New craze: The mommy makeover

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte's big secret is a multi-million dollar affair. When it comes to this well-hushed reality, our area is second in the country -- second only to Los Angeles for getting plastic surgery.

So what are we having done and what are the latest must-haves?

The possibilities are endless.

"We have a sophisticated population who's very interested in taking care of themselves," said Dr. Felmont Eaves of Charlotte Plastic Surgery. Eaves tells us about the Charlotte's favorite procedures: Eyelid lifts, breast augmentation and liposuction.

"We also see a lot of people coming in requesting body contouring," Dr. Eaves explains, "everything from liposuction to tummy tucks to body lifts."

"It was like a rebirth," said Charlotte mom Lorrie McClaren. She's part of the new plastic surgery craze: The mommy makeover.

"Well, after I had my twins, I had a lot of extra skin. My breasts weren't the same as before my pregnancy, so I decided I wanted to do something about it and diet and exercise weren’t doing it for me," Lorrie said.

"After pregnancy, things change,” Dr. Eaves said. “Many women say skin has become loose and stretch marks and the muscles of the abdomen may have come loose and are stretched as well, and there will be some bulging that no amount of exercise will make go away.”

And this isn't your mother's makeover. We are not talking new make-up and an outfit.

"I had a full tummy tuck, breast lift as well, and a little liposuction while they were in there," Lorrie says, beaming ear to ear.

But the surgery isn't for the faint of heart when it comes to bills. It isn't cheap -- it costs about the same as a medium-sized car, as much as $20,000.

Ask Lorrie if it's worth it and she says, "Even if you have to beg, borrow, and steal, it's worth every single penny."

Dr. Eaves advice for choosing a surgeon and his "must ask" questions for you to ask your doctor:

While undergraduate and graduate degrees from major universities are impressive, a physician's training and residency rotation have far greater importance. Experienced plastic surgeons undergo a five-year surgical training and a two-to-three year accredited residency program in plastic surgery. Through this training, surgeons gain the experience needed to enhance patients' appearance through various operations, such as facelifts, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation and liposuction. Additionally, some plastic surgeons choose to take their medical training one-step further, by completing fellowship training in subspecialty areas of plastic surgery -- making them leaders in a specific area within this specialty.

In addition to medical training and board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, experienced plastic surgeons choose to remain on the forefront of plastic surgery by maintaining membership with leading medical organizations (e.g., American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Association of Plastic Surgeons). Also, many plastic surgeons continue their education throughout their careers by actively participating in medical research studies, lecturing at the national and international levels and managing medical school programs through university professorships.

Once a patient has identified a plastic surgeon, an initial consultation is necessary to assess if a specific doctor is an appropriate fit. During the consultation, the doctor will evaluate the patient and determine if he or she is a suitable candidate. This is also a chance for the patient to evaluate the surgeon and the potential procedure.

Questions to Ask:

It is recommended that patients ask the following questions during initial consultations with a prospective plastic surgeon:

•What are your credentials and training experience?

•How many procedures of this type have you performed?

•Are there alternatives to surgery?

•Who will be performing the procedure?

•What is the expected recovery time?

•Where and how will you perform the procedure?

•What kind of anesthesia will be used?

•Will there be any noticeable scarring?

•What realistic result can be expected?

•Are there risks or side effects associated with this particular procedure?