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. This is where a mommy makeover comes in.
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 procedure to go smoothly, however, patients must be prepared — for both the cosmetic 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 before pursuing your mommy makeover. 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): A tummy tuck repairs the abdominal muscles while removing sagging skin from the abdomen. The tummy tuck is often included in a mommy makeover.
- Liposuction: Removing unwanted fat from the abdomen, flanks, back, arms, thighs, hips, or wherever necessary.
- Breast augmentation: A breast augmentation increases the breast volume (size) with breast implants. There is also the option of 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.
- Breast lift: A breast lift helps lift your breasts upward to help cultivate a more youthful look.
Once you’ve found one or more mommy makeover 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 as well as any questions you may have about the various mommy makeover procedures, whether they be a tummy tuck, breast augmentation or liposuction.
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 mommy makeover, it’s time to start preparing.
First, ensure you have payment set up for your mommy makeover. 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 for your mommy makeover. Dr. Schulman will advise the proper amount of time to take off, based on which procedures you are undergoing as a part of your mommy makeover
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 the surgeries included in your mommy makeover, 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 your mommy makeover, 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 mommy makeover 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 mommy makeover 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.
Questions and Answers
What are the most common procedures to be included in a mommy makeover?
Most surgeons will tell you that the most common mommy makeover procedures are a tummy tuck and a breast augmentation. A tummy tuck targets the abdominal muscles, it is this part of the body that is often transformed drastically during pregnancy, a tummy tuck helps to return women to their pre-pregnancy body.
How long do mommy makeover results last?
Although the results of a tummy tuck, liposuction and a breast lift can be enduring, a breast augmentation with breast implants will eventually require revision. Nevertheless, numerous women can appreciate their transformed physique for approximately a decade before considering a refresh.
What is the best age for mommy makeover?
Since your tissue remains youthful during your 30s, you may not need as extensive a mommy makeover treatment as older individuals. Therefore, this age could be ideal for your makeover. Throughout your consultations at the clinic, your surgeon will discuss methods to help you sustain your results for the years ahead.
How many sizes do you go down after a mommy makeover?
After undergoing a mommy makeover, many women usually decrease their clothing size by one or two sizes following a tummy tuck. In certain instances, the reduction can be even more significant depending on the tummy tuck. However, a minority of patients may not observe any change in size, and exceptionally rarely, some may find themselves wearing a larger size.
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 cosmetic 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.
Your mommy makeover journey 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.
