Mommy Makeover

Being a mommy is the most important job in the world, and there is no greater reward than having children. With each pregnancy and delivery, and with each little bundle of joy, come possibilities of weight gain, swelling, stretch marks, temporary breast enlargement, breastfeeding and changes in your body image and tone.

A mommy makeover is surgery to remove excess fat and sagging skin to re-shape and tone body areas impacted by pregnancy, such as the abdominal, breasts, hips and buttocks areas. The "Mommy Makeover" is a newer cosmetic medical term for the combined surgical procedures that help women regain control of their bodies.

The mommy makeover addresses the various concerns that leave moms feeling less sexy and fit: getting back into their skinny jeans and tight tees; eliminating bulges, excess weight, muffin tops; and lifting breasts to perkier positions.

The Mommy Makeover may include more than one of the following procedures:

• Breast augmentation
• Breast lift
• Breast reduction
• Tummy tuck, mini-tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
• Liposuction
• Laser liposuction, lasersculpting
• Lipo body contouring
• Labia plasty
• Body lift
• Butt lift

If this sounds like what you are looking for, this page will get you started on your research to help you look and feel your best.

Mommy Makeovers Re-Shape and Refine Contours of the Body After Pregnancy

The average weight gain for most women during pregnancy is 24 to 38 pounds. Regardless of whether women gain the average or more, some extra weight becomes fatty tissue and is genetically programmed to store in areas such as the tummy, abdomen, breasts, hips, flanks, back, buttocks and thighs. Naturally, the breasts will grow during and after childbirth because of hormone changes and nursing. Whether a new mom practices breastfeeding or not, the breasts might change in size and consistency after the baby is born and/or nursed.

Many new moms eventually lose the excess weight through nursing, diet and exercise. However, the body might not have the same proportion it once had prior to pregnancy; the breasts, buttocks and stomach areas tend to lose elasticity and fullness.

The growth of the baby in the womb can result in weakening and separation of the abdominal muscles and stretching of the abdominal skin. They tummy area doesn't contract to the natural, flat belly it was before pregnancy. The stretching and expansion of the skin tissue, over time, might cause breakdown of collagen and result in loosening of the skin and stretch marks. Stretch marks and flabby skin prompted by pregnancy can be permanent.

Mommy makeovers are targeted to the specific needs of each mom. One mother might want a tummy tuck and breast lift, while another mom desires to have breast implants, liposuction and a body lift.

Am I A Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?

If you are in good health, have no history of medical conditions, and want to improve areas that will not respond to normal diet and exercise, you are probably a good candidate for a mommy makeover. You should wait to have your mommy makeover until you lose most of your baby weight, and when you are finished nursing your child. Also, if you plan to have more children, wait to have a mommy makeover.

As with all medical procedures, a consultation with an experienced physician will help you find out if you are a good candidate based in your health history, weight and other factors the doctor will discuss with you during your initial visit. Good candidates for this procedure are mentally stable and have realistic expectations about outcomes.

It is important to share all of your prior medical conditions and concerns with your surgeon prior to the surgery. In addition, if you are taking medications, let your surgeon know. You will need to follow guidelines before and after surgery to ensure you heal properly and quickly. Physical ailments and an unhealthy lifestyle can greatly impact the outcomes of your mommy makeover surgery.

Creating Your Mommy Makeover Surgery List

The first step to achieving the desired results is to create a list of the areas of your body that changed after pregnancy. Your plastic surgeon will review that list and help you target your cosmetic surgery.

Your surgeon will help determine reasonable expectations and develop a plan of action for your surgery and recovery. A majority of surgeons will recommend that you wait at least six months after having a baby before considering mommy makeover surgery or any cosmetic operation. This will give your body time to heal after having a baby and optimize your surgery outcomes.

After you meet with your surgeon and determine the procedures that will be performed, you will set a date for your surgery. Your surgeon will provide you with pre- and post-operative instructions. You will be required to stop consumption of alcohol or tobacco for weeks before and after the surgery to ensure proper healing. Your physician might ask you to stop taking certain medications, over the counter or prescribed, for a short period. In addition, you should avoid aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are known to increase the risk of bleeding. Certain homeopathic and herbal supplements might also be restricted.

Your surgeon might recommend herbal supplements to expedite healing, such as bromelain, vitamin C, rosehip and arnica to reduce bruising and swelling.

Getting Ready For Your Mommy Makeover

Before you make your final decision to have a mommy makeover, ask yourself these questions:

Are your diet, health and weight stable?

It is important that you maintain a healthy, stable diet and weight before having surgery. It is unhealthy if your weight and the scales have gone up and down like a "yo-yo." You will have the best results if you lose the baby weight and maintain a stable weight before having cosmetic surgery.

Are you still breastfeeding?

It is recommended that women finish breastfeeding before a mommy makeover, especially if the surgery includes breast enlargement, implants, reduction or a lift. Breast surgery impacts the ducts, vessels and breast tissue, which could increase bleeding and the risks of infection.

Do you plan to have more children?

If you plan to expand your family, it is best to have your mommy makeover after you finish having children. If you have a mommy makeover and have more children after the surgery, you run the risk of reversing the outcomes of the procedure and tearing or separating the abdominal muscle tissue tightened during a tummy tuck.

Mommy Makeover Cost and Benefits

Mommy makeover costs vary depending on the procedures that will be performed and whether your surgery includes body contouring, liposuction, tummy tuck, breast augmentation, reduction or lift and other factors. Having multiple procedures will increase surgical, anesthesiologist, clinic usage and other fees.

In general, the cost of mommy makeover surgery includes:

• The surgeon's fee
• The anesthesia fee
• Breast augmentation or implant fees (if applicable)
• Clinical or operating room fees
• Hospital fees (if applicable)
• Medication costs
• Costs for special bandages and garments

Locate a Surgeon

If you are interested in mommy makeover surgery, locate a surgeon in your area using our directory. Our guides navigate you to surgeons who can help you look and feel your best and achieve your physical goals.

Mommy Makeover Procedure

Mommy makeovers are performed using a unique combination of cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures and techniques to accomplish specific physical outcomes for each woman. Each surgery is targeted to counteract the physical effects of pregnancy and to restore firmness and proportion to the body.

Nearly all mommy makeovers require liposuction, also known as lipolysis. There are many techniques and benefits to having this procedure. Tumescent liposuction, liposculpture, laser lipo and lasersculpture can all accomplish the same results, though the techniques, equipment and instruments will vary, depending on the area of the body.

An increasing number of women wish to have their buttocks lifted in addition to a requesting labiaplasty.

The length of the surgery will vary depending on the type of surgery and number of procedures performed. A mommy makeover can be accomplished in one surgical setting, but some surgeons may choose to perform it as two separate operations at two different times, to minimize trauma to the woman's body during surgery.

Mommy Makeover Recovery

Your recovery depends upon your mommy makeover surgeries, whether general or local anesthetics were used and the number of procedures performed. Here are some basic precautions to follow to maximize your recovery and results:

• Follow all pre- and post-surgical instructions and guidelines, exactly as the doctor's orders.
• Arrange for a driver and caretaker to help you get to and from your surgery, and take care of you after the surgery. If you have young children, it is best to have help for at least a week after surgery.
• You might need medications to control pain and nausea. Purchase the medications in advance of the surgery and have someone help you with dosage for 24 to 48 hours after your surgery.
• Create a comfortable setting for healing. Arrange your environment so when you return home, you can start the recovery process. Ask your surgeon what you will need to minimize pain, swelling, tension, scarring, bleeding and bruising.
• After your mommy makeover, you should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for at least four weeks. Your surgeon will let you know when you can resume light exercise.
• If you experience unusual pain, swelling, bleeding, fluid loss, excess nausea, fever, chills or dizziness, call your surgeon immediately. Have your doctor's number available. Other dangers and red flags include: fainting, shortness of breath, chest pains and unusual heartbeat.

Your surgeon will provide special compression garments for you to wear to protect your surgical sites. If you have a tummy tuck, you will need to wear an abdominal binder. Breast augmentation requires other garments, and liposuction requires compression bandages to reduce pain, swelling, bruising and bleeding and inspire healing. You will be given bathing instructions. You may shower after the initial dressing, sponges and gauze pads are removed, within 60-72 hours after your mommy makeover surgery.

Your surgeon will schedule an appointment to see you within a week to monitor your healing progress and incision sites. Your surgeon will schedule other follow-up appointments to evaluate the outcomes of your mommy makeover over months after the surgery.

Risks of Mommy Makeover Surgery

Any surgery can impose risks, depending on types of anesthesia, number of procedures and the patient's health; however, prolonged surgeries that involve multiple procedures might increase risks, which include:

• Reactions to anesthetics and medications
• Infection
• Healing complications
• Bleeding and bruising
• Cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Vascular issues and deep vein thrombosis,
• Revision surgery
• Unsatisfactory results