Mommy makeover is a "catch all" term to describe various plastic surgery procedures to enhance the appearance of a woman's breasts and abdomen/trunk/body areas in combination following pregnancies and the associated breast and body changes that can occur. A very common version is breast lift with or without breast implants combined with a tummy tuck.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

A mommy makeover is different for every mommy. As a general rule, it includes a breast procedure to address the post-breastfeeding appearance of the breasts and a body component to address the post-baby abdomen. Which procedures, in particular, depend on what you are hoping for your body to look like. Please consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss all of your options.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Each surgery is tailored to the individual needs of the patient, including a mommy makeover. The term mommy makeover refers to a combination surgery of the breasts and abdomen. Depending on the woman, this could be any combination of a breast augmentation, mastopexy (breast lift), abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), and lipo. Once you discuss your goals with your plastic surgeon, they will create a surgery plan that is right for you.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

A mommy makeover is for women whose bodies have been changed due to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and the natural effects of aging. The capability to create, foster and give birth to a child of your own distinguishes women in the human species. The nine-month transformation from a tiny embryo to a human being in itself is a magical event, but it transforms the mother’s body as well, often in a non-favorable direction. A mother goes through many different changes during pregnancy and the birth process. In many cases, areas of a woman’s body may not return to the same shape prior to pregnancy.

Thanks to current medical procedures, mothers are often able to restore their bodies back to their pre-birth shape, or even better. After breastfeeding is complete and you have fully recovered from pregnancy, there are various steps that can be taken to get your body back into shape. In what is commonly known as the Mommy Makeover, various procedures such as breast augmentation, breast lifts, liposuction, tummy tucks, fat transfer and other procedures can be done to get your body back into top condition. Most of these procedures can be done in combination to complete your makeover, or can be done in separate steps.

Breasts

In most cases after childbirth, women often find that their breasts become out of shape due to breast-feeding or growth then shrinkage after pregnancy. The breast often loses volume on the top and sags and becomes less firm and out of shape (post-partum involution). This can produce visual changes that women want to fix and improve. With straightforward procedures, breasts can be transformed to the desired state with a variety of techniques including breast augmentation using fat transfer (called California Breast Lift in my practice) or implants with or without a lift. These procedures can give your breasts a natural look and maintain volume that was present prior to pregnancy. Some surveys have stated that up to 90% of patients have found success with these procedures, with remarkable results and happiness.

After breastfeeding and childbirth, mothers often find that excess skin results or the skin around the breasts is loose resulting in sagging. In these cases, a breast lift can also be done to reshape the skin envelope and uplift the areola/nipple position. By itself, this procedure isn’t done to change the size of the breasts, but is done more to affect the contour and firm up the breast skin and underlying breast tissue. Newer, minimal scar breast lift techniques, can affect the breast size if combined with a breast augmentation or reduction procedure to enhance the shape, size, and position of the breasts.

Tummy and Hips

Following pregnancy, women often find that the tummy and hip areas are the main concerns for improvement following delivery. After giving birth, women often try to return to their pre-baby weight and find that even if they lose those pregnancy pounds, that they cannot get their tummies back into the desired shape. A tummy tuck with or without liposuction can be performed in this case to remove excess skin, fat, and tone up your tummy muscles. This tried-and-true procedure in the hands of an experienced plastic surgeon will result in a firmer and smoother stomach. Weakened, stretched, and separated muscles (Diastasis Recti) are reshaped during this procedure and will transform your abdominal wall into a well-toned tummy. Giving birth can result in your abdominal skin and muscles being stretched out of shape. A tummy tuck will reshape it back into its toned natural shape, sometimes even better than before you were pregnant. Liposuction is often done at the same time and the fat removed can be used by transferring it to areas that may have lose volume such as your buttocks (Brazilian Butt Lift) or breasts.

Skin

Most women following pregnancy will get stretch marks but this doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about them. Stretch marks, also called striae, can also occur as a result of pregnancy. The tummy tuck not only reshapes the stomach muscles and skin, but also removes these a large number of stretch marks below the belly button. Certain lasers are also available that can get rid of the redness and shrink the width of stretch marks while improving the texture of your skin. Spider veins or red spots (angiomas) following childbirth can vanish seemingly instantly with special lasers and without downtime afterwards. Prominent superficial veins in the legs and other areas also can occur after having a baby. These can be treated in the office with lasers and injections (sclerotherapy).

Skin tone and texture can also be improved. For example, Cellulite and skin wrinkling can be tightened noninvasively. Likewise, circumferential reduction of the waist and thighs with a series of non painful, non-invasive treatments combining the energy sources of RF (radiofrequency), IR (infrared) aimed at improving the skin and superficial fat (e.g. Velashape III).

Fat

After pregnancy and with age, fat can accumulate in different areas that are resistant to diet and exercise. In concert with the Velashape® treatments, Liposuction or other non-invasive non-surgical fat reduction procedures are often helpful. Whether it’s the tummy, hips, thighs, back, or upper arms, liposuction can get rid of the excess fat collection that occurs after pregnancy. By getting rid of these excess bulges along with a sensible diet and exercise plan, you can get your body back into top shape. Other non-invasive techniques such as CoolSculpt® and newer techniques such as Ultrashape®, and Vanquish® are all possibilities for non-surgical fat reduction. As all techniques work differently make sure you go to an expert plastic surgeon to decide which is best for you. These techniques reshape your skin and body towards to your desired shape and best of all there is no down time and minimal if any discomfort. With regular core exercises, you are well on your way to an “abs of steel six-pack”. Exercise maintenance and a stable weight should give you a life-long result.

Belly Button

Another part of the body that might be affected post pregnancy is the belly button, also called umbilicus. The pregnancy cycle can stretch or distort the belly button area. The tummy tuck can assist with making your belly button smaller, however if this is your only concern, improving your belly button’s appearance via a procedure known as umbilicoplasty is possible. An umbilical hernia usually recognized by an “outie belly button” can also be repaired at the same time and often performed under local anesthesia as an office procedure.

Vaginal and Labial Rejuvenation

Especially following vaginal delivery, and important to femininity and intimacy, sometimes the vaginal area is stretched out and loses optimal tone. This can be corrected with a vaginoplasty to firm up and increase tone to the vaginal canal, giving increased intimate sexual satisfaction to the woman and her mate. Likewise, the labia minora (inner lips) might be overly large as a result of pregnancy or genetics. Labia reduction is corrected with a procedure called labiaplasty. The mons pubis, hair bearing area, often becomes bulky, sags, and shows through clothes following pregnancy. This can be corrected with a “monsplasty” procedure. These procedures are often performed as an outpatient procedure, often at the same time as other mommy-makeover procedures.

Skin Pigmentation

Lastly, persistent darkened skin pigment changes may occur on your face, also called Chloasma or Melasma (“mask of pregnancy”). Tailored medical grade lightening creams, peels, and lasers can be done to help with the discoloration that can occur following pregnancy in the facial and other areas.

Conclusion

All of these mommy makeover procedures and others are done in an effort to regain your ideal image, shape and composure following pregnancy. Just because you’ve had a baby, this doesn’t mean your body should be neglected. You can choose from a combination of procedures to get your body back into shape, firmer, and smoother following pregnancy. As always, consult an experienced board certified plastic surgeon before any procedure, discuss treatment options, as well as recovery time, risks, and possible non-surgical alternatives to surgery. Where the gift of lift is a wonderful thing, a mommy makeover can be the best gift you give yourself after pregnancy.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Mommy makeover is typically a tummy tuck and breast lift (with or without implant).

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Mommy makeovers consist of breast and tummy procedures.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

The mommy makeover usually involves a tummy tuck, and may involve a breast lift or augmentation if there is breast loss.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

A mommy makeover enhances the breast and body after child birth. Sometimes it's a breast augmentation and/or lift, and other times it is a lift and/or breast reduction. The abdomen usually has a tummy tuck plus liposuction, if required.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

A mommy makeover usually refers to abdominoplasty, liposuction, and some type of breast surgery. The procedures are usually done after a woman is done having babies.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Mommy makeovers are different for each patient. Basically, it's a procedure that includes some sort of breast procedure as well as some sort of abdominal procedure. This could be breast lifting with or without breast implants or just breast implants. It could also include tummy tuck and/or liposuction.

I suggest visiting with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon who can show you examples of his work. Best wishes.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

A mommy makeover typically involves a tummy tuck and a breast augmentation and/or a breast lift.

After pregnancy, especially multiple pregnancies or unusually large births or twins, women find that it is very difficult to return their body to their pre-pregnancy shape. In spite of dieting and very serious exercise, they find that loose skin of the abdomen will not tighten and the breast are smaller and have lost shape.

A combination of a Tummy Tuck and Breast augmentation and or Breast Lift can often help these patients achieve the shape and feeling that enhances their feeling of well being and fitness

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Dear reader,

Thank you for your question. A mommy makeover is a reference used after a woman has had her children and is looking for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with or without liposuction and a breast lift with or without breast implants. This is the general surgery for this term.

I have even had patients come in who have not had children and will still refer to this as a mommy makeover because they are familiar with this term.

The cost also varies because there are different levels or approaches of abdominoplasties (tummy tucks) due to how much correction the individual is looking for. The same is true with breast lifts--one woman may need more of a lift than the next.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Mommy makeover typically refers to breast surgery and some type of a tummy tuck procedure performed at the same time. In my practice, it is usually breast augmentation and abdominoplasty with some adjunct liposuction. It is prudent to limit the length of surgery, as unduly prolong surgery and anesthesia time can adversely affect recovery. Seek out an experienced and skilled surgeon that can properly advise you on type of combination surgery is optimum for you.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Typically, a mommy makeover includes a breast lift with implants, a tummy tuck, and some liposuction of the hips and thighs.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Thank you for asking. A "mommy makeover" is a loose generic term that usually refers to a body contour procedure (usually abdominoplasty) combined with some type of breast procedure (implants, lift or both). There may be liposuction involved as well. Each case is unique. See a board-certified plastic surgeon who can guide you best. Best wishes!

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Thank you for your question! Many plastic surgeons offer what is referred to as the mommy makeover, which addresses a woman's post-pregnancy body issues in a single-session surgery that typically combines the following: tummy tuck, breast enhancement (i.e. lift and/or implants), and fat removal with liposuction.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

A mommy makeover refers to a combination of procedures to get back to your pre-pregnancy figure (or hopefully even better!). Usually it involves a breast lift, with or without augmentation, tummy tuck, and lipo. It can also include a labiaplasty as well. Generally speaking, you want to wait until at least 6 months after childbirth, and even longer for the breast procedure if you are breastfeeding still at 6 months.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

A mommy makeover is a combination of procedures designed to improve the areas of the body that are not treated kindly by pregnancy ( i.e. becoming a mommy ). The main areas affected are the breasts and the tummy. Typically, the mommy makeover involves a tummy tuck or liposuction on the abdomen and a breast lift, reduction, implant, or a combination of these surgeries on the breasts.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

A mommy makeover usually involves a tummy tuck or liposuction of the tummy with some type of breast surgery, like enlargement with implants or uplift, or both. I have been doing more of these with very good satisfaction from my patients. I usually can do these as an outpatient with a recovery of about two weeks.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Thank you for your question. Mommy makeovers can be personalized to fit the individual. For example, some women need an abdominoplasty and a breast lift after having children; others may need abdominoplasty and just a breast augmentation. You can modify to fit your needs. I hope this helps!

Published on Jul 11, 2012