Mommy Makeover

Mommy Makeover
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By Lesley Rotchford • Medical review by George Marosan, MD on March 8, 2022
By Lesley Rotchford • Medical review by George Marosan, MD on March 8, 2022
What it is Vs. a tummy tuck Pros & cons How much it costs Who's a good candidate How to prepare What to expect How long it takes Risks to consider How long recovery takes What the scars are like How painful it is How long results last
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A mommy makeover is a customized combination of plastic surgery procedures, designed to restore your pre-baby body after the dramatic changes brought on by pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
It can also benefit patients who have undergone massive weight loss, or anyone looking to address multiple concerns at once, according to Dr. George Marosan , a plastic surgeon in Bellevue, Washington.
Following pregnancy, a woman’s body is often left with “deflated, sagging breasts and loose, stretched abdominal skin, not to mention separated abdominal muscles and fascia that no amount of exercise can repair,” says Dr. Richard Tholen , a plastic surgeon in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota.
“Some new moms tell us that months after their baby is born, they’re asked when their baby is due,” says Dr. Brent Moelleken , a plastic surgeon with practices in Beverly Hills and Santa Barbara, California. The bulging is primarily due to the stretched and weakened abdominal wall, coupled with stubborn fat.
“Realizing your body has lost its original shape can be devastating. No amount of exercise can tighten ripped fascia, join separated muscles, or remove loose skin,” says to Dr. Moelleken. “A mommy makeover can help reverse the effects of childbirth, along with feelings of helplessness and frustration about how your body looks.”
For many moms, it’s a way to reclaim their body and practice self-care, after months or years of focusing on caring for their kids.
One of the biggest benefits of mommy makeover plastic surgery is that your plastic surgeon will customize the treatment plan to fit each patient's unique needs. That said, a total mommy makeover typically involves these surgical procedures:
Your treatment plan may also include:
Given the range of procedures available, this is one operation where it really pays to schedule a consultation with more than one board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns, learn which procedures they'd recommend for you, and get a detailed cost estimate.
See real RealSelf community members decide whether or not they want to have mommy makeover surgery.
The cost of a mommy makeover depends on the complexity of your procedure, your plastic surgeon’s level of experience, their practice location, and a few other key factors.
This is considered elective cosmetic surgery, so it won't be covered by insurance. However, if your operation includes hernia repair or a breast reduction , a portion of those costs may be covered.
Mommy makeover patients usually need to be:
During your initial consultation, be honest about your current health, to reduce your risk of complications.
Lining up a few things in advance of your mommy makeover procedure will give you peace of mind and help your recovery go more smoothly. Your surgeon’s office will probably give you a checklist, which may include these items.
They should also give you a suggested list of recovery supplies, so you can buy them in advance.
Essentials include compression garments , stool softeners (pain medication causes serious constipation), and any supplements your doctor recommends, such as arnica to reduce bruising.
If they won't be providing bandages, supplies to keep your incisions clean, and antibiotic ointments (like mupirocin), ask for a list so you can have them ready at home.
Loose clothing and button-down shirts that you don't have to pull over your head will make it easier for you to dress yourself—particularly when it hurts to raise your arms—and prevent uncomfortable rubbing against incisions.
You'll also be grateful for having some healthy meals in the freezer, so you can rest and heal.
You'll need to avoid heavy lifting and too much activity during at least the first week after surgery, so it's important to have childcare and pet care lined up, especially if your kids are small (or your pets are big).
At least four weeks prior to surgery (ideally sooner), stop smoking cigarettes, vaping, or using nicotine replacement therapy , which can increase your risk of serious complications and slow your recovery.
“This includes exposure to second-hand smoke,” adds Dr. Tholen, which you’ll need to avoid during recovery as well. Nicotine can reduce blood flow to the skin, causing skin necrosis (tissue death).
4. Review your medications and supplements
Talk with the patient care coordinator about your medications and supplements. Some decongestants , pain relievers, and prescribed medications are not suitable for use before surgery, while others are fine.
People with chronic pain who are on opioid regimens need to speak to their surgeon, general practitioner, and the anesthesiologist to make adequate adjustments for the surgery and recovery.
For example, if you take Tramadol daily, you may need to tweak your dose. “It doesn’t mean that you can’t have surgery, but the post-operative pain may be a little more difficult to control,” says Dr. Marie Montag , a plastic surgeon in Omaha, Nebraska. “Being on an opioid pain medication like Tramadol regularly can desensitize you somewhat to its effects, and it may take more of the medicine or a change to different pain medicine in order to control the surgical pain.”
If you’re on weight loss supplements, disclose those to your doctor. Do not take phentermine (Lomaira and Adipex-P) prior to or on the day of your surgery; it can cause serious complications with anesthesia.
Your mommy makeover procedure will be performed in a hospital or your surgeon’s private surgery center (which must be accredited). If it’s not done in a hospital, make sure your board-certified plastic surgeon has hospital privileges, so you can get emergency care quickly in the rare event that something goes wrong.
You’ll probably be given general anesthesia, to ensure that you're completely asleep and intubated until it’s all over. However, some surgeons use deep IV sedation for this type of surgery, according to Dr. Marosan. Your anesthesia provider will monitor you throughout the procedure to ensure your safety.
Once you’re prepared for surgery, your doctor and medical team will follow the surgical plan you agreed on.
After your mommy makeover surgery, you’ll be moved to a recovery area and monitored as you wake up. Gauze or other dressings may be applied to the incisions and covered with tape or an elastic bandage, under a surgical binder.
Often, surgeons leave in two tiny drain tubes on either side of your hips, placed through small incisions to prevent a buildup of fluids (aka seroma)—though some surgeons prefer to perform a drainless abdominoplasty or tummy tuck.
It’s possible that you’ll be able to go home a few hours after surgery, but don’t be surprised if your surgeon requests that you stay overnight for additional monitoring.
This is a major procedure requiring several hours of surgery, so in some cases, it may be safer for you to go home the following day, once they feel certain that you’re stable. This will increase your cost, but this is a situation where it doesn't pay to cut corners.
Most mommy makeover surgeries take 3 to 6 hours. The number of procedures you have done and the extent of those procedures will determine how long yours will take.
There is a limit to how many procedures most surgeons will perform at one time, for your safety. It’s generally recommended that elective procedures not take more than 6 hours, and a full tummy tuck alone can take up to 4.
Mommy makeovers are generally considered to be safe in experienced hands, but each procedure that’s included carries some risk—and those risks can increase when procedures are combined and the surgery runs long.
Dr. Robert Freund , a plastic surgeon in New York cautions, “Never consider an elective surgery that takes any longer than six hours . If you are combining procedures, limit the combination to finish under this time. Another important part of safety is the surgeon. Pick a board-certified plastic surgeon who is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery .”
Infection is a risk with any surgery. Signs of infection include “pain, redness, and/or purulent drainage,” says Dr. Camille Cash , a plastic surgeon in Houston, Texas.
Tummy tuck surgery has the highest potential for complications of any part of a completemommy makeover. The abdominoplasty procedure has double the complication rate of other cosmetic surgeries—3% versus 1.5%—according to a 2015 study published in the journal Plastic andReconstructiveSurgery. The most common major complication was hematoma (blood collecting under the skin).
Tummy tucks also have a higher mortality rate than many other cosmetic surgeries. Plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Tholen of Minneapolis notes that “published mortality rates associated with tummy tuck range from 0.02% to 0.16%. To put this in perspective, the death rate for elective C-section delivery is about 0.02%.”
If you plan on getting a BBL, be aware that this can be one of the riskiest types of plastic surgery in the wrong hands. It’s essential to find a highly experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who follows the latest safety guidelines .
Thrombosis (blood clots) and, in rare cases, pulmonary thromboembolism (blood clots reaching the lungs) are also possible and can be very serious.
During your recovery, be alert to pain, swelling, or discoloration of the skin on your leg, which may be a sign of a blood clot. You may notice shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing up blood, all signs to seek immediate medical attention.
“The typical time frame where blood clots in your veins (deep vein thrombosis, or DVTs) are at the highest risk are the first three to five days after surgery,” says Dr. John Apostolides , a plastic surgeon in San Diego, California.
Your odds for a blood clot may be higher than normal for up to three months, so if you've traveled for your surgery, try to wait at least a week before flying home, book a first-class ticket so you can move your legs and walk often on the plane, and wear compression socks.
The bottom line: The best way you can help ensure your safety is to take your time finding a well-reviewed, board-certified plastic surgeon who regularly performs this operation. During your consultations, ask about their complication rates, how they mitigate risks, and how they handle patient complications when they do arise.
Recovery time after a mommy makeover depends on how many procedures you have done and the type of procedures. Your surgeon should provide you with a personalized estimate when they present your treatment plan, but you can expect to need at least 2 weeks off work—possibly even 6 weeks, if your job is highly physical or involves heavy lifting.
You’ll be able to engage in light daily activity during the initial 2-week recovery period, with no exercise at all for 3 weeks and no intense exercise for 6 weeks. You'll also need to avoid any heavy lifting.
Swelling and bruising will start to subside in 1 to 3 weeks, and you'll see your final results within 6 months, when you’re done healing.
Scars will continue to fade for 6-12 months after surgery. Read more below about when it's a good idea to start scar treatments.
You will have scars at the incision sites, but they should be well hidden under clothing (even in a bathing suit) and fade with time. Scar treatments , including topical scar creams, can help.
Medical-grade silicone scar therapy in the form of bandage-like sheets or gels can prevent abnormal scars, hypertrophic scars, and keloids. Applied to the incision site when you’ve significantly healed, they work by acting much like your skin’s moisture barrier, keeping the scar hydrated and helping prevent permanent scarring .
You can usually start using a scar treatment about 1 month after surgery, but talk to your doctor. “I have my patients begin using the strips as soon as all of the crusts and scabs have fallen off on their own. This usually takes about two weeks,” says Dr. Joseph Grzeskiewicz , a plastic surgeon in San Diego.
You’ll be under general anesthesia during the mommy makeover procedure itself, so you shouldn’t feel any pain (or any sensations at all).
Immediately after surgery, you’ll be given pain medication through your IV to alleviate any discomfort.
Before you head home, your surgeon will prescribe pain medication for your recovery. Dr. Armando Soto , a plastic surgeon in Orlando, Florida, says that if you’ve had a tummy tuck with your mommy makeover, “You’ll experience some pain and soreness and, usually, need prescription pain meds for the first four to seven days.”
After the first week, the pain and soreness should subside to the point that it’s manageable with over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Talk with your doctor about which OTC drugs you should take, and avoid blood thinners like ibuprofen, which can affect normal blood clotting.
If you experience significant pain during your recovery, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor. Pain can sap the energy you need to heal, and your surgeon will want you to be as comfortable as possible while you recover.
The results of your mommy makeover procedures should last 10 years or more, as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle and stable weight.
Keep in mind that breast implants aren’t considered lifetime devices, so they may need to be exchanged in the future, though they don’t automatically need replacement.
Published November 11, 2020 Updated July 9, 2022

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Share your journey with other people just like you on the Patient Community or post your question to Ask a Surgeon to get an authoritative and trustworthy answer from our ASPS member surgeons.
The views expressed in Ask a Surgeon and the Patient Community are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

or share your journey with other people just like you on the Patient Community. The views expressed in Ask a Surgeon and the Patient Community are those of the
participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

or post your question to Ask a Surgeon to get an authoritative and trustworthy answer from our ASPS member surgeons.
The views expressed in Ask a Surgeon and the Patient Community are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

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