What is a Mommy Makeover? A Complete Guide

Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is a procedure that is meant to “flatten” the abdomen. Frequently, it is combined with liposuction to provide contouring and enhance the shape.

A mommy makeover is for patients who have an abdominoplasty, they are the ones who are part of the “mommy make-over” group!  These are women who, following pregnancies, have lost the original shape of their bellies. 

Sometimes it is just that their abdominal muscles have spread apart causing their internal organs to press outward. Sometimes, they have “excess” skin and fat that bulges forward, or downward, causing an unwanted look. 

In any case, the best treatment is usually an abdominoplasty to remove the excess skin, and the bringing together the abdominal muscles to tighten the abdomen. 

Done properly, the abdomen should provide an appropriate contouring of the abdomen.  Often, liposuction is combined to improve the shape even more.

Abdominoplasty is a safe procedure and frequently is performed in an outpatient setting.  For the select group of “mommy make-over” patients, breast enhancement is also combined.  This means a breast lift (“mastopexy”), or breast augmentation or breast implants, to provide fullness to the breast that is also lost following pregnancy.

Are you interested in a mommy makeover? This procedure is one of the most common plastic surgery techniques for women who have gone through pregnancy and breastfeeding. We recommend this procedure once you are done having children so that you can achieve the results you want.

what is mommy makeover
Mommy Makeover

Let’s learn more about what a mommy makeover is and the procedures that are typically performed. The good news is that you can tailor this surgery to fit your individual needs as there are no set components.

What Does a Mommy Makeover Do?

Pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding take a toll on the body. This is why plastic surgeons recommend a minimum of six months before having a mommy makeover. The body needs time to heal. If you plan on breastfeeding, expect to wait longer.

During your postpartum period, we recommend focusing on healthy lifestyle changes such as exercising and eating a balanced diet. This can help you lose a lot of the weight you gained while pregnant. Breastfeeding is also an excellent way to burn calories. If you’re not losing as much weight as you had hoped for, work with a trainer who can ease you back into a healthy routine without damaging your body.

Unfortunately, there comes a time when diet and exercise will only do so much for the body. It’s possible that hormones from the pregnancy caused your body to develop new fat deposits. Even if you lose all of your pre-pregnancy weight, you might find that you have a “muffin top” or “love handles.” This is frustrating but not uncommon. Luckily, a mommy makeover can help you achieve the body you want.

Main Components of a Mommy Makeover

The primary areas that change during pregnancy are the breasts and abdomen, so a mommy makeover typically focuses on these areas. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the breasts tend to get bigger. If and when they return to “normal,” the breasts tend to have a significant loss in volume.

Additionally, other parts of the body tend to look “saggy” because the muscles were previously stretched to accommodate the growing baby. Unfortunately, diet and exercise are often not enough to get the skin firm and tight again. Only a surgical procedure can achieve these results.

Here are some procedures that can be included in your mommy makeover:

  • Breast augmentation. Breast augmentation uses breast implants or fat transfer to increase the size of your breasts. Aside from size, this procedure restores lost volume and improves asymmetry.
  • Breast lift. A breast lift removes excess skin and tightens the surrounding tissue to reshape the breast. This procedure can fix an enlarged areola as well.
  • Breast reduction. A breast reduction removes excess breast fat and glandular tissue to create more proportionate breasts. Not only will the breasts look better, but also any discomfort with having large breasts is alleviated.
  • Tummy tuck. Also known as an abdominoplasty, this procedure removes excess fat and skin from the abdomen. Exercise and diet don’t always produce a flat belly, so a tummy tuck will give you the firm abdominal profile you’re looking for.
  • Body lift. A body lift removes excess sagging skin and fat from the abdominal area, buttocks and thighs. This procedure can also shape these areas and improve a dimpled skin surface.
  • Liposuction. Liposuction slims and reshapes various parts of the body, such as the thighs, hips, buttocks, upper arms, abdomen and waist. This procedure is best for women who want to get rid of fat in specific spots but have a stable weight.

When is the Best Time to Have a Mommy Makeover?

The ideal time to get a mommy makeover is once you are done having children. But, this doesn’t mean that you should start planning for the procedure as soon as you deliver your last child. For the best results, keep these three considerations in mind:

  1. Reach your pre-pregnancy weight. Give yourself time to heal from having children. This includes waiting until you are back to your pre-pregnancy weight. We take things a step further and prefer that our clients maintain their weight for at least six months. Weight stabilization is important because it means that your body has recovered from pregnancy and childbirth.
  2. Finish breastfeeding. If you plan on breastfeeding your baby, you’ll need to wait for a mommy makeover. Typically, we recommend that our clients stop breastfeeding for at least six months before they have any procedures done. While you are breastfeeding, your breasts change shape and size. You need time for them to return to normal so that we can get a more accurate assessment.
  3. Time of year. The time of year is something that many clients don’t consider – but we do! We feel that fall and winter are some of the best months to have a mommy makeover because the shorter days give you more time to recover. Plus, a winter wardrobe will conceal your breasts and tummy while they heal.

Mommy Makeover Recovery Time

Your mommy makeover recovery/healing period will depend on the procedures you have done, but you will have recovery time with all of them. Our clients are often related to have the opportunity to get a mommy makeover. But, do keep in mind that this procedure requires downtime.

For example, recovery from a tummy tuck can take 2-3 months. While you won’t be in bed this whole time, you won’t be able to lift more than 25 pounds. A breast augmentation, on the other hand, generally has a shorter recovery time of 2 days in bed and several days of reduced activity. Build your recovery time into your schedule so that you have the proper help at home.

Finally, be aware that you may not see the full results from your procedure right away. Your breasts and abdomen will be swollen for the first 3-6 weeks. This is normal – it’s your body’s inflammatory response. Take care of yourself, follow your instructions and get adequate rest to ensure a safe and complete healing.

A mommy makeover is tailored to your individual needs and goals. It will give you a serious boost in self-confidence and allow you to take on new opportunities in your personal and professional life – all while being a mom! To schedule a consultation with Dr. Shahin Javaheri, contact our San Francisco plastic surgeon today.

Mommy Makeover Consultation

Interested in learning more? Dr. Shahin Javaheri can help you understand your treatment options and then put together a plan to help you achieve your goals.

Call SF Plastic Surgeon today at 855.923.3800 or submit our simple contact form at the top right of this page.

Mommy Makeover FAQs

What is a Mommy Makeover?

The mommy makeover is for women who want to regain what’s been lost following pregnancy, gravity, and aging.

What Procedures Does a Mommy Makeover Include?

Although pregnancy is a rewarding experience in a woman’s life, it can have negative consequences on a woman’s body and self-image.  The Mommy Makeover procedure has risen in popularity over the last decade as women want to regain what was lost after pregnancy and the natural aging process.

Typically a mommy makeover includes breast surgery, such as a breast lift or breast augmentation, liposuction, and a combination of various procedures depending on the woman’s individual body needs.  The first step is to talk to an expert plastic surgeon and educate yourself about the details.

What’s The Best Time For A Mommy Makeover?

Like most new mothers, you may now just realize that your body has changed after carrying your baby for the past nine months. It is no surprise that almost all mothers have trouble getting their bodies back to great form. Weight fluctuations, sagging breasts, loose abdominal muscles, and excess fat are some of the things women wish they did not have to endure during pregnancy and all these changes can make mothers feel self-conscious about their figure. What most women are unsure of is how to initiate healthy weight loss and when would be the right time to undergo a mommy makeover.

A mommy makeover is a combination of procedures designed to revitalize a mother’s body. In some cases, it enhances the woman’s figure to an even better physique that they have always struggled to achieve. The package of treatments generally consists of tightening the midsection with a tummy tuck, removing excess fat deposits with liposuction, restoring the youthful symmetry of the breasts with a breast lift, and breast augmentation to maintain a fuller and firmer breast shape.

Complete Your Family First
Mothers who no longer plan on becoming pregnant in the future can consider themselves a candidate for a mommy makeover. It is also important to wait for a minimum of six months after breastfeeding your child so that the breasts stabilize or return to their natural shape after pregnancy. Once the mother has committed to the mommy makeover lifestyle, she will be able to maintain long-lasting results.

Stabilize Body Weight
Cosmetic surgery is not the solution to achieving healthy weight loss, so it is necessary for a mother to attempt to get back to her pre-pregnancy body weight before having a mommy makeover. Following a healthy diet and exercise routine is the best solution to initiate weight loss.

Stabilizing weight is almost easier said than done, but one of the best exercise routines to keep your heart rate up and burn more calories after pregnancy is through high-intensity interval training (HIIT). One study by the University of Western Ontario reported that after six weeks, three sessions of HIIT per week, subjects were able to lose more fat than those who walked for an hour on the treadmill.

HIIT programs are fast-paced combination workouts that do not require much time to complete, so instead of spending hours doing low-intensity workouts at the gym you can get more results by doing a 15-to-20-minute interval routine right at home.

While exercise and diet will comfortably initiate steady weight loss, a mother’s body is bound to carry a few excess areas of loose skin and post-pregnancy weight. This is when a woman may feel inclined to seek assistance with a mommy makeover.

If you are a mother who is having trouble restoring the look and touch of your thighs, stomach, breasts and other areas, schedule a consultation with Dr. Javaheri to learn how a mommy makeover can restore your pre-pregnancy body. Once you have stabilized your weight and waited six months after having your last child you will be able to replenish your confidence and figure with a mommy makeover in San Francisco.

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