What Is a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is the combined, individually planned set of aesthetic surgical procedures for changes in the body after pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. These changes do not always improve with diet and exercise.
The breasts, abdomen and waist are assessed together in terms of how the body looks. For this reason, instead of operating on only one area, the procedures that are needed can be considered in a single plan. A mommy makeover is not a weight-loss method; it is aimed at reshaping body contours.
What Problems Does a Mommy Makeover Address?
The following changes may occur during and after pregnancy and breastfeeding:
- Sagging breasts, loss of breast volume or breasts that are larger than desired,
- Separation of the abdominal muscles and laxity of the abdominal wall,
- Excess skin, sagging and stretch marks on the abdomen,
- Fat deposits on the abdomen, waist and hips that do not go away with diet and exercise.
Similar changes can also occur with weight gain and loss and with age. You can find out whether these procedures can be performed on people who are not mothers in our article Is a Mommy Makeover Only for Mothers?
What Procedures Does It Include?
The procedures in a mommy makeover are decided according to the person's concerns and the examination findings. The plan may include one or more of the following:
- Breast aesthetics: breast lift, breast augmentation or breast reduction,
- Abdomen: mini or full tummy tuck; repair of the abdominal muscles if needed,
- Waist, back and hips: reshaping body contours with liposuction; fat transfer to the buttocks if needed,
- Where considered necessary, procedures on the genital area (for example labiaplasty).
Several procedures can be performed in the same operation or, depending on the person's health and the extent of the procedures, divided over different times. This decision is made by the doctor.
Preparation Before Surgery
Before surgery, an examination is carried out, the necessary tests are requested, and the person's expectations and the procedures to be performed are planned together. Points to consider before surgery are:
- Because smoking has a negative effect on healing, it should be stopped several weeks before surgery; the doctor determines how long,
- Medicines that can increase bleeding (for example aspirin), some herbal products and vitamin supplements should not be used without consulting the doctor; you should tell your doctor about all the medicines and supplements you take,
- It is recommended to be close to your ideal weight and for your weight to have been stable for some time,
- Breastfeeding should be completed and the body should have recovered after childbirth.
You can read about the timing of the operation and the effect of age in our article The Age Factor in a Mommy Makeover.
How Is the Operation Performed?
A mommy makeover is performed in an operating theatre under general anaesthesia. The length of the operation depends on the number and extent of the procedures; when a tummy tuck and breast surgery are performed together, the operation can take several hours.
After the operation, the person usually stays in hospital for at least one night. Compression stockings are used to reduce the risk of blood clots, and the patient gets up at the time recommended by the doctor. Where necessary, drains are placed to remove fluid that collects; the drains are removed within a few days. Patients who have had a tummy tuck walk slightly bent forward in the first days.
After the Operation
In the first days after the operation there is pain, tightness, swelling and bruising. Pain is usually controlled with painkillers recommended by the doctor; tightness may be more noticeable in areas treated with liposuction and after a tummy tuck. During recovery, the following should be observed:
- An abdominal compression garment and a supportive bra are worn for as long as the doctor recommends,
- You can shower at the time recommended by the doctor,
- Strenuous physical activity should be avoided in the first weeks; returning to desk work is usually possible within a few weeks,
- It is recommended to wait about six weeks before starting sport and heavy exercise; full recovery can take several months.
The surgical scars are permanent, but they fade over time and become less noticeable. Maintaining your weight and a balanced diet are important for preserving the result.
Risks
Like any surgical procedure, a mommy makeover has risks. When several procedures are combined, the length of surgery and anaesthesia increases, so these risks are assessed separately before the operation:
- Bleeding and infection,
- Fluid collection in the operated area (seroma),
- Delayed wound healing and noticeable scarring,
- Blood clots in the leg veins and a clot travelling to the lungs (embolism),
- Asymmetry and changes in skin sensation,
- Risks related to anaesthesia.
If you notice fever, increasing pain, redness, discharge from the wound, swelling in one leg or shortness of breath, you should contact your doctor immediately. For detailed information, you can visit our mommy makeover page.
Author: Op. Dr. Yücel Sarıaltın