What Can I Do to Get the Best Mommy Makeover Results? Your Mommy Makeover Questions, Answered.
Motherhood brings countless blessings but very few of us escape the tell-tale signs childbearing leaves behind: sagging breasts and skin, stubborn fat pockets, and separated abdominal muscles can make us feel like a stranger in our own body. A mommy makeover is a transformative process that improves or eliminates these changes to help you feel comfortable and confident in your postpartum body. To empower you and help you plan, today we’re covering 5 key questions patients should ask about mommy makeovers:
- What procedures should I include in my mommy makeover?
- How can I prepare myself for mommy makeover plastic surgery? And my family?
- What will the recovery timeline look like?
- What can I do to get the best mommy makeover results?
- What are the main mommy makeover risks and complications? How are complications handled?
What procedures should I include in my mommy makeover?
Mommy makeover procedures are completely customizable—in fact, you should avoid cookie-cutter treatment plans! Think carefully about all the ways you might like to improve your shape and refresh your look and start making your wishlist. Typically, mommy makeovers combine breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and liposuction, but your personalized procedure plan can include any of the following:
- Breast lift
- Breast lift with augmentation
- Breast reduction
- Body lift
- Labiaplasty
- Brazilian butt lift
- Fat transfer
Non-surgical additions to your mommy makeover
You deserve to look and feel fantastic from head to toe! Your consultation is the perfect time to incorporate non-surgical “tweakments” into your treatment plan. They can be used to give you a more immediate boost as you plan for your surgical date or saved for after you recover: either way, they will take your results to the next level. Consider these options to complete your transformation:
- Femilift vaginal rejuvenation relieves mild incontinence, improves tightness, rebuilds and thickens the vaginal wall, and increases natural lubrication. This discreet, zero-downtime treatment can help you and your partner make the most of date night.
- Facial injectables like Botox and Dysport relax the muscle movements that create expression-based facial lines and wrinkles to achieve a smoother, younger, more rested appearance.
- Medical grade skincare contains a higher concentration of active ingredients than over-the-counter products. Physician-only products will achieve more effective anti-aging results and better protect your skin from future damage.
Our in-depth consultations allow us to connect with each patient on a personal level, understand their goals and concerns, and develop a treatment plan that is safe and will best achieve their goals.
How can I prepare myself for mommy makeover plastic surgery? And my family?
Having multiple procedures may be intimidating, but most mommy makeover patients choose to combine these into one operation and enjoy a single recovery period. Whether you choose two procedures or check off your entire wishlist, it’s important to plan and prepare you and your family for your mommy makeover before, during, and after surgery.
Wait until you are at least 6 months postpartum.
If you’d like to get a tummy tuck as part of your procedure, you should ideally be done having children. While it’s safe to get pregnant after a tummy tuck, your initial results will diminish and you may need a touch up procedure to see those results again. Additionally, you must hold off on having breast surgery until you are done breastfeeding as milk production will affect your breast shape.
Be in general good health.
It is recommended that you be within 20-25lbs of your goal weight as a mommy makeover is not designed to reduce overall body fat, but rather sculpt a more proportionate shape.
Let your family be a part of your surgery journey.
Explain your procedure(s) as you see fit and be very clear about how long you will need to rest. Sometimes a visual is best: consider helping little ones make a recovery calendar and mark off each day together! If your kids like to help, find a small task that can be their special daily job to help mommy rest.
Prepare your post-surgery digs.
Prepare a calm, quiet space to recover and put anything you may need within easy reach—technology, entertainment, books, medication, nutritious snacks, and water. Have extra pillows ready to help support your body in the recommended post-surgical position as you rest and sleep.
Arrange YOU-care and childcare.
You’ll need a caregiver to help you settle into your recovery cocoon and tend to your needs and medication for the first 48-72 hours. Depending on your treatment plan, you will not be able to lift anything over 5lbs for some weeks, so extended childcare must also be a priority. If you have pets, consider their care as you are making arrangements. To make mealtime easier, stock your freezer with portions of favorite healthy dishes for quick reheating (hint: this is a great way for friends to help).
It may be challenging to let others step in but your recovery and results will depend on you letting yourself be the priority. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup and the time will pass quickly!
What will the recovery timeline look like?
Depending on the number of procedures in your mommy makeover, your recovery may differ, but here is a general recovery timeline:
Week 1: You will need a caregiver for you and your children. Your job is to rest, hydrate, and eat nutritious foods to encourage your body to heal. That said, you won’t be completely bedridden: patients are directed to get up at intervals and take gentle short walks to support circulation and healing. Post-op discomfort peaks between day 3-5 so having helping hands is essential. This week is the perfect time to send your kids to grandma’s house! You will have your first follow up appointment 1 week after your procedure to remove stitches and check in with your surgeon.
Week 2-3: Rest will still be your only priority, even as the restlessness kicks in. Some pain and soreness is common at this point, but you should notice a gradual decrease in discomfort after the first week. You will likely be cleared to return to a more normal routine and/or for work at a desk job around this time—but you should still not be lifting anything or exerting yourself.
Week 4-6: You’ll definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel by this point: normal activities shouldn’t be as tiresome, but listen to your body and continue to take it easy. Also, stay dedicated to your post-op instructions as you can still strain incisions and healing tissues!
Week 6+: By now, your new shape is more evident as swelling diminishes and you settle into your new contours! As long as your surgeon gives the OK at your follow-up appointment, you can safely pick up your children and hit the gym. That said, take your time: for example, after taking a required break from your usual workouts, you will likely need to build back up to your previous exercise routine in steps. Most patients feel confident showing off their new bodies about three months after surgery and full results are visible around six months.
What can I do to get the best mommy makeover results?
Following these 3 steps will increase the likelihood you enjoy optimal mommy makeover results:
Step 1: Find the right kind of provider: board certified plastic surgeons are highly-trained and rigorously tested to ensure they can safely perform plastic surgery. Also be sure they and their team make you feel comfortable and supported—feeling relaxed & safe will reduce anxiety, helping you enjoy a more restful recovery and better results.
Step 2: Vet the plastic surgeon’s before and after photos. This is one of the best ways to confirm they have experience achieving pleasing results for patients with similar anatomy and goals as you.
Step 3: Follow all post-surgical instructions to the letter. Even as you start to feel more like yourself after some days have passed, resist the temptation to clean house, exercise, or do anything more than take short, gentle walks to keep your blood flowing.
What are the main mommy makeover risks and complications? How are complications handled?
Primary risks of a mommy makeover include:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Loss of nipple sensation
- Seroma or hematoma development
- Capsular contracture (if implants are placed)
Board certified plastic surgeons have extensive experience in measuring surgical risks as well as handling normal complications and thereby are very capable of keeping mommy makeover patients safe. Your medical history will be thoroughly reviewed to identify any possible roadblocks to a smooth recovery or beautiful results. Your surgeon will also consider your individual anatomy and current health to develop a safe treatment plan.
Being honest is critically important to plastic surgery safety: you must disclose all medications and drugs you take, prescription or otherwise, prior to surgery. This will help you avoid potentially dangerous interactions with anesthesia and post-operative pain medication.
Certain surprising substances (including innocuous-sounding items like green tea) are also associated with complications and you should receive a detailed list of items to avoid consuming prior to surgery; be sure to follow it!
Mommy makeovers usually combine multiple significant surgeries which means intraoperative safety is critical. Undergoing anesthesia can pose the greatest overall risk, which is why our Granite Bay plastic surgeons perform all surgeries in our on-site AAAASF-accredited surgery center. This private, comfortable facility meets or exceeds hospital-grade standards to optimize safety.
In the unlikely event that you experience any mommy makeover complications, your plastic surgeon should be on call to discuss your concerns and schedule an in-person exam to advise you on the next steps to take. The most common post-surgery complications (like seromas) are handled with standard plastic surgery aftercare. Less commonly, a touch-up surgery may be required.
A mommy makeover is a highly personalized procedure that requires a keen eye for aesthetics as well as a commitment to surgical safety. Let the experienced and compassionate surgeons at Granite Bay Cosmetic Surgery customize your mommy makeover to restore your body and help you rediscover your confidence. To learn more about your mommy makeover options, fill out our online form or call our practice at (916) 242-2662.
