A mommy makeover is a term used to refer to a set of surgical procedures performed to restore a woman’s body after pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. The procedures Denton Plastic Surgery combines into a mommy makeover plan can include breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, tummy tuck, liposuction, and body contouring. The end result of a mommy makeover is a full restoration of your pre-baby body, fit and firm. Our surgeons have helped several women reclaim their pre-baby bodies, and we look forward to helping you.
What Is a Mommy Makeover?
A “mommy makeover” is a plastic surgery “buzz word,” popular in magazines, on television, or in conversation. Generally speaking, our mommy makeover is a combined procedure to rejuvenate the tummy and breasts for a woman who, due to childbearing and breastfeeding, feels her body has lost its firm, youthful look.
Am I a Candidate for Mommy Makeover?
If you are dismayed with the look of your body after pregnancy and breastfeeding, a mommy makeover allows you to restore a firm, trim, youthful look to your breasts and body. As with any surgery, you need to be in good overall health, free from any medical condition that could put you at risk in surgery, and be a non-smoker.
*Individual Results May Vary
Table of Candidacy
Saggy Breasts or Droopy Breasts
As a result of aging and breastfeeding, the breasts can develop a droopy or sagging appearance. A breast lift or a breast augmentation with lift will restore a firm, youthful look to your breasts.
Deflated Breasts or Overly Large Nipples
A breast lift or breast augmentation with lift along with nipple reshaping and relocation on the breast mound will improve your look.
Excess Fat, Skin, and Tissue on Abdomen
Pregnancies can often lead to developing a little extra fat or loose, droopy skin around the abdomen. A tummy tuck removes excess skin, fat, and tissue for a firmer, tauter look.
Stretch Marks
Many women do not want to keep the stretch marks they develop after pregnancy. A tummy tuck removes all or some of the stretch marks located on the lower abdomen.
Loose or Split Abdominal Muscles
Diastasis recti is a post-pregnancy condition wherein the abdominal muscles become separated, leading to a flabbier appearance than would otherwise be present. A tummy tuck can include tightening and repairing the underlying muscle structure to repairk loose or split muscles.
What Is the Cost of a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is a fully customized procedure, and only a private consultation will allow for a full evaluation of the areas that need to be restored. The most important aspect in choosing a plastic surgeon is not the cost, but the skills and experience of your plastic surgeon, as the results will last for many, many years. In general, the cost may range from $10,000 to $30,000.
Mommy Makeover Procedure Options
Your body makeover will be customized to match your individual situation. The range of procedures that may be required to restore a youthful, firm, attractive figure will be matched with your needs. We may recommend a combined procedure, in which several procedures are performed during the same surgery, or a staged procedure, in which several operations are performed, separated by a recovery period. We choose the method that offers the greatest level of safety for you, our patient.
Tummy Tuck
Our mommy makeover often includes an abdominoplasty, or “tummy tuck.” This procedure removes excess skin and tissue from your abdomen, and restores the muscle structure if it appears split, called “diastasis.” The surgery has the added benefit of potentially removing the stretch marks visible on the lower abdomen.
Liposuction
Nature dictates that the female body stores fat when pregnant. The excess fat could serve as a resource should food become scarce. Many women struggle with fatty areas after pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding that just won’t disappear, no matter how strictly a diet is followed, or how often they exercise. In these cases, liposuction may be the most effective procedure. With “spot” liposuction, the fatty zones can be addressed, and unwanted fat extracted with gentle, advanced liposuction.
Breast Lift
The weight of breasts heavy with mother’s milk, along with the increase in the size of the glandular tissue may have left your breasts far lower on the chest wall, saggy, droopy, or with aesthetic issues related to nipple size and location after lactation has ended. A custom breast lift will restore your breasts to a youthful, high position, reshape natural tissue, and relocate nipple structure if they now point down or you feel they are too large.
Buttock Rejuvenation
Many mothers are dismayed to see their once perky, rounded buttocks appearing saggy. A Brazilian butt lift may be part of your mommy makeover as a surgical procedure to reshape and restore buttocks or upper thighs.
Mini Tummy Tuck
This procedure repairs the lower abdomen but involves a shorter incision, similar to the incision of a Caesarean section. For women who have body issues appearing only below the belly button and are in fairly good physical shape but cannot tighten the lower abdomen with diet and exercise, a mini tummy tuck may be the right procedure.
Breast Augmentation
One of the most common areas to treat in a custom mommy makeover is the breasts. After the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, followed by breastfeeding, once young, round, plump breasts may appear saggy and deflated. A breast augmentation can restore lost breast volume with implants or for a subtle increase, with natural fat transfer.
Breast Lift with Augmentation
Many women struggle with how their breasts appear after having children. Once plump, youthful, rounded breasts now sag, droop, or appear deflated. A breast lift with augmentation addresses the full scope of damage by lifting the breasts while adding volume with implants.
Other Options
Vaginal Rejuvenation
Surgical vaginal rejuvenation procedures may be added.
What Is the Recovery Time After a Mommy Makeover?
Recovery from a mommy makeover will vary depending on your procedure. Combined breast and abdomen or breast and body procedures usually require several weeks of recovery and a couple of weeks off work. You will want to have a friend or loved one at home with you that can help you for a week to ten days. Sometimes we will recommend that you stay overnight after more extensive procedures or if you have spent longer time under anesthesia. Our goal is always your health, safety, and happiness.
Single Surgery
As each mommy makeover is customized, the timeline varies from patient to patient. When it is safe to perform several procedures in one surgery, this will be arranged, saving you the added costs of another surgery, as well as just one recovery period. The surgeries often performed in one surgical appointment include a tummy tuck and breast lift. The timeline for recovery from this approach is about six weeks, with you feeling comfortable and confident in a swimsuit in about three months after your mommy makeover is complete.
Staged Approach
Some women may be better served by a “staged” approach to a mommy makeover, typically two surgeries. Dr. Flugstad and Dr. Rivet will advise the safest, most effective method, based upon the number of body areas requiring treatment and your overall health. Recovery from each surgery is typically in the range of two to six weeks, so your staged surgical plan must be carefully arranged around your schedule, childcare issues, and other considerations.
Immediately After
Most mommy makeovers are performed with the patient under general anesthesia. You will awaken in a recovery area, being monitored by a nurse. Once alert, you will be allowed to return home to recover, under the care of another person.
Day Of
You will want to rest – and this is what you need. You will need to arrange for a friend or family member to stay with you for the first few days.
One Week
This is the most difficult section of the recovery, as your body has been through an ordeal. Plan on sleeping, eating, and resting, with gentle walks for circulation. You will be unable to stand fully upright (if you had a tummy tuck) during the first week.
Two Weeks
Most patients no longer need prescription pain medication and are fine with ibuprofen. It is normal to feel tired, with some soreness and tenderness. You can now take short walks out of doors and can return to a sedentary-type desk job after week two. Rest and sleep as much as possible.
One Month
The swelling has greatly reduced. You feel more energetic and are getting back into your normal routine. You can perform mild exercise but must avoid putting stress on incision sites.
Three Months
Your newly firm and fit-looking body has taken shape. Your scars are less visible and appear to be a thin red line. You are able to exercise as usual and are looking great.
Six Months
The scars have faded further, and you feel like yourself, able to take on any task or activity as normal – but looking far more fit and sculpted. You will enjoy buying new bras and tight-fitting clothing.
One Year
After a year the scars are far less visible. You will feel as if your body has always been this fit and firm!
What Are the Risks of a Mommy Makeover?
As with any surgery, there are risks, including infections, excessive bleeding, or reactions to anesthesia. These complications are rare, and it is vital that your surgery is performed by an experienced plastic surgeon who employs the most stringent health and safety protocols.
How to Choose the Right Mommy Makeover Surgeon?
You will need to do some research to choose a surgeon known for superior outcomes in mommy makeovers. There is a combination of factors to consider prior to selecting your surgeon:
Education
Review the educational background of the plastic surgeon you are considering. Advanced training in various procedures indicates the surgeon is exceptionally dedicated to the art of plastic surgery.
Experience
Experience matters. Ensure the board-certified plastic surgeon you choose has extensive experience performing mommy makeover procedures.
Results
Look over the surgeon’s gallery of before and after images. These images should look completely unretouched, never a slick photoshopped look – you need to see real-world images. Read online reviews from other patients.
Certification
Achieving specialty certification in plastic and reconstructive surgery involves several added years of education, practice, and both an oral and written exam.
What To Expect
Preparing for Surgery
Prepare your body for a mommy makeover by eating healthy food, drinking lots of water, avoiding alcohol, and getting plenty of rest. The healthier you are going into surgery, the better for you. Fill all prescriptions prior to your surgical appointment, arrange for help in the home, and arrange your bed so you can rest comfortably.
Anesthesia
General anesthesia makes it possible to perform the needed procedures in one surgery (in many cases). You will not remember the surgery itself. General anesthesia has some side effects such as grogginess, or nausea, but these disappear within days.
During
Once you are under general anesthesia, your plastic surgeon will begin the set of procedures you need. A tummy tuck may be performed first, followed by a breast lift, or breast lift with augmentation.
After
After surgery, you will need time to recover and become alert, typically about one hour. A nurse will closely monitor you. Once it is determined that all is well, you will be released to return home under the care of another.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How long will I need off work after a mommy makeover?
As a mommy makeover is a term for a range of potential surgical corrections, the recovery time will vary. Commonly, a mommy makeover includes a tummy tuck and breast lift, which will require about four to six weeks of rest and recovery. As each patient recovers at a different rate, you may heal more quickly, or require a little more time.
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How should I plan for a mommy makeover?
When planning for this body-restoring surgery, make arrangements for help from a trusted friend or family member for the first week if you have young children. You will not be able to lift your children, and in the early stages of recovery, you will need help with your daily tasks. Get all prescriptions filled before the day of surgery, and arrange all you need in advance. This includes having easy food options and arranging for recovery with a wedge or extra pillows, as well as the TV remote, books, magazines, or other things that will keep you entertained during your recovery.
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How long before I can exercise after a mommy makeover?
After about four weeks, you should be able to return to walking or slow stationary cycling. The main point is to listen to your body and what it can handle. If you experience discomfort, slow down. Slowly increase your physical activities over the following two weeks. Most patients are comfortable and safe to return to exercise after six weeks.
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How long before I can go back to work?
You should be able to return to work in about two weeks, as long as your work duties are not physically vigorous.
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When can I start wearing underwire bras?
You will need to wait about six weeks before you go bra shopping. You want to ensure the swelling is gone and your incisions are fully healed.
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When will I see the final results of my mommy makeover?
You should be feeling very happy about how you look within about six weeks to two months but will need more time before the scars fully fade.
Denton Plastic Surgery will help you develop a mommy makeover treatment plan that meets your goals. For a consultation, patients can contact our office today. Call (940) 287-3795 or visit our contact page to fill out an online form.