Reclaim Your Shape: The Menopause Makeover

Menopause is a significant milestone in a woman’s life, often accompanied by a myriad of physical and emotional changes. As the body adjusts to new hormonal levels, many women experience shifts in body shape and overall appearance. These changes can be challenging, but the good news is that effective solutions are available to help women feel confident and revitalized during and after this transformative phase. One such solution is the Menopause Makeover.

What is the Menopause Makeover?

The Menopause Makeover is a comprehensive, customized approach to addressing the aesthetic concerns associated with changes in the body from menopause. It typically includes a combination of procedures tailored to each woman’s unique needs. This holistic makeover aims to restore vitality, enhance natural beauty, and boost self-confidence.

Physical Changes that Occur from Menopause

• Weight Gain: Changes in body composition and metabolism due to shifting hormones can lead to weight gain, particularly around the abdomen. This occurs regardless of a healthy diet and regular exercise, and can be frustrating for those who have always maintained their weight and body shape.

• Skin Changes: Changes in the skin occur as it loses elastin and becomes thinner. This results in droopier skin on the lower body which can look lumpy and bulgy. As the skin loses its ability to bounce back, it looks less tight.

Key Procedures in the Menopause Makeover

1. Body Contouring
   • Liposuction: Liposuction is used to remove stubborn fat deposits in the body from hormonal shifts, as well as to contour areas of the body to regain their youthful shape. These areas often become more pronounced during menopause and resist diet and exercise. Common areas treated include the abdomen, thighs, hips, and arms.
   • Tummy Tuck: With the redistribution of fat, usually around the abdomen, and loss of muscle tone, a tummy tuck is the ideal procedure to remove excess skin and fat, repair and tighten separated abdominal muscles, and help define the waist again. At our office, tummy tuck procedures always include liposuction for a natural, contoured shape.
   • Renuvion®: Using heat and cold plasma energy, Renuvion is the perfect complement to liposuction as it tightens and smooths loose skin after the fat has been removed by contracting existing collagen fibers and stimulating the production of new collagen.
   • Avéli®: Cellulite may be more noticeable as we age due to the skin’s loss in elasticity. Avéli releases the connective tissue that causes cellulite dimples to smooth out the thighs and buttocks. This can be done as a standalone procedure in the office, or as an addition during surgery.
2. Breast Procedures
   • Breast Reduction: Some women are looking to remove excess volume from their breasts, whether they’ve always had larger breasts or experienced an increase in volume from weight changes during menopause. A breast reduction removes this excess tissue for a more proportioned breast.
   • Breast Lift: Due to the loss of elasticity in the skin, the breasts experience more sagging. Done alone or combined with a small reduction or an augmentation (which can be achieved through implants or fat grafting), a breast lift elevates and reshapes the breasts into a youthful and natural position on the chest by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue.

Why is the Menopause Makeover Effective?

The effectiveness of the Menopause Makeover lies in its personalized approach. Each woman’s experience with menopause is unique, and each procedure is tailored to address individual concerns and goals. By combining multiple treatments, the Menopause Makeover provides a comprehensive solution that tackles various aspects of aging simultaneously.

• Holistic Approach: By addressing both internal and external changes, the makeover offers a well-rounded treatment plan.
• Boosts Confidence: Enhancing appearance can significantly improve self-esteem and quality of life during menopause.
• Combined Surgery: Many of the procedures involved in the makeover can be done together in a single surgery, allowing for one recovery period.
• Long-Lasting Results: With continued healthy habits, the results of the Menopause Makeover can be long-lasting, allowing women to enjoy their revitalized look for years.

Menopause is a natural and inevitable phase of life, but it doesn’t have to mean a decline in confidence or appearance. The Menopause Makeover provides procedures to help women navigate these changes gracefully and maintain their beauty and vitality. If you’re experiencing the effects of menopause and want to explore your options, our Patient Consultants and breast and body plastic surgeons would love to speak to you about creating a personalized plan that meets your needs. Contact our office online or call 585.244.1000.

To hear more about procedures that can address physical changes that occur as a result of menopause, listen to the Plastic Surgery Decoded podcast episode by Dr. Amalfi and Dr. Smita.