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For many women, accepting their bodies after giving birth can be a huge challenge. This struggle often leads some, like Amber, to opt for surgery to regain their pre-pregnancy body.

The 34-year-old from Houston, Texas, recently told Newsweek that she spent $25,000 on a “mommy makeover,” which includes a combination of surgeries.

“It was worth every penny,” said Amber, who works in human resources. “I have my confidence back.”

This struggle with body image is a common experience; 54 percent of 1,572 women who were pregnant had more negative attitudes toward their bodies, according to a survey by British charity The Mental Health Foundation.

“I was very active before I had my two children, who are four and three years old. Fitness has always been my thing. When I became a mother, that was taken away from me a little. I felt like I had lost myself,” she said. Newsweek.

Amber, who asked not to give her last name, gained a lot of weight during her pregnancies. She gained about 60 pounds during her first pregnancy and 40 pounds during her second. Eight weeks after giving birth, Amber started working out again. She worked out twice a day, three to four times a week, incorporating a lot of cardio and weight lifting.

But despite her strict routine and healthy diet, Amber felt like something was wrong. “I told my husband I didn’t feel like myself,” she admits. After a C-section with her first daughter and a VBAC (vaginal birth after C-section) with her second daughter, Amber struggled with her postpartum body. “Even though I was still working out and eating healthy, my belly wasn’t what it used to be.”

This got her thinking about cosmetic surgery. “Once I settled into my daily life as a mother of two, I started looking for a mommy makeover,” she explains. In March 2023, she underwent extensive surgery that included hernia surgery, a tummy tuck, breast implants and a lift.

Newsweek discussed the surgery, which took about six to eight hours, with Dr. Ari Hoschander, a board-certified plastic surgeon at KH Plastic Surgery in New York.

He said: “As with any procedure and anaesthetic, there are always risks. Patients always undergo a full health assessment before surgery to ensure they are fit for the operation. With any surgery there is a risk of bleeding, poor wound healing, scarring and infection, but as long as the patient is in good health and takes the right steps to heal, the risk is minimal.”

It took Amber about eight weeks to fully recover, but she didn’t see the final results until about six months later, when the swelling had gone down.

she said Newsweek: “Before the surgery, I didn’t like my stomach. I always wore high-waisted pants and one-piece swimsuits. Now I’m freer and more open to be myself – I can wear bikinis and I don’t have to hide any of my stretch marks or my stretch marks.”

Amber now shares her experience on TikTok under the handle @ambammss to help others considering similar procedures. “When I was researching, no one online was being completely honest about the surgery, so now I’m sharing my personal experience online to help someone else,” she says.

Her advice to other mothers is to take their time after giving birth. “Everyone is different. If you’ve reached a point where nothing has helped, I would recommend that you see a plastic surgeon to see what your options are.”

Hoschander said Newsweek: “Mommy Makeovers help restore the body after childbirth and give it a more youthful appearance. The surgical techniques used tighten the abdominal muscles and remove sagging or excess skin, thereby reducing stretch marks and improving overall body contours. Each Mommy Makeover is customized to each patient’s needs and offers a range of options including breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck, body contouring and other customized procedures to achieve the desired results.”

But surgery is not for everyone. Dr. Meghan Garcia-Webb, who is triple-certified as an internist, lifestyle medicine physician and obesity medicine physician, also shared her findings Newsweek on the topic of postpartum weight loss. She stressed the importance of having realistic expectations, noting that a pregnancy lasting over nine months and involving weight gain can take nine to twelve months for the body to recover and lose the extra weight.

Webb stressed that new mothers often experience lifestyle changes, which in turn lead to changes in eating habits. She advised tracking eating habits to avoid overeating and recommended home workouts, such as the 7 Minute Workout app. For mothers who have stopped breastfeeding a year after giving birth and are still concerned about their belly weight, she recommended seeing a core-strengthening trainer.

When asked about her opinion on plastic surgery for her own daughters, Amber is open but cautious. “I would be open to my children having surgery. I would wait until they are fully developed, but before that I would help them with other options like diet and exercise.”

If you have a personal dilemma, let us know at [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work, and your story could appear in Newsweek’s “What Should I Do?” section.