You work hard to take care of your family and keep everyone clothed, fed, and happy, but carrying and nurturing children can take a toll on your body. Pregnancy can cause stubborn fat deposits, loose skin, and stretch marks on your tummy, and breastfeeding can cause breasts to sag and lose volume. If you feel like no amount of exercise and healthy eating is helping you regain your figure, you struggle with diastasis recti, or you just want to treat yourself for a change, you can talk to us about a mommy makeover.
At DFW Center for Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery in Dallas, TX, we specialize in helping women feel their best after childbirth. While we think that moms are amazing, surgery or not, sometimes they just need a little bit of help to start feeling like themselves again. If you’re ready to learn more, you can schedule a consultation with us today.
What Is a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is a collection of surgeries and procedures that are designed to help restore your body after the amazing and life-changing experience of having a baby. A mommy makeover surgery is often done within a year or two of having a baby, but it can also be done years later when your babies have grown up and you are ready for a new you.
What Is Included in a Mommy Makeover?
While the surgeries that are included will depend on what you and your doctor decide for your situation, a total mom makeover will often include a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, a breast lift, and liposuction. While these are the most common procedures included, some women also opt for a vaginoplasty, butt lift, or thigh lift at the same time.
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Surgery
For many women, pregnancy can cause loose skin in the abdomen, stretch marks, and stubborn belly fat that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise. This can be frustrating for many active moms who spend hours in the gym but can’t seem to flatten their tummies.
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a procedure that removes any excess skin (often removing stretch marks in the process) and helps to create a strong abdominal wall by suturing abdominal muscles into a tighter and slimmer formation. This surgery can be ideal for women who have ab separation that is not healing even through specialized exercises.
Breast Augmentation Surgery
Breast augmentation is the process of making breasts larger or making them more symmetrical through breast implants or fat transfer. Women who are no longer breastfeeding and who want their breasts to have better shape or volume may be good candidates for the surgery. We can perform all types of breast augmentation surgery, and we offer both saline and silicone breast implants.
If you and your doctor decide on a fat transfer, fat from your abdominal area will be removed using liposuction and transferred to the breast area. This may be a good option if your mommy makeover surgery includes liposuction but you aren’t planning on having a breast lift done. A breast augmentation cannot provide lift, so talk to your doctor if you are interested in having both procedures.
Breast Lift Surgery
Pregnancy can often result in sagging breasts. Breastfeeding can also cause breasts to sag and stretch out over time. When a breast lift is performed, your surgeon will make incisions, remove any excess tissue, and then lift and reshape breasts to restore them closer to the original height. Additional procedures can sometimes be done at the same time such as nipple reduction.
The location of the incision and subsequent scarring will be a conversation to have with your doctor. Those who need a more subtle lift may be able to have smaller and less noticeable incisions around part or all of the nipple. Those with medium to severe sagging may need a verticle or anchor incision.
Liposuction
Liposuction is a common addition to a mommy makeover. During a tummy tuck, it often makes sense to remove fat from the abdominal area, and it can be used elsewhere in the body during the same procedure.
Vaginoplasty
If you have problems with incontinence, reduced sensation, excess tissue, and a vaginal wall that has lost its strength, you may be a good candidate for a vaginoplasty. This type of procedure can help restore the tissues and muscles after childbirth. During this procedure, your surgeon will strengthen and tighten the perineal muscles and the pelvic floor and remove any excess tissue that is causing problems or making you feel self-conscious.
Butt Lift
Do you wish that your body was more balanced with less fat in your abdominal area and more in your lower body? Surgeons can use the fat from your own body to add shape and volume to your buttocks. A butt lift can be done by fat transfer, implants, or even PRP if a more subtle result is desired.
Benefits of a Mommy Makeover
Restored Breast Shape and Volume
After pregnancy and breastfeeding, women often experience a loss in breast volume and a change in shape. A mommy makeover addresses these changes through procedures like breast augmentation or a lift, helping restore the breasts to a more youthful and desired appearance.
Tauter, Smoother Abdominal Area
Pregnancy can stretch abdominal muscles and skin. A mommy makeover typically includes a tummy tuck, which removes excess skin and tightens muscles, resulting in a smoother, firmer abdominal profile that often cannot be achieved through exercise alone.
Reduced Appearance of Stretch Marks
Stretch marks, particularly common post-pregnancy, are often a concern for many women. The removal of excess skin during a tummy tuck, especially in the lower abdomen, can significantly diminish the appearance of these stretch marks, enhancing the skin’s overall appearance.
Contoured Body Shape
Pregnancy can leave behind stubborn fat deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction, a common component of the mommy makeover, effectively removes these fat pockets, sculpting a more defined and contoured body shape.
Enhanced Waistline
A mommy makeover aims to reshape not just specific areas but the overall body silhouette. By targeting the waistline, the procedure often creates a more defined, hourglass figure, which many women desire post-pregnancy.
Improved Posture
A lesser-known benefit of a mommy makeover is the improvement in posture. Tightening the abdominal muscles through a tummy tuck can lead to a stronger core, which not only enhances appearance but can also alleviate back pain and improve posture.
Rejuvenated Buttocks
For those choosing a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) as part of their mommy makeover, the buttocks area can be reshaped and volumized. This procedure complements the overall body transformation, adding to a more youthful and proportionate body contour.
Reduced Excess Skin
Significant weight loss after pregnancy often results in excess, sagging skin. A mommy makeover effectively removes this skin, especially in the abdominal area, leading to a more toned and aesthetically pleasing body contour.
Customized Treatment Plan
Each woman’s body and aesthetic goals are unique, especially post-pregnancy. The mommy makeover is fully customizable, allowing each procedure to be tailored to the individual’s specific needs and goals, ensuring personal satisfaction with the results.
Quick and Visible Results
The transformations achieved through a mommy makeover are often noticeable immediately, with continuous improvement as the body heals.
Long-Lasting Results
One of the most appealing aspects of a mommy makeover is the immediacy of the results. While full recovery takes time, the initial transformation is often visible right away, with continuous improvement as healing progresses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mommy Makeovers
How Long Does Recovery Take After a Mommy Makeover?
Recovery time varies depending on the extent of the procedures. Generally, most patients return to normal activities within two to four weeks. However, full recovery, including complete healing and seeing final results, may take several months.
Is a Mommy Makeover Painful?
You can expect some discomfort following the surgery, which is manageable with prescribed pain medication. You will receive comprehensive care and guidelines to minimize discomfort during recovery.
How Soon After Childbirth Can I Have a Mommy Makeover?
It’s advisable to wait at least six months after childbirth or breastfeeding to ensure your body has adequately recovered. This timeline might vary based on individual health and recovery.
Are the Results of a Mommy Makeover Permanent?
The results of a mommy makeover can be long-lasting, especially when accompanied by a stable weight and healthy lifestyle. However, future pregnancies or significant weight fluctuations can impact the results.
Will There Be Noticeable Scars?
While all surgical procedures leave some scarring, we use advanced techniques to minimize and strategically place incisions. Scars typically fade significantly over time and can be easily concealed under clothing.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
Recovery times can vary depending on the extent of the procedures performed. Generally, patients should plan for a recovery period of two to six weeks. We provide a personalized recovery plan to support a smooth and efficient healing process.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
The ideal candidate for a mommy makeover is someone who has experienced body changes due to pregnancy and childbirth and is looking to restore their pre-pregnancy body. Candidates should be in good overall health, have realistic expectations, and have completed their family planning, as future pregnancies can alter results.
Schedule Your Mommy Makeover Consultation in Dallas, TX
At DFW Center for Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery in Southlake, TX, we help many hardworking supermoms take some time for themselves. A mommy makeover surgery can not only help you to feel more confident in your post-childbirth body, but it can also help to relieve some of your physical discomforts, too. You can take some of the weight off your shoulders with a breast lift, restore strength and connection to your abs with a tummy tuck, and resolve stress incontinence with a vaginoplasty. We want to give you a better quality of life and help you feel great in your body. Contact us online to schedule a detailed consultation with us.