What Does a Mommy Makeover Consist Of?

What Does a Mommy Makeover Consist Of?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding take a toll on the body and can result in unwanted changes in your appearance. However, these changes can vary from patient to patient, which is why a mommy makeover is not one-size-fits-all. At Mountain Lake Plastic Surgery, we offer customizable mommy makeover procedures to meet each patient’s unique needs. Continue reading to learn more about this plastic surgery option.

 

Customizing a Mommy Makeover

No two patients are the same, and mommy makeovers can be customized to include the procedures that will best address your unique concerns and needs. Typically, mommy makeover patients want to address changes in the breasts and abdominal area after pregnancy and breastfeeding. This means that an abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is usually included in a mommy makeover to reduce excess skin or stubborn fat in this area. During a tummy tuck, I will also repair and tighten the abdominal muscles, which can become separated during pregnancy.

Breast rejuvenation procedures are also common in mommy makeovers. Depending on your needs, I may suggest a breast lift, breast augmentation, or combination to restore a more youthful look. For some patients, a breast reduction is also necessary, especially if they are experiencing back pain or other symptoms related to large bust size.

It is also becoming more common for our patients to request a labiaplasty as part of their mommy makeover. This procedure is not just cosmetic; labiaplasty can also reduce discomfort from elongated labia and repair damage that resulted from giving birth.

Finally, liposuction can be added to a mommy makeover. This is typically included as part of an abdominoplasty but can also be used to contour other areas and remove stubborn, exercise-resistant fat. Commonly requested areas for liposuction are the lower back, bra roll, inner and out thighs, and arms.

 

Your Mommy Makeover Procedure

Mommy makeovers are usually performed on an outpatient basis, but some more extensive procedures may require an overnight stay to recover at the hospital. The procedure will be performed under general anesthesia, so be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home and care for you for at least the first 24 hours. Depending on the procedures we have decided to include, your surgery may take anywhere from about four to six hours to complete. I can explain expectations for your unique procedure during a consultation.

 

What to Expect After a Mommy Makeover

Recovery after a mommy makeover varies depending on the procedures you include. Generally speaking, you can expect to feel fatigued and sore for several days after surgery and should arrange for someone to care for you and your children. We will prescribe pain medications to keep you comfortable through the early stages of recovery. Activity restrictions will last 4-8 weeks, depending on the nature of the specific procedures you had. In the first 2 weeks, it is important to avoid strenuous activity and lifting more than 10 lbs and then you may gradually resume activity after that. During your consultation and post-operative appointments, I will give you specific instructions and monitor your healing progress. It is normal to have swelling and bruising for the first month after surgery and this slowly improves over time. The majority of the swelling usually resolves by 3 months but most patients have some small residual fluctuations in swelling than can persist for up to 12 months after surgery.

 

Schedule a Consultation

To schedule a consultation with Dr. MacLennan or Dr. Schmidt, call our Burlington, VT office at (802) 231-4284 or contact Mountain Lake Plastic Surgery online.