The Mommy Makeover - A Complete Guide

With the rise in plastic surgeries and surgical cosmetic procedures, 'Mommy Makeover' has become the most popular these days. The media and entertainment industry over the years has enhanced and polished the image of a post-pregnancy body, and celebrities and the elite especially are the clients of a Mommy Makeover, changing the way their body looks after birth and making it back to the pre-pregnancy stage or even smarter, slimmer and more tucked in than before. So what is exactly a Mommy Makeover? Here is your complete guide:

What is a Mommy Makeover?

A Mommy Makeover is a phrase coined by the society's elite to refer to surgical contouring procedures that improve the physical changes and the toll that a female body goes through during pregnancy. A pregnancy commonly leaves the breasts sagged, and abdomen loose with many stretch marks all over. A Mommy Makeover may be different for each woman and is custom designed to fulfill the needs of the client.

What is included in a Mommy Makeover?

A Mommy Makeover is tailored to suit the needs of a client but generally includes a tummy tuck and a breast lift and contouring. Pregnancy mostly affects the chest and abdomen area as the tummy stretches out to accommodate the growing baby and breasts may also go up a full cup size. After birth, the breasts go down their pre-pregnancy size but are sagged and the taut skin of the abdomen also does not bounce back into shape. A Mommy Makeover works on these areas and includes a breast lift and augmentation, a breast reduction if required and a tummy tuck. A client may also include liposuction or lifts on the arms and thighs and even a Brazilian butt lift and a vaginal rejuvenation along with the removal of c-section scars and hyper-pigmentation. All these procedures may not be done in one single operation, and the surgeon decides which areas can be worked on in one go.

This woman, a patient of Teitelbaum, underwent a breast augmentation with a nipple lift on the left, a tummy tuck, and a belly button hernia repair.
Courtesy of Steven Teitelbalm

How Much Does a Mommy Makeover Cost?

In the United States of America, the average surgeon's fee for breast augmentation is $3,600 and can go up to $7,000-$,8000. Saline implants may cost an additional $1,000. A tummy tucks costs around $5,000 to $9,000-$10,000 and liposuction $3,000 for each area. Along with these costs, a patient also has to pay for anesthesia, hospital fees, and other costs with that, so the total cost of a Mommy Makeover becomes quite expensive.

Do You Need A Mommy Makeover?

A woman's body changes during the course of pregnancy and may develop irreversible changes. However, they do not always have to be surgically altered as they are a sign that your body brought life into the world. You can be confident about the changes and bounce your way back through diet and exercise including cardio and weight training. If you are not comfortable with the sagging breasts and the loss of breasts fullness along with losing elasticity in the abdominal area and yearn for your pre-pregnancy body, then you may consult a plastic surgeon and discuss the Mommy Makeover.

Precautions, Risks, Recovery & Care

There are a few things to remember and consider if you are opting for a Mommy Makeover

Recovery after a Mommy Makeover is not a piece of cake. You will be in pain for some time and doctors prescribe pain killers. Recovery takes 6-8 weeks or even more if the swelling remains.

Any physical activity after the procedures is forbidden by doctors including lifting a baby over 10 pounds in weight.

Mommy Makeovers are not for smokers. You must quit smoking and also keep your alcohol consumption to 2 drinks per week if you are planning to go under the knife.

A no-fail recovery and support system will be required by you so you must make all the necessary arrangements including getting help for chores around the house and babysitting.

You must be as close to your pre-pregnancy weight at the time of your surgery as possible; risks are added if you are overweight. Some women's weight bounces back six months postpartum, while others have to diet and work out.

Generally surgeons recommend to wait six to eight months postpartum before opting for a Mommy Makeover, and six more after weaning if you are breastfeeding.

Body confidence is the utmost important. Do not feel pressured to bounce back or go under the knife. Enjoy motherhood and do not in any way feel that a Mommy Makeover is an absolute necessity to look and feel beautiful.