthful, sexy and confident is NOT self-centered or vain!
WHEN DIET AND EXERCISE HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN FOR A WOMAN WHO HAS TRIED TO LOOSE THE POST-PREGNANCY WEIGHT, WHAT TYPES OF PROCEDURES SHOULD SHE CONSIDER?
A "Mommy Makeover" can include a breast lift, breast augmentation or breast reduction, depending on the changes of pregnancy and your specific aesthetic goals. Because the muscles of the abdominal wall are permanently separated after pregnancies (particular after multiple children or twin pregnancies), a million sit-ups will not help! A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)and/or liposuction is often recommended to bring the abdominal muscles back together in the midline, and to recreate a flat belly. A "mommy makeover" surgical procedure should only be considered at least 6 months after the birth of your last child so that your body has the chance to recover as much as possible and to enable you to achieve as much as you can on your own, with a healthy diet and regular exercise. I encourage each of my patients to become as physically fit as possible before considering any major surgery....
Last month's newsletter poll asked "What Type Of Twins Do You Have?"
With a current total of 886 votes, 42% answered "Fraternal Boy/Girl", 18% answered "Fraternal Girl/Girl", 17% answered "Fraternal Boy/Boy", 11% answered "Identical Girl/Girl", and another 11% answered "Identical Boy/Boy".
Author and mother of twins, Christina Tinglof is researching an article for TWINS Magazine about parents facing the difficult and sometimes agonizing decision to hold one twin back a grade while allowing the other to move ahead. If you've ever been this situation with your school-age twins she would love to hear about your experience. What did you decide to ultimately do? How did you come to your decision? What factors were involved? And finally, how is it all working out? Would you have done anything differently if you had it to do over again?
Anyone who is interested in participating can contact Christina by e-mail at: tinglof@sbcglobal.net
If you haven't already, be sure to grab a subscription of Multiples Magazine. They are currently offering an entire year for only $5! This price can't be beat and will likely go up in the near future as they continue to build their presence in the twins and multiples community. Multiples Magazine is dedicated to enriching the lives of families by promoting wholesome values, time-saving and fun activities, money-saving tips, quality entertainment reviews and informative articles.
Now taking entries for February!
Twin-Pregnancy-And-Beyond.com | Parent's Community | Twins Survival Guide | Twin Book Project | Twins Boutique
Do you want to be a Featured Mom? Send us your request and you might be next!
Until next month....
All the best, Kellie Asaro (site founder and Mom of twins)