What Is a Mommy Makeover?
As a mother, you understand that sacrifice comes with the territory. However, having children does not have to cost you your appearance. Pregnancy and breast feeding can take their toll on a woman’s body, leaving loose skin and fat around the tummy, sagging breasts and stretch marks. Can you really get your body back? The answer is a resounding “Yes!”
The combination of changes in appearance in the breasts and abdomen lead many moms to seek a mommy makeover, one of the most satisfying combination procedures for our patients who want their pre-pregnancy figures restored or improved. It may involve a tummy tuck, liposuction, and breast augmentation or breast lift. Some patients need only one of these procedures, while others need a combination to achieve the look they desire. The makeover plan is tailored to each patient’s needs.
Pregnancy has a profound physical impact and each woman is affected differently. The number of pregnancies, degree of weight fluctuation, age, and genetics play a significant role in how your body recovers. Plastic surgery does not take the place of a healthy lifestyle. Still, even with the assistance of a personal trainer and a proper diet, many women may find it difficult to rebound after pregnancy.
- Why Get a Mommy Makeover?
- What Procedures May Be Recommended?
- How to Prepare for Your Mommy Makeover
- What to Expect: How a Mommy Makeover Is Done
Mommy Makeover FAQs
- Fixing the body blues: For some women, the appearance of their postpartum body is depressing. Becoming a mother doesn’t have to negatively influence how you feel about your body.
- Enjoying an upgrade: You don’t even have to settle for the figure you had before… you can seek the breasts or waistline you may not have been lucky enough to inherit.
- Exercise isn’t working: For some, pregnancy actually stretches and separates abdominal muscles creating a “pouch” and round shape that no amount of exercise will eliminate. It can be discouraging. In these instances, a tummy tuck is the only way to achieve a flatter stomach by cinching the muscles back together internally.
- Improved self image: When you look good, you feel good. Young, active moms gain a renewed sense of energy and confidence at work and play.
Your doctor may recommend several different procedures. The customized combination of liposuction, tummy tuck, and breast augmentation may tempt you to wear a two-piece bathing suit again. If you are happy with your breast size you may just need a breast lift. Some women, especially those who were small before pregnancy, may not need a lift but would benefit from the volume they enjoyed while pregnant, so an implant may be recommended. If your skin tone is relatively good, liposuction may be all that is necessary to remove residual fat, though it can’t be substituted for a tummy tuck. Some of the more common areas for liposuction include the hips, buttocks, inner, outer and posterior thighs, abdomen, neck, arms, and chest. If you have loose skin, a tummy tuck is the only way to remove excess skin and stretch marks while tightening the abdominal muscles. Abdominoplasty is not a substitute for weight loss. Patients planning to lose weight should be close to their target weight before having this surgery.
If you are planning to become pregnant in the near future, you may wish to postpone this procedure until your family is complete.
Your initial consultation with a Water’s Edge surgeon is very important. It is vital to talk about your expectations and to help your surgeon decide the best approach is for you. You should be comfortable and able to speak honestly and openly with your plastic surgeon about your desired outcome and goals.
You will need to provide your medical history and also tell your doctor about any vitamins, medications or over-the-counter substances you are currently taking. You should also tell us if you smoke or have uncontrolled high blood pressure, allergies, blood clotting problems, or a tendency to form excessive scars. These issues can affect the results of your surgery.
At the time of your consultation, your Water’s Edge surgeon will examine your tummy, waistline, and breasts. Your skin tone and the degree of loose skin will be assessed along with the degree of ptosis (sagging) of your breasts. At the end of the consultation, you will have a comprehensive surgical plan detailing which combination of procedures would most benefit you.
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What To Expect: How a Mommy Makeover is Done
Breast surgery post-pregnancy can involve a breast reduction, breast augmentation, or breast lift. If you have nursed several children you may notice not only less volume in your breasts, but a degree of ptosis (sagging.) A breast augmentation will restore volume but it does not address sagging. This can only be accomplished with a breast lift to reposition the breasts. If your breasts have remained large after delivery, then breast reduction may be recommended.
There are several different types of liposuction. Each uses various techniques to remove fat pockets through hollow tubes called cannulas. There are differences in time, cost, scars, and other risks between each type of liposuction. Our surgeons are comfortable with various methods of liposuction and will help you select the best type of liposuction to achieve your goals.
The tummy tuck procedure can last between one to three hours depending on the method that we feel is best for you. In a standard abdominoplasty, an incision is made from hip bone to hip bone low on the abdominal skin, just above the pubic area. A second incision is made to free the navel from the surrounding tissue. If you have muscle separation, pulling your muscles closer together and suturing them will give a tighter look to your abdomen. This is like an internal corset. The skin is then stretched down and the extra skin is removed. The procedure will only remove stretch marks on the piece of skin that is excised. An overnight stay in the hospital is usually required.
Not all tummy tucks are the same. Our preferred technique is the high lateral tension abdominoplasty. The benefits of the high lateral tension abdominoplasty are that the scars are much thinner and the placement of the scar is more predictable.
In a mini abdominoplasty, or partial abdominoplasty, a shorter incision is made above the pubic area, and does not extend out to the hip bones. The mini abdominoplasty is indicated in women who have weakening of the abdominal muscles in the lower half of the tummy. The skin is separated only between the incision line and your navel. A limited muscle repair will be performed from your belly button to your pubic bone. Your navel may not be moved, but may be pulled as the skin is stretched and tightened. The mini abdominoplasty does not tighten the skin or muscles above the belly button.
Mommy Makeover Recovery
A mommy makeover typically is an outpatient procedure, although an overnight stay may be recommended so you can be observed for the first 24 hours. After you go home, you will need to block out up to two weeks to recover from tenderness, bruising and swelling.
Plan to get help with chores and children. Your surgeon will advise you on how much weight you can lift following the surgery; you’ll likely need to limit your activities for at least four to six weeks, and you may not be able to pick up your child during this time. If your doctor prescribes a narcotic medication for pain, do not drive until you stop using it.
A mommy makeover can reshape your body, boost your self-confidence and improve how your clothes fit. That said, it’s important to have realistic expectations. Full recovery can take several months. You may not look like your 18-year-old self again, but you will look more like your pre-pregnancy self — and perhaps better.
You can maintain the results of your mommy makeover by eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise and taking good care of your overall health.