FAQ: What’s Included in a Mommy Makeover?

Are you longing to reclaim your pre-baby body after pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding? You’re not alone! While cherished and miraculous, these life-changing experiences also wreak havoc on your physique. A comprehensive mommy makeover surgery can help you transform your “mom bod” and restore your body image. But many women wonder, what’s included in a mommy makeover? To empower you to explore your aesthetic options with confidence, I am addressing some of the top mommy makeover questions I hear from patients below:

What Are the Benefits of a Mommy Makeover?

Restored confidence: Pregnancy and childbirth can lead to changes in a woman’s body that may affect self-esteem and body image. A mommy makeover can help restore confidence by addressing concerns such as sagging breasts, excess abdominal skin, and stubborn pockets of fat.
Improved quality of life: By restoring pre-pregnancy body contours and enhancing self-confidence, a mommy makeover can have a positive impact on a woman’s overall quality of life. Feeling more comfortable and confident in one’s appearance can lead to improved self-esteem, mental well-being, and satisfaction with physical appearance.
Improved breast appearance: Breastfeeding and hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause the breasts to lose volume, sag, or become asymmetrical. Breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction as part of a mommy makeover can enhance breast shape, size, and symmetry, restoring a more youthful and proportionate appearance.
Tightened abdominal contour: Pregnancy can stretch the abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) and skin, leading to a protruding belly or abdominal laxity. A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) as part of a mommy makeover can tighten the abdominal muscles and remove excess skin and fat, resulting in a smoother and firmer abdomen.
Enhanced body contours: Pregnancy-related weight gain and changes in body composition can result in stubborn areas of fat accumulation that are resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction or other body contouring procedures as part of a mommy makeover can help sculpt and shape the body, achieving a more proportionate and aesthetically pleasing silhouette.
Long-lasting results: While pregnancy and childbirth can cause significant changes in a woman’s body, the results of a mommy makeover are typically long-lasting, especially when combined with a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a balanced diet.
Customized treatment plan: A mommy makeover is tailored to each individual’s unique concerns and goals. By combining multiple procedures into a single surgical session, women can address multiple areas of concern simultaneously, achieving comprehensive results with fewer overall recovery periods and downtime.
Our procedure costs are based on length of surgery. A mommy makeover combining a breast lift and abdominoplasty in San Antonio can cost in the range of $16,000 to $18,000. Our fees include before and after surgery visits, garments, surgeon, operating room and anesthesia fees.

Which Procedures Are Typically Included in a Mommy Makeover?

A mommy makeover procedure is customized to suit your specific needs, but I typically combine a breast procedure with one or more body procedures to create a full body enhancement for my patients.

The most common procedures I include in a mommy makeover procedure are:

What Determines Which Procedures Can Be Included?

Patient safety is my primary concern, so I take the length of the procedure and recovery into consideration when I recommend combining surgical procedures for a mommy makeover. During your consultation, I will discuss your aesthetic goals, lifestyle, cost, and recovery time for procedures to help create a custom plan to suit your needs.

My goal is to help you look and feel your best, but your safety is the most important factor. Recovery time is also an important consideration when combining treatments. Since a mommy makeover affects several areas of the body, including the breasts, abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, back, and/ or labia, it is important to understand the time and physical limitations required for a full recovery to achieve your best results.

Can Nonsurgical Procedures be Included in a Mommy Makeover?

Yes, nonsurgical procedures can be included in a mommy makeover, depending on the individual’s goals and needs. While surgical procedures like breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction are commonly associated with mommy makeovers, nonsurgical treatments can complement these procedures to enhance overall results. Here are some nonsurgical options that may be included in a mommy makeover:

Dermal fillers: Injectable fillers can be used to restore volume to areas of the face that have lost fullness due to aging or weight loss. Common areas for filler injections include the cheeks, lips, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines.
BOTOX® Cosmetic and other neuromodulators: Botulinum toxin injections, such as BOTOX, Dysport®, and Xeomin® can help reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles by temporarily relaxing the underlying muscles. Common treatment areas include the forehead, frown lines (between the eyebrows), and crow’s feet.
Skin tightening treatments: Procedures like Jplasma laser treatments (in conjunction with liposuction) can stimulate collagen production and tighten loose skin on the face and body, providing a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance.
Medical-grade skincare products: Customized skincare regimens featuring prescription-strength products, chemical peels, and other professional treatments can help improve skin texture, tone, and overall health.

Including nonsurgical procedures in a mommy makeover can offer additional benefits such as minimal downtime, less discomfort, and the ability to address multiple concerns simultaneously. However, it’s essential to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon or qualified aesthetic provider to determine the most appropriate treatments based on individual goals, skin type, and medical history.

How Long Is Mommy Makeover Surgery?

The length of time required to perform a mommy makeover procedure depends on the specific combination of procedures that are being performed. A mommy makeover that combines a breast lift or breast reduction and abdominoplasty, depending on the amount of excess skin to be removed and the size of your breasts, can range anywhere from 4-7 hours in length. During your consultation, we will discuss which procedures will be performed and I can provide a timeline for the treatment, a pricing estimate, and recovery outline at that time.

How Long Is Recovery?

The recovery time for a mommy makeover can vary depending on the specific procedures performed, individual healing factors, and the extent of surgery. A mommy makeover typically involves a combination of surgical procedures such as breast augmentation or breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction.

Here’s a general timeline for mommy makeover recovery:

1. Immediately after surgery: You will spend some time in the recovery room under observation before being released to go home or to a surgical facility for overnight observation. It’s common to experience some pain, swelling, bruising, and discomfort during this initial period.
2. First week after surgery: During the first week following surgery, you should focus on rest, recovery, and non-strenuous ambulation. I encourage my patients to walk every hour they are awake including the day of surgery. Pain and discomfort can be managed with prescribed medications, and it’s essential to follow the surgeon’s post-operative instructions carefully, including wearing compression garments and avoiding strenuous activities.
3. Two to four weeks after surgery: Swelling and bruising typically peak during the first week after surgery and gradually subside over the following weeks. You may begin to resume light activities and return to work, depending on the extent of surgery and individual healing progress. However, strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should still be avoided during this time.
4. Four to six weeks after surgery: By this point, most patients can gradually increase their activity level and may be cleared by their surgeon to resume more vigorous exercise and normal daily activities. However, it’s important to listen to your body and avoid overexertion to prevent complications and promote optimal healing.
5. Six weeks to several months after surgery: Full recovery from a mommy makeover can take several months, during which time residual swelling and changes in sensation may continue to improve. Scars will gradually fade and mature over time, although they may take up to a year or more to reach their final appearance.

It’s important for patients to attend all scheduled follow-up appointments with their surgeon to monitor their progress, address any concerns, and ensure that the healing process is proceeding as expected. Every patient’s recovery experience is unique, so it’s essential to follow the surgeon’s specific post-operative instructions and guidelines for the best possible outcome.

Take the Next Step

It’s essential to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon or qualified aesthetic provider to determine the most appropriate treatments based on individual goals, skin type, and medical history. To learn more about how a mommy makeover in San Antonio can help restore your breasts and body to their pre-baby shape, please request a complimentary consultation or call (210) 942-6672 to schedule an appointment to meet with me. I look forward to meeting with you.