However, there are many considerations before going into any surgical procedure as an individual, and more especially as a mother. There are health concerns that are needed to be established, financial planning as well as consulting other people who are involved in the procedure.
Ready for a Mommy Makeover? Try Some Exercises First
According to Dr. Usha Rajagopal, a known cosmetic surgeon in San Francisco, “One way of preparing yourself for a physical makeover before a surgical procedure is doing a regular exercise routine.” What are the benefits of doing regular exercises before undergoing a cosmetic procedure?
1. Regulates blood flow
An important health requirement before going into any cosmetic procedure is the condition of the heart and blood flow. Usually, a patient with a weak heart or poor circulation will not be allowed to undergo surgery. So if you are somebody who has a family history of heart or circulatory conditions, having an appropriate exercise regimen will help reduce the possibilities of these problems you might encounter before the surgery. Make sure to consult your doctor before going into any exercise program.
2. Improves your muscular integrity
A good way to help improve the result of your mommy makeover is by doing an exercise regimen on your target body part. This is especially true if it is a fat reduction cosmetic procedure such as a tummy tuck or liposuction. By doing a targeted exercise, it will improve the muscle form and shape and will further enhance the appearance of that body part in the end results.
3. Maintaining overall fitness
It isn’t rocket science to understand how exercise improves a body’s overall fitness. Once you are physically fit to undergo surgery, this will help you maintain an active lifestyle. These habits will be reinforced even after the surgery, which will help you maintain your figure in the long run.
Here are some simple workouts you can do at home to help you prepare for your cosmetic procedure. Dr. Usha Rajagopal mentions, “Don’t forget to consult your doctor before considering any physical activity. All exercises may be inherently dangerous when not done properly or not recommended.”
5 Exercises To Do Before Your Mommy Makeover Procedure
1. Abdominal Crunches
Although it may be a struggle to some women, abdominal crunches are a way to strengthen your core muscles. If you are considering any abdominal fat reduction procedure such as a tummy tuck, it may be ideal to start with abdominal crunches as part of your workout routine. This is considered as a muscle strengthening exercise, so it is good to focus on different abdominal muscle groups. Here are several ways to do it:
- Basic Crunch: This targets central abdominal muscles. Start by lying on your back, knees bent and both your arms behind your head. Crunch up by bringing your upper body using your abdominal muscles.
- Oblique Crunch: This targets the oblique muscles or the side abdominal muscles. Do the same initial position as the basic crunch but prop yourself up leaning more towards the right or left side.
- Reverse Crunch: This targets the lower belly or the commonplace for fat storage in the abdominals. It has the same initial position as the basic crunch, but lift your knees towards your chest and squeeze tight. This creates tension in the lower abdominal muscles.
2. Simple cardio routine
Another way to improve your cardiovascular strength and blood flow before the surgery is by incorporating several cardio workouts. You can pick any mild-moderate cardio workout of your choice such as jogging, running on a treadmill or doing aerobic activities such as jumping jacks, jump ropes, or running in place. If you are the type who easily gets bored, you can do fun aerobic activities such as Zumba, Cardio kickboxing or mixed martial arts.
3. Squats
Squats are a multifunctional workout routine you can add to your pre-surgery exercise list. Squats can target many body parts including the legs, thighs, butt and even the abdominals. Start by having your feet shoulder length apart and do slow and controlled squat movements. Do not make your knees exceed your toes to prevent injuries. You can experiment with different intensities such as speeding up your squats or holding some weights to challenge yourself as well.
4. Push-ups
Push-ups are focused on the chest and arms area. If you are undergoing a procedure that involves arm fat reduction or breast augmentation, performing pushups are an ideal way to form a good shape in that area. As a beginner, you can start by performing push-ups with your knees down on the ground. As your arm strength improves, you can stop resting your knees and do the regular stance for push-ups.
Doing these workouts will not only help you prepare for your “mommy makeover”, but will also give you long-term health benefits.