Mommy Makeover Procedures 101: How to Best Restore Your Body

While mothers never fail to say how rewarding pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding truly are, this doesn’t take away the fact that these processes can do a number on their bodies. In fact, many women never fully regain the elasticity of their skin, the tone of their muscles, or their overall body shape of their youth.

With help from a skilled Board Certified Plastic Surgeon like Dr. Matthew Schulman, however, a combination of personally-customized cosmetic procedures can be combined into one single operation to restore a woman’s pre-baby body and even improve it. This is called a “Mommy Makeover Procedures.”

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What Exactly Is a “Mommy Makeover”?

A Mommy Makeover is a collection of cosmetic procedures that are combined into one single operation, designed to restore the body to its pre-baby shape and form. This means every Mommy Makeover with Dr. Schulman in New York City will be different.

Dr. Schulman will make sure you are a good candidate for mommy makeover then individualize your mommy makeover surgery based on your body type and your desires. The term “Mommy Makeover” is also a misnomer, since it can be performed on women who are not moms. It is not uncommon for women to request a “Mommy Makeover ” to reverse the signs of aging and changes associated with weight loss.

Some of most common issues that are addressed by Mommy Makeovers include:

Excess skin on the abdomen
Resistant fat deposits that won’t budge, even with diet and exercise
Separated or stretched abdominal muscles
Sagging or deflated breasts
Uneven breasts
Buttock or hip flattening

Why Do Such Severe Physical Changes Occur with Pregnancy and Birth?

If you’ve had a child, you know how dramatic the entire process of pregnancy and childbirth is to a woman’s body. Your entire body changes in ways you’d never expect, and contrary to what many celebrities will claim, “bouncing back” isn’t simply a matter of putting in hard work at the gym and going on a diet. Additionally, the effects of these natural processes are even more pronounced after multiple children, or pregnancies with significant weight gain.

So, what’s actually going on to make your body change so permanently after pregnancy and childbirth?

Naturally, weight gain is one of the biggest culprits. Although absolutely essential with pregnancy, it can wreak havoc on your body. Contrary to what many women initially assume, you’re not just gaining 7 or 8 pounds (or the weight of an average baby) either.

Most women who start at a healthy weight gain at least 25 to 35 pounds overall during their pregnancies. Some women gain even more. The average 25 to 35 pounds includes the weight of the baby, certainly. But it also includes additional things like the placenta, amniotic fluid, the enlarged uterus, added body fluids and blood volume, and extra energy stores (fat). These are all essential to the process of a healthy pregnancy.

Of course, weight gain like this doesn’t come without repercussions. Pregnancy weight gain can cause “stubborn fat cells” to accumulate (fat that won’t go away after childbirth, even with diet and exercise). The growing baby can also cause the sagging skin on the abdomen to stretch out — and it may not bounce back to its original tightness. Stretch marks may appear. And finally, the stomach muscles can separate and stretch; this is called ab separation or diastasis recti.

Your breasts will also be affected by pregnancy and breastfeeding. The breasts may first enlarge during both of these periods; however, when breastfeeding comes to an end, the breasts will deflate, and you may be left with drooping or sagging breasts.

Many of these changes are the result of hormonal changes associated with pregnancy. This means that even after the baby has been born, it may take your body up to a year before these hormones return to normal.

What procedures are included in a mommy makeover?

In order to produce an effective Mommy Makeover surgery, surgeons like Dr. Schulman rely on a number of proven effective cosmetic procedures. Again, these will vary from patient to patient, but mommy makeovers commonly include:

Breast Augmentation: This breast surgery procedure is excellent for women whose breasts have enlarged during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding and now sag and droop. The process involves increasing your breast size by placing breast implants either above or below the chest muscle. Oftentimes, the breast needs to be lifted and a breast lift needs to be performed together with the breast implant.

Liposuction: Liposuction is the removal of unwanted and stubborn fat. A small incision is made in the problem area (such as the abdomen, buttocks, or thighs), the area is anesthetized, and Dr. Schulman will use a thin tube called a cannula to suction out the unwanted fat. This results in a smooth contour of the area and reduced fat. Liposuction is often performed with other procedures.

Tummy Tuck: A tummy tuck tightens the abdominal muscles (repair of diasthasis recti) and also removes excess skin. This is great for moms with stretched sagging skin around the abdomen and the presence of unsightly stretch marks.

Fat Transfer: A fat transfer involves using the fat that is removed with liposuction and re-injecting this fat into other areas of the body that you want reshaped or enlarged. Fat can be added to the buttock and hips, in a procedure called a Brazilian Butt Lift.

For Further Reading:

Deciding between liposuction and a tummy tuck? Most women opt for both of these surgical procedures but many are confused about how they differ. For a better understanding of how each procedure differs, check out this article, which compares the two.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mommy Makeovers

Can a Mommy Makeover really restore my body to its original size and shape?

A: Every patient’s plastic surgery procedures will be different just as every woman’s pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience is different. As a result, the outcome of your makeover may not exactly restore your pre-baby body. However, we can tell you that your results will indeed improve some or all of the less-than-desirable effects caused by hormonal fluctuations, weight gain, breastfeeding, etc. In fact, many women report feeling that their Mommy Makeover actually made them feel better about their appearance than they once felt prior to becoming pregnant. Dr. Schulman will discuss what specific procedures should be part of your surgery.

Why do they call it a Mommy Makeover?

A: Some women don’t like this term, and we get it. The truth is that “Mommy Makeover” is just a cute term — nothing more. The actual procedure itself is a highly safe combination of useful and effective cosmetic procedures. Call it what you like — it’s a process that will restore your body to its original beauty and shape and improve your confidence many times over.

Where are Mommy Makeovers Performed?

A: Because Mommy Makeovers combine several surgeries into one safe and effective procedure, some women assume that the procedures must be done in a hospital. In fact, all procedures are performed in Dr. Schulman’s fully-certified, accredited office operating facility, under general anesthesia. During the surgery you are completely monitored by a Board Certified Anesthesiologist.

What’s recovery time for a Mommy Makeover?

A: The necessary recovery time will depend on exactly what is done during your surgery. The more procedures you have done, the longer your recovery will be. In general, most women require about 2 weeks off from work and activities. For more extensive procedures, a third week of recovery may be indicated. Dr. Schulman will be better able to address this question after you are evaluated. You should understand that it can take a few moths before you feel totally back to normal.

What is the cost for a Mommy Makeover?

A: The mommy makeover cost will depend on exactly what is to be done, so there is no standard price. However, the cost of combining multiple procedures is less expensive than having each procedure done individually.

How drastic will the results be?

A: Much of your results will depend on what exactly you wanted to change, which of the suggested procedures you decided to move forward with, and the extent of each procedure. For an idea of what you may be able to expect from your makeover, however, we invite you to check out our Before and After photo gallery.

How much weight should I lose before a mommy makeover?

A. For the best possible results, it is advised that patients shed most of their baby weight. It is recommended to maintain no more than 25 pounds over your ideal goal weight. In addition to being at a healthy body weight, women should wait a minimum of six months after childbirth before contemplating a surgery.

Book Your Mommy Makeover Consultation?

If you’ve been looking in the mirror, unhappy with the reflection staring back at you, talk to Dr. Schulman about making the improvements you’re considering. The procedure women prefer is one performed by Dr. Schulman — hands down. As one of the nation’s top board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Schulman’s experience, precision, and record of amazing results truly sets him apart.

Becoming a mother is an amazing process and one you should be proud to have accomplished. But now it’s time to do something for yourself.

Contact Dr. Schulman today to schedule a consultation. See what this revolutionary, surgical procedure can do for you.

Proudly serving mommy makeover patients in Buffalo, Long Island, Manhattan, Syracuse, Rochester, Albany.