Becoming a mother is an incredible journey where significant changes occur in your body. Your body grows and changes to accommodate a growing baby. Then comes the changes after birth and breastfeeding. Many women look in the mirror after all of these life-changing events and realize that they feel alien or uncomfortable in their postpartum bodies. Mommy Makeovers help women restore their bodies and regain their self-confidence. Mommy makeovers are completely personalized and procedures can vary greatly from mother to mother depending on aesthetic goals and needs.
What is mommy makeover surgery?
A mommy makeover is a series of cosmetic surgeries performed to help women look and feel their best after having children. A mommy makeover can include cosmetic surgery, nonsurgical treatments, or a combination of both. A mommy makeover can help restore a body image that hasn’t returned to its former state, even with diet and exercise, after giving birth.
Which operations are included in the mommy makeover?
A mommy makeover usually involves breast augmentation and/or breast lift and body contouring surgery (i.e. tummy tuck and liposuction). However, your mommy makeover can also include any procedure that will help address your individual concerns. Genital aesthetic surgery can also be performed for mothers who prefer it.
In addition to surgery, treatments such as skin tightening, cellulite removal, botox, fillers and skin resurfacing can also be performed.
Who should have a mommy makeover?
Every patient has personal goals for mommy makeover surgery:
- To correct sagging breasts and restore volume
- To improve breast symmetry
- To repair a tight or large nipple/areola
- To remove excess, sagging skin from the abdomen
- To repair tight or separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti)
- To reduce excess fat that is resistant to diet and exercise
Before surgery, women should make sure they are in good general health and are at or near their ideal body weight.
When is the best time for a mommy makeover?
Determining when the right time for a mommy makeover is largely a personal decision between you and your plastic surgeon. However, there are certain factors to consider when determining when to have the procedure and what procedures to have:
- You should have completed your postpartum recovery before having the surgery.
- If you are considering breast surgery, you should wait a few months after you stop breastfeeding to allow your breasts to return to a stable size and shape.
- Treatments such as injections may not be recommended while you are still breastfeeding.
- It is generally best to wait until you have decided not to have children before undergoing surgical “lifting” procedures such as a tummy tuck or breast lift. If you plan to become pregnant again in the future, nonsurgical body contouring and skin treatments may be more appropriate.
- You will not be allowed to do any heavy lifting after the surgery. You will need help with childcare for the first few weeks after surgery, especially if you have young children.
What aesthetic procedures are performed during a mommy makeover?
The most common procedures performed during a mommy makeover include:
Abdominoplasty: A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, removes excess skin from the abdomen and tightens abdominal muscles that may have separated during pregnancy.
Breast augmentation or lift: Depending on your aesthetic goals and needs, you may have breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction.
Liposuction: Liposuction removes excess fat from areas such as the abdomen, thighs, hips, and waist.
Are there any risks to the mommy makeover operation?
Although generally safe, as with any surgery, there are certain risks or complications to be aware of. Potential risks and complications that may occur after mommy makeover surgery include:
- Bleeding or blood clots
- Infection
- Scarring
- Undesirable results
- Numbness or tingling of the skin
What is recovery like after a mommy makeover?
Because mommy makeovers are personalized to the patient’s needs and goals, surgical protocols and recovery times vary. The best approach is to expect a recovery similar to the recovery time required for the most extensive procedure you have (in most cases, a tummy tuck).
Many patients choose to have the procedure done promptly, while their children are young. However, careful planning is required for childcare during the recovery period. Most surgical procedures restrict heavy lifting for 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Therefore, you will need to have assistance with tasks such as carrying your child during this time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mommy Makeover
What are the main benefits of a mommy makeover?
Returning to pre-pregnancy body shape: A mommy makeover usually involves a combination of procedures such as breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction to restore a woman’s pre-pregnancy body shape and appearance.
Improving body contour: In addition to restoring a pre-pregnancy body, it can also improve body contours, improving the body’s overall shape and proportions.
Improving self-confidence: It can help women feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin by restoring their former body shape and improving body contours.
What should I look for when choosing a hospital to have my surgery?
The most important decision you can make is which surgeon will perform your procedure(s) and where. Since mommy makeover surgeries usually involve multiple procedures, you need to make sure that the plastic surgeon you choose is experienced not only in each procedure you are considering, but also in performing them together.
Also, since there are many procedures at once, it is very important to choose a center that is fully equipped to perform them while protecting your health.
When can I see the results of the operations?
How long it takes for your results to take their final form depends on the procedures performed. Although the time varies from patient to patient, they usually feel comfortable and confident by the 3rd month after surgery. When performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, a mommy makeover is a procedure with long-lasting results.
Am I a good candidate for a mommy makeover?
Women who are in good health, have a stable weight, do not smoke, and have realistic expectations about their appearance are generally good candidates for a mommy makeover.
What happens if I decide to have children after a mommy makeover?
For reasons related to your long-term results, you may want to consider postponing your mommy makeover until you decide not to have children anymore. No plastic surgeon can claim that a second mommy makeover will be as effective as the first. Your skin may stretch beyond the point of no return, or your abdominal muscles may separate again or for the first time. Therefore, you should discuss your pregnancy plans in detail with your surgeon.
Who cannot have a mommy makeover?
Poor general health may prevent you from being an ideal mommy makeover candidate. If you have the following conditions, your surgeon may need to cancel or postpone your surgery:
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- High blood pressure
- Chronic heart disease
- Smoking or other tobacco use (Smoking is a surgical risk for surgery patients. It can interfere with wound healing and cause additional scarring or even skin necrosis. It also puts patients at higher risk for anesthesia.)
Sources:
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
- American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS)
- Stanford Medicine