Mommy Makeover
Conveniently located to serve the areas of New York, NY
What Is a Mommy Makeover?
Mommy makeover is a procedure specifically designed for women who desire to feel rejuvenated after giving birth. It combines procedures to help a woman’s body bring back confidence and improve her appearance.
Contents
Before and After Photos
Procedures
Pregnancy and childbirth may, without a doubt, take a heavy toll on a woman’s body. These adverse changes do not respond to diet and exercise, typically leaving the mother frustrated.
The effects of pregnancy can lead to loose skin of the tummy as well as possible weakened and separated stomach muscles. Undesirable deposits of fat could appear in various places – in the hips, thighs, arms, or back. Furthermore, a loss of volume of the breasts and buttocks can happen too. Many women may also experience unattractive changes to their vaginal area (which could be associated with discomfort). The good news is – each of the areas impacted can be treated with certain surgical corrections.
Most times a Mommy Makeover will include two or more of the procedures mentioned below. Despite that being the case, a patient may return to non-strenuous activities in about 2 weeks.
Surgical procedures may include:
- Liposuction
- Tummy Tuck
- Breast Augmentation
- Breast Lift
- Combined Breast Augmentation and Lifting
- BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift)
- Vaginal Correction
Ideal Candidate
If you believe mommy makeover is a procedure for you, you should consider that an ideal candidate is:
- a woman who has finished having children – you should delay this cosmetic procedure if you intend to have more children;
- in good overall physical health;
- having an appropriate height, weight, and BMI (Body Mass Index);
- a woman having realistic expectations of this surgical procedure.
While the Mommy Makeover may restore most of the postpartum changes, it is important to realize the body will not be completely restored to its pre-pregnancy status.
Preoperative Preparation
Before undergoing any of the above mommy makeover procedures, our board-certified New York plastic surgeon Dr. Lefkovits will see you for a consultation and physical examination. During this time, the doctor is going to:
- review your medical history along with your prior surgical history, as well as any medication intake;
- examine your areas of concern and formulate a treatment plan;
- review the location of the incisions, as well as size options for breast and buttock volumes;
- show you before and after photos to demonstrate size differences for breasts and buttocks and show you what to expect;
- discuss potential complications;
- give you a requisition for medical clearance which would include blood testing, urinalysis as well as EKG, Chest Xray, and Mammography where appropriate;
- require of you to take Covid testing;
- take photos of you;
- consider possible surgical dates.
Bear in mind that it is completely normal to feel anxious about this surgical procedure. Talk to your surgeon about your concerns and ask about everything you feel uncertain regarding mommy makeover.
Liposuction Procedure
Your abdomen (tummy area) may have excess fat, loose skin, separation of the abdominal muscles, or a combination of the above.
If there is only excess fat present, without loose skin (uncommon after pregnancy), only liposuction is needed.
Pre Op Preparation
After a careful physical exam, the blood is drawn, photos are taken, and instructions are provided. PCR testing is also requested, and prescriptions are called in.
Surgery
The procedure is usually performed as an outpatient in an office setting under general anesthesia. This entails very small incisions in the groin and the belly button, and the use of narrow instruments called cannulas attached to a suction machine which allows the fat to be extracted. Depending on the extent of the fat, it may last 1-2 hours. After the surgery, the patient is generally taken to the recovery room for 1- 2 hours and then discharged.
Post Op Regimen
The compression garment is worn for 2-3 weeks when postoperative massage and ultrasound are used; otherwise, the garment is worn for 4-6 weeks. It’s important to be well hydrated and get out of bed as much as possible. You may return to non-strenuous work within 1 week.
Tummy Tuck Procedure
When there is loose skin present in addition to the separation of the abdominal muscles, a Tummy Tuck is needed.
The Tummy Tuck operation involves an incision in the groin which usually runs from side to side. After appropriate exposure to the abdominal muscles, they are tightened, and the extra skin is removed. Small drains are used, and they are easy to take care of (usually removed within 5-7 days).
Post Op Regimen
It is important to get out of bed as much as possible. You will be told how to take care of drains. They are removed when the drainage has significantly decreased (5-7 days). A patient may return to non-strenuous work in 10-14 days.
Mini Tummy Tuck
When the excess skin is not extensive and there is minimal muscle separation, a Mini Tummy Tuck may be beneficial. This entails a groin scar as in the full Tummy Tuck surgical procedure, but the skin does not have to be fully elevated and there is no need to tighten the muscles. The procedure is shorter and you are able to return to work quicker.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Following pregnancy and/or weight loss, naturally, the breasts may sag. This entails a lifting procedure.
Post Op Regimen
Likewise in the other procedures, an appropriate physical exam and laboratory tests are performed. Pre-op markings are drawn before the procedure and antibiotics are taken.
Surgery
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and it takes about 2 hours to complete. The type of lifting is determined by the extent of the sagging:
- if it’s mild to moderate, the incision may be limited to the area of the areola, which generally leaves very minimal noticeable scarring; this is a generally accepted procedure;
- if the sagging is more extensive then a procedure that includes a vertical and often a scar below the breasts is needed.
Post Op Regimen
A surgical bra is worn for several weeks. You may return to non-strenuous work in about 7 days after the breast lift.
Breast Lifting With Augmentation
Many women after pregnancy lose the volume of their breasts, in addition to sagging. In this situation, an implant is generally used to help fill in the breasts. The procedure looks like Breast Lifting, except that it takes about additional 45 minutes to an hour.
Post Op Regimen
The regimen is similar to Breast Lifting except that massaging the breasts usually begins after about 3 weeks. Return to non-strenuous work may occur after 7-10 days.
On some occasions, there is no noticeable sagging and the breasts have only lost their volume. When this occurs, the most common treatment is the use of an implant. Occasionally, fat transfer may be convenient. The silicone implant is the most commonly used one. The size and shape of the implant are thoroughly reviewed and discussed while showing before and after photos.
Pre Op Preparation
As with the above procedures, a physical exam and appropriate labs are required. Instructions are provided and photos are taken. Antibiotics are taken.
Surgery
The procedure is carried out under general anesthesia and it usually takes 1- 1/2 hours. The incision is generally made either underneath the breast (typically) or around the inferior portion of the areola. Some surgeons use an axillary incision as well.
Post Op Regimen
Patients are placed in a surgical bra which is worn for about 2-3 weeks. Massaging the breasts, which is demonstrated, begins after 14 days. Patients may return to non-strenuous work after 4- 7 days.
BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift)
In addition to the breasts losing their volume, the buttocks may often become smaller, sag, or lose definition over time. As a result of this, your surgeon can recommend you Buttock Augmentation as part of a mommy makeover. The preferred treatment for doing this cosmetic surgery involves fat transfer. First, liposuction is used to remove fat from donor sites. The removed fat is then injected into the buttocks in very small injections evenly through the buttock area.
Sufficient and adequate fat donor sites play an important part in Buttock Augmentation. This is a specialized technique best achieved by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with experience in plastic surgery, especially performing the Brazilian Butt Lift.
Pre Op Preparation
A thorough discussion of the procedure is carried out and before and after photos are shown to illustrate the results. As with the other procedures, a physical exam and laboratory tests are done. Photos are taken and written pre-op instructions are provided. Prescriptions are called in.
Surgery
Firstly, markings are made both for the donor sites as well as for the area of fat transfer to the buttocks. The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia and it takes about 2 hours. Afterward, a compression garment is used, and the patient is transferred to the recovery room and discharged in about 2 hours.
Post Op Regimen
The garment is worn for about 3 weeks if a post-op massage and ultrasound treatments to the liposuction sites are utilized. Otherwise, garments should be worn for up to six weeks. The patient must be out of bed as much as possible. In addition, it is of great importance to stay off the buttocks as much as possible for about 10 days. Try not to sit for a long period. When sitting, use a buttock pillow or a neck doughnut (as used on long-distance travel). You can return to work in about 10 days.
Recovery Time
Postoperative care varies depending on the extent of the surgery, the type of procedures needed in the mommy makeover, and the patient’s healing. However, some basics need to be followed:
- it is very important to get out of bed as soon and as much as possible to minimize the possibility of blood clots;
- adequate hydration is necessary;
- when drains are being used it is significant to measure the volumes several times during the day; this process is quite simple and demonstrated before leaving the office; the drains are usually removed within 1 week;
- return to exercise is gradual beginning at 2-3 weeks post-surgery and will be guided by your post op healing;
- return to work varies depending on the procedures performed and the patient’s physiology. Most patients return to work within 7-14 days.
Results
Experience of a woman after childbirth. Mommy makeover in her situation included breast augmentation and tummy tuck:
This is a 35-year-old female who had had lots of sagging and loss of breast volume after multiple pregnancies. In the post0op photo the breasts have been fully lifted with volume restored through silicone implants. And the best part, all this was dome through an incision confined to the areola leaving almost no scarring.
Breast Lift and Augmentation
This patient had significant sagging and wanted further enlargement of her breasts. She is shown post-op after a breast lift and augmentation with silicone implants. She is a D cup.
The patient is a 28 year old female who presented with sagging skin and very weak abdominal muscles which resulted in an extensive ventral hernia. She is shown 1 year after a Tummy Tuck with complete flattening of her abdomen.
This 37 year old female is shown 1 year following a Tummy Tuck. The scar is well hidden in her underwear.
Schedule a Consultation
If you wish to become our mommy makeover patient, please call our office at (212) 750-9494 and schedule a free mommy makeover consultation, or fill out the form on our website. Our plastic surgery office in New York City looks forward to meeting you and discussing potential surgical procedures.
