Despite the long-lasting joy and exuberance of becoming a mother, there’s not a mom who’s gone through pregnancy and childbirth that hasn’t come out on the other side with some “battle scars”.
That’s because, like it or not, pregnancies (especially multiple pregnancies) leave their mark. From the shape of your waist and the volume of your breasts, all the way down to the size of your feet, you’re different now that you’ve had kids. For many moms, these changes aren’t welcome.
If going back to your “pre-baby shape” is a core goal for you, a mommy makeover surgery can help you do just that.
In order for a mommy makeover to go smoothly, however, patients must be prepared — for both the surgery itself and the mommy makeover recovery period.
Before and After Mommy Makeover Surgery
Getting Started: Preparing for Your Consultation Appointment
First thing’s first: We advise spending a significant amount of time researching plastic surgeons. You want to find a surgeon who is board certified and who has specific experience with mommy makeovers.
This means experience and expertise performing the main surgeries that make up most mommy makeovers — a combination of any of the following:
- Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck surgery): Repairing the abdominal muscles while removing sagging skin from the abdomen.
- Liposuction: Removing unwanted fat from the abdomen, flanks, back, arms, thighs, hips, or wherever necessary.
- Breast augmentation: Increasing breast volume (size) with breast implants or a fat transfer to breast procedure.
- Mastopexy (breast lift surgery): Lifting the breasts, repositioning the nipples, and removing excess skin to create more lifted, perkier breasts.
- Breast reduction: Reducing the overall size of the breasts, especially to reduce back and neck pain as well as to reduce bra strap rashes and other challenges related to overly large breasts.
- Brazilian butt lift surgery: Fat transfer to add natural volume to the buttocks and hip area. Fat is removed with liposuction and transferred to the butt and hips.
Once you’ve found one or more surgeons you like, schedule a consultation appointment with each one. Of course, we recommend scheduling an appointment with Dr. Matthew Schulman.
You should prepare the following for your consultation:
- A brief rundown of your medical history
- Any current supplements or medications you are taking
- Mommy makeover before and after pictures that you want to emulate (mommy makeover before and after photos can be found on surgeon websites or through a basic Google search)
- Photos of yourself at a different point in life (pictures of the way your body looked pre-pregnancy or after weight loss, for example)
- A list of any questions you may have regarding your mommy makeover case
In the Thick of It: Getting Ready for Surgery
Once your surgeon has cleared you for plastic surgery and you’ve scheduled the date of your operation, it’s time to start preparing.
First, ensure you have payment set up for your procedure. Payments can be made out-of-pocket, or sometimes, through credit companies such as CareCredit.
Next, speak with your employer to set aside time off from work. Dr. Schulman will advise the proper amount of time to take off, based on which procedures you are undergoing.
You’ll also want to arrange at-home help, either with a friend or family member or a professional at-home nursing service. Depending on your surgeries, you may need a lot of help or infrequent assistance over the first few days, especially. You will need someone to take you home from surgery.
Aftermath: How to Have the Easiest, Fastest Recovery Possible
At home, you should also prepare your house and personal spaces for recovery.
After surgery, you will be tired and out of energy. You will certainly not want to be dealing with things like meal prep, grocery shopping, cleaning, or other errands.
Therefore, do whatever you can beforehand, whether this means pre-paying bills, arranging for at-home meal services, shopping for extra pantry staples, stocking up on new movies and books, or a combination of these things. If you have kids or pets, you’ll also need to arrange special care for them.
To prepare for your recovery, you’ll want to think about both your overall health and your healing body. Compression garments, surgical bras, recovery pillows, and other accessories can make your experience more comfortable and easier overall. Dr. Schulman can advise which of these accessories he recommends for you, based on which surgeries you are undergoing.
Lastly, speak with Dr. Schulman about what to expect before and after mommy makeover surgery. If you understand the recovery process and what each passing day and week should entail, you’ll feel far more prepared as your healing begins and progresses. While results may vary from woman to woman, Dr. Schulman will talk to you about your anticipated pain, swelling, bruising, and physical limitations during recovery.
Get in Touch! Schedule Your Consultation
We all have things about ourselves we’d like to change. If the things you’d like to change can be improved with a tummy tuck, liposuction, breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction, you may be the perfect candidate for a mommy makeover. (And remember, there’s also a mommy makeover with BBL.)
Although the above surgery combinations are designed for mothers who are done having children, they’re also available to all healthy adults who are looking to improve their appearance.
It all begins with your consultation. Call now to set up your appointment with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Schulman. Proudly serving patients in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Scranton, Bethlehem, Lancaster.
