Mommy Makeover Surgery
While deflated breasts and sagging abdominal skin can result from old age or weight fluctuation, pregnancy is the most common cause. Women who have given birth often see a great degree of change in these areas, and they often find that fat that was once easy to lose tends to collect in new and unexpected places. No amount of diet or exercise can completely restore a woman’s pre-pregnancy body, which is why many women consider the Mommy Makeover procedure. The Mommy Makeover is a combination of two or more cosmetic procedures that address the areas of the body mothers are often concerned with: the breasts, abdomen, and virtually any area that retains excess fat.
How can a Mommy Makeover help?
A Mommy Makeover can completely transform the contour of a woman’s body. Mothers can experience a total body transformation with the added benefit of going through the recovery process only once. Depending on the results you desire, you may choose two or more of the procedures below.
Breast Augmentation
The breasts will always increase in size during pregnancy and may lose a significant amount of volume after pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Benefits:
- Increases breast size
- Improves breast shape
- Corrects asymmetry
Breast Lift
Sometimes pregnancy causes volume loss to a more severe degree that leads to sagging breast skin and nipples that fall below the breast crease.
Benefits:
- Lifts the breasts to a youthful position
- Corrects sagging skin and nipples
- Can reduce the size of the areola if desired
Tummy Tuck
After the birth of a child, sagging skin, loose or separated muscles, and an overall soft feel to the abdomen will result.
Benefits:
- Removes excess abdominal skin
- Tightens abdominal muscles
- May remove stretch marks if they are located on the skin that is removed
Liposuction
Weight gained during pregnancy can stretch the skin and lead to stubborn fat deposits in new areas.
Benefits:
- Removes excess fat from areas of the body including the chin, arms, back, abdomen, flanks, buttocks, hips, and/or thighs
- Requires only a few small incisions in the chosen areas
- Provides smooth body contours
What do you desire?
Pre-baby body
The results of a mommy makeover are often similar to the patient’s pre-baby body and sometimes even better. Liposuction and/or a tummy tuck can create the firm, streamlined contours you likely had in your youth, and a breast augmentation and/or breast lift will restore youthful fullness and improved shape.
Comfort in your own skin
Excess skin and fat can be undesirable for more reasons than appearance alone. Too much abdominal skin can lead to chafing, skin irritation, and the need to literally fold your skin into your clothes. Excess fat can make clothing shopping difficult, and sagging breasts may not feel right even in expensive bras that lift and separate. The Mommy Makeover will tighten all the loose and flabby areas of your body, so you feel comfortable in your own skin.
Restored sense of femininity
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and motherhood, in general, can make you feel like your body is no longer yours. It serves as a living place for your child, a source of nourishment, and sometimes a jungle gym.
A tighter body contour
The Mommy Makeover procedure has the potential to give you a body that is even leaner than your pre-pregnancy body. With tightened muscles, less fat, and tightened skin, any pre-existing muscle tone may show. No matter your body type, you will experience significant improvement by choosing any of the Mommy Makeover procedures.
Confidence
The most important benefit of the Mommy Makeover is the increased confidence it provides. Whether your need is a breast augmentation, lift, tummy tuck, or liposuction, the outcome of this procedure is well worth the incredible boost in confidence you will experience.
Mommy Makeover Concerns
Recovery
Recovery from the Mommy Makeover will be the same length as any of the procedures performed individually. Most patients will take two weeks off from work after having a tummy tuck. During this time, patients are having to walk bent over from tightening the abdominal skin. Swelling will last from several weeks to months, and the final result take six months as your body adapts to its new shape.
Pain
Dr. Wilson performs the Mommy Makeover with general anesthesia to keep you comfortable during the procedure. Afterward, you will experience some discomfort, which can be controlled with pain medications. Wearing a compression garment will help to decrease pain and swelling and needs to be worn for the first six weeks.
Risks
Although a Mommy Makeover is a very safe procedure, there are some rare risks associated with it. Depending on the procedures you choose, these risks can include bleeding, infection, poor wound healing, capsular contracture, breast implant rippling, uneven areas from liposuction, or the risks associated with anesthesia. Dr. Wilson can correct these complications with subsequent surgery or treatment. Dr. Wilson will help you to weigh the risks of the procedures with your desires to determine the best surgical approach for your individual needs.
Scars
Of all the Mommy Makeover procedures, the scars from liposuction are the smallest. Scars from breast augmentation are also either small or difficult to notice since they follow the lines of pigmentation change or the natural fold beneath the breast. A breast lift results in a scar around the areola and horizontally from the bottom of the areola to the breast crease. The tummy tuck results in the longest scar of the four procedures, which spans the width of the pelvis near the pubic hairline. The tummy tuck scar can typically be hidden by beneath undergarments and most swimsuit styles. The scar will be much shorter if only a mini tummy tuck is needed. All scars will continue to fade over time.
Cost
The cost of the Mommy Makeover varies depending on the procedures performed and the extent of the correction needed to achieve the results you desire. During your consultation, you will be given the cost of your Mommy Makeover procedure.
Before & After Photos
54 year old female had a mommy makeover that included a breast lift and augmentation (350cc silicone gel) and a tummy tuck with liposuction of the abdomen and flanks.
View Photo GalleryMommy Makeover Frequently Asked Questions in Huntsville AL
Am I a candidate for the Mommy Makeover if I want to have children later?
The best candidates from the Mommy Makeover are finished having children, as doing so can reverse some of the results of the procedures. However, the desire to have children in the future will not disqualify you from the procedure.
Can the Mommy Makeover remove stretch marks?
A breast lift may remove some stretch marks on the breasts, and a tummy tuck may remove stretch marks on the abdomen.
How long does the procedure take?
The length of the Mommy Makeover depends greatly on the number of procedures chosen, which procedures are chosen, and the amount of correction needed.
How long will results last?
Results from the Mommy Makeover are permanent; however, the procedure does not stop the natural aging process. Your skin may wrinkle over time, and you may compromise your results if you gain or lose a significant amount of weight or become pregnant. If you gain weight after liposuction or tummy tuck surgery, your weight gain will be evenly distributed with your new contours, so the outcome of weight gain will look better than if you had never gotten the procedure.
How much weight will I lose with this procedure?
The Mommy Makeover is not a weight loss procedure. With liposuction, the average amount of fat that is removed is about five pounds. These procedures are meant to streamline the contours of your body and tighten loose skin. The best candidates are patients who have maintained their weight for several months. The best way to most accurately determine if you are a candidate for the Mommy Makeover is to schedule a consultation.
How should I choose which procedures to combine in my Mommy Makeover?
During your one-on-one consultation, you will have the opportunity to share your ideal body goals with your surgeon. Dr. Wilson will give you advice about which procedures and combinations will help you to achieve your goals. Before this first meeting, take time to think about what is most important to you, as this will help to determine which procedures are best suited for you.
How can I prepare for my Mommy Makeover?
Before your Mommy Makeover, you may be advised to avoid smoking for at least six weeks and drinking alcohol for at least two weeks. You may also need to refrain from taking certain blood-thinning medications, such as those containing aspirin or ibuprofen. You will want to avoid all practices, medications, and supplements that thin the blood or prevent its ability to clot. Failure to do so can increase your risk of complications both during and after the procedure. A Mommy Makeover can remove a significant amount of fat and excess tissue; however, it is not a weight loss surgery, so you may want to be as close to your ideal weight before your procedure. If you have young children at home, be sure to establish adequate child care immediately following your surgery so that you can focus on your recovery.
How can I maintain the results of my Mommy Makeover?
A Mommy Makeover is a very comprehensive body contouring procedure, so the best way to maintain your results is to continue a healthy lifestyle that consists of a nutritious diet and exercise. As previously noted, this procedure does not prevent you from gaining weight, nor does it stop the natural progression of aging, meaning that you may eventually develop sagging in the breasts and age-related laxity on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, and arms. If you do develop additional skin laxity or excess fat (from pregnancy, weight gain, or natural age) that is not responsive to a healthy lifestyle, repeated surgeries may be available for you.
