What is the Mommy Makeover procedure?

The Mommy Make Over procedure Literally translated as “Mommy Makeover Surgery” is a combination of plastic surgery procedures, custom-designed to restore your pre-baby body following the changes caused by pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

This procedure can also be beneficial for patients who have experienced significant weight loss or anyone looking to treat several more or less critical conditions at the same time.

After pregnancy, a woman’s body is often left with sagging breasts, loose abdominal skin, separated abdominal muscles and fascia that no amount of exercise can rebuild.

“Mommy Makeover Surgery” can help reverse the effects of childbirth, as well as feelings of helplessness about the appearance of your own body.”

For many moms, this can be a major milestone after giving birth

What is Included in the Mommy Makeover Procedure?

Dr. Duclos will customize the Mommy Makeover Plastic Surgery procedure based on your unique needs. Note that the procedure typically includes these procedures:

• A abdominoplasty, sometimes combined with a diastasis recti repair
• This may also involve a belly button lift.
• Breast Enhancement
• A breast augmentation to replace the volume lost
• Breast lift, if applicable
• Or a breast reduction, to reduce the size of the breasts
• Any breast surgery may also include areola reduction or nipple surgery.

Your treatment plan may also include:

• Liposuction to reshape the body
• A Brazilian butt lift, with or without hip augmentation.
• Perineal rejuvenation procedures, such as perineoplasty
• A labiaplasty to improve the appearance of the labia minora.
• Rejuvenation of the skin by injection such as Botox and fillers such as smoothing wrinkles, filling dark circles, refreshing the face.

Given her extensive experience, Dr. Duclos will be able to tell you about all the available procedures and the differences in surgical technique.

The Pros and Cons of Mommy Makeover Surgery

Pros

• Addresses a range of post-pregnancy issues in a single surgery and recovery period.
• Transformative results, returning your body to its pre-pregnancy state, and often even better.
• Many patients report feeling more like themselves and gaining confidence.
• Stretch marks and cesarean section scars can be eliminated, diminished, or improved with a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty).
• It can also help treat midline separation of the abdominal muscles by repairing diastasis recti and hernias. This can help improve posture and potentially reduce some back pain.

Cons

• There is a recovery period that can be painful.
• Tummy tucks and breast lifts cause scars that usually fade over time.
• Depending on the procedure performed, a recovery period should be planned that requires convalescence, time off work, and time off the gym.
• You will need assistance with daily activities and should avoid lifting heavy objects (including small children) for at least the first week of recovery.
• Body contouring procedures, such as tummy tucks and liposuction, do not protect against future weight gain.
  You will still need to stick to a healthy diet and regular exercise to maintain your results.
• The surgery does leave scars, including a low scar from hip to hip from the tummy tuck.

How Much Does Mommy Makeover Surgery Cost?

The cost of a mommy makeover depends on the complexity of your procedure, the experience level of your plastic surgeon, their practice location, and a few other key factors.

This is considered elective cosmetic surgery, so it will not be covered by insurance. However, if your surgery includes a hernia repair or breast reduction, insurance may cover some of these costs.

Patient Profile

Ideal mommy makeover patients are:

• In good general health.
• Within 25 pounds of your ideal body weight. Surgeons’ BMI rules and restrictions tend to vary, so it’s best to schedule a consultation to discuss specific weight concerns.
• Be at a stable weight. It’s also best not to schedule this surgery too soon after having a baby, as tempting as it may be. This also helps your surgeon accurately assess what your body looks like at its core.
• Non-smokers. Smoking, vaping, and using cannabis can inhibit healing, so if you smoke, your surgeon will likely ask you to quit at least two weeks before your surgery and three weeks after.

During your initial consultation, be honest about your health status to reduce your risk of complications.

How long does it take to do a Mommy Makeover?

Mommy makeover surgeries take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours, depending on how many procedures you have done, how complex they are, and your surgeon’s technique.

There is a limit to the number of procedures most surgeons will perform at one time, for your safety. It is generally recommended that elective procedures take no more than 6 hours, and a full tummy tuck alone can take up to 3 hours.

You will also want to plan to arrive about an hour early, so that they can prep and administer anesthesia, and expect to spend a few hours in a recovery room, so they can monitor you and allow you to go home safely.

Make sure you have someone you trust to drop you off, get you home safely, and spend the first night after surgery at home, in case you need assistance.

Are there any risks with the Mommy Makeover procedure?

Mommy makeovers are considered safe in the hands of an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. However, every procedure carries some risk, and those risks increase when procedures are combined and the surgery lasts a long time.

When you discuss your treatment plan during your consultation, Dr. Duclos will confirm that your surgery will last no longer than six hours.

Abdominoplasty has the highest potential for complications, with double the complication rate of other cosmetic surgeries—3% versus 1.5%—according to a 2015 study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The most common major complication was hematoma.

Will you have scars?

All surgeries leave scars at the incision sites, but Dr. Duclos strives to place the scars in a way that is well hidden.

They will also fade over time.

How long do the results of Mommy Makeover surgery last?

Mommy Makeover results last a lifetime as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle and a stable weight. Of course, the aging process continues such as skin elasticity, sagging, etc.

Breast implants are not considered lifelong devices, so they may need to be replaced in the future, but they do not automatically need to be replaced.