Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Skin & Laser Center
Mommy Makeover
Women who have had children understand how pregnancy, while being one of life’s greatest gifts, can cause a number of physical changes to the body that are not easily reversed through diet and exercise. A mommy makeover can often restore much of your body to its pre-pregnancy condition. Dr. Richard Zeff offers an array of procedures that can give you beautiful, natural-looking results.
What Is a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is a cosmetic procedure that combines two or three popular treatments, typically tummy tuck surgery and a breast lift, to restore a woman’s body after pregnancy and childbirth. Even women who have not had children can benefit from this procedure, as excess abdominal skin, unwanted pockets of fatty tissue, and breast ptosis (sagging) or deflation can occur as a result of the natural process of aging, as well as genetics. Other procedures can also be added to your plan, or other options can be swapped out, to create a fully personalized program designed with your needs in mind.
What Are the Benefits of a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is a procedure custom-tailored to your specific needs. Mommy makeovers can include a number of cosmetic enhancements that can restore your body following pregnancy. These options can:
- Reduce sagginess or droopiness in the breasts
- Tighten the stomach area and eliminate excess fat and skin folds
- Eliminate unwanted fat from specific areas of the body
- Reduce the signs of facial aging and fatigue
Contact our practice to schedule a consultation for a mommy makeover. Dr. Zeff will discuss your concerns and your options with you and help you decide the optimal course of action.
Who Is a Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
Those interested in customized mommy makeover surgery are women who want to address changes in their appearance caused by the combined effects of pregnancy, childbirth, and aging. Good candidates must be in good health to enhance safety during anesthesia and surgery, as well as support proper healing. Dr. Zeff also evaluates patients’ expectations to ensure they align with the results that are possible for their desired procedures. To determine whether a mommy makeover is the best approach for achieving your goals both safely and effectively, a consultation with Dr. Zeff is necessary. During this appointment Dr. Zeff will perform a physical examination, evaluate your health, and review your medical history, in addition to listening to your cosmetic concerns and treatment goals. Based on his understanding of your desired outcome and the findings of his evaluation, he can then provide procedure recommendations and describe a personalized surgical plan designed to enhance your appearance.
What Are My Mommy Makeover Procedure Options?
Mommy makeover procedures involve a number of options that can rejuvenate body areas affected by pregnancy. Some of these treatments can be combined into one surgery, or staged over time. Mommy makeover procedures can include:
Breast Lift
Breasts often lose their “perkiness” and begin to sag after pregnancy. Breast lift surgery elevates and tightens the breasts resulting in a more youthful appearance. The latest techniques can provide a very natural lift that restores your breasts and achieves an enhanced shape.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation offers new moms greater volume and fullness, restoring or even improving proportion. A variety of breast implant sizes, shapes, and types are available to help you meet your goals. Breast enlargement procedures can provide you with better contoured, more sensual-looking breasts that look both natural and beautiful.
Liposuction
Liposuction is designed to address excess fat deposits in many areas of the body, including the back, arms, thighs, love handles (flanks), hips, abdomen, chest, breasts, buttocks, and even under the chin. After pregnancy, extra fat in certain areas of the body can be difficult to get rid of, even with careful diet and rigorous exercise. Liposuction can address this effectively.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
During pregnancy, muscles in the abdomen are pulled apart and sometimes permanently separated. Dr. Zeff can perform tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) to pull these muscles taut and tighten the skin of the midsection at the same time, giving your stomach a flatter, fitter appearance.
Labiaplasty
Childbirth, aging, weight fluctuations, and hormonal changes can affect the appearance, comfort, and health of the female genitalia, specifically the tissue external to the vaginal opening referred to as the labia majora and labia minora. Enlarged, damaged, or asymmetrical labia can create emotional and/or physical discomfort for many women. To address these issues, Dr. Zeff can use surgical labiaplasty techniques to reduce and reshape the labia for enhanced comfort and an improved appearance.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging and fatigue can be treated with a variety of cosmetic injectables. Popular treatments, such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet; and other injectables are used as fillers. JUVÉDERM® and Restylane® can significantly rejuvenate the face and add volume to the lips and other facial features for a more youthful appearance. Results from injection of JUVÉDERM and Restylane can last up to a year, and follow-up treatments can help maintain the effects.
How Is a Mommy Makeover Performed?
The process used to complete your mommy makeover treatment plan will depend largely on the type and number of procedures you desire to undergo. In some cases, Dr. Zeff is able to perform multiple procedures during a single surgery—and other times, he may require that your procedures be completed using a phased approach for safety and optimal results. At the end of your consultation, Dr. Zeff will detail the process he wants to use for your mommy makeover and describe each step of the plan so that you are fully informed about the journey ahead. Dr. Zeff always takes the time to ensure that you know what to expect and feel comfortable with the plan he has outlined for your care.
How Long Will Mommy Makeover Recovery Last?
The recovery process from mommy makeover procedures will depend on the number and types of procedures you undergo. With more invasive procedures, patients should expect some bruising and swelling in the treatment areas and should make plans to rest and recover after surgery. Less invasive procedures, such as injectable treatments, typically require little or no downtime and normal daily activities can usually be resumed right after treatment. Our surgeon will explain all aspects of procedures, including risks, benefits, and recovery details, at your initial consultation.
Will I Have Scars After a Mommy Makeover?
Post-surgical scars are a common concern among patients considering plastic surgery. While some of the more invasive procedures included in a mommy makeover are more likely to form scars—such as tummy tuck and breast lift—others leave very little to no scarring—such as liposuction and labiaplasty. In all cases, Dr. Zeff is careful to ensure that any scarring is as minimal and easily hidden as possible. During the early stages of healing, scarring may appear reddish and raised; however, with time and proper care (outlined in post-operative care instructions) scars typically fade and flatten considerably. The majority of patients agree that the benefits of undergoing a mommy makeover are so overwhelmingly positive, that the side effect of residual scarring neither deters them from undergoing surgery nor causes them to regret their mommy makeover later. During your consultation, Dr. Zeff will fully inform you about where your incisions will be located and can show you before-and-after photos of his patients so that you know what to expect after healing. Post-operatively, it is important to take all antibiotics as prescribed, practice proper wound care, attend all follow-up appointments, and avoid exposing your incisions to UV light to support optimal incision and scar healing.
Mommy Makeover Recovery Tips
Because the specifics of the mommy makeover recovery period can vary, Dr. Zeff will provide personalized aftercare instructions as part of your treatment plan. That said, no matter the specific procedures you choose to include in your mommy makeover, it is important to reserve time and space for sufficient rest. We understand that this can be especially difficult if you have young children; for this reason, many of our patients arrange childcare prior to the procedure.
Depending on the treatments included in your makeover, you will likely be discouraged from partaking in strenuous exercise right away; however, Dr. Zeff may recommend that you practice light exercise (e.g. walking) after a few days have passed to encourage healthy blood flow. If any of your treatments require the use of a post-surgical compression garment, we advise you to wear this garment as directed in your aftercare instructions.
If you have additional questions about mommy makeover aftercare, please do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Zeff.
What Results Can I Expect After a Mommy Makeover?
Due to the customizable nature of a mommy makeover, the longevity of the results will depend on the procedures you choose to include. Each of the surgeries we offer at our practice is designed for long-term cosmetic enhancement, and the best way to preserve the results is generally to adhere to a healthy lifestyle. For instance, the effects of breast lift or liposuction surgery are most likely to last longer if you eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. As the effects of non-surgical treatments, such as injectables, generally do not last more than a few months at a time, patients can often benefit from multiple treatment sessions.
It is said a picture is worth a thousand words, so please view our mommy makeover before-and-after photo gallery to see examples of what can be achieved with this procedure.
When Is the Right Time for a Mommy Makeover?
While you may choose to have a mommy makeover starting at six months to a year after childbirth, it is important that your body be fully recovered and at a stable weight before surgery. You should also be finished breastfeeding. For women who are still planning to have more children, Dr. Zeff strongly recommends waiting to have a mommy makeover until childbearing is finished. Though it is typically safe to have children after plastic surgery, another pregnancy could potentially reverse some of the progress made with the initial procedure. In extreme cases, an additional surgery may be required to restore an optimal appearance. A consultation with Dr. Zeff is the best way to determine if the time is right for your mommy makeover.
Are There Alternatives to a Mommy Makeover?
There is currently no procedure that can compare to the comprehensive effects of a mommy makeover. Keep in mind that this treatment can include multiple procedures – both surgical and non-surgical – depending on your cosmetic goals.
If you are interested in contouring your physique after losing a significant amount of weight, you may be better suited for post-bariatric surgery. Like the mommy makeover, this procedure can involve the reduction or removal of excess skin. Dr. Zeff can help you choose the best treatment for your needs during your first appointment.
How Much Does Mommy Makeover Cost?
The price of a mommy makeover will depend on which treatments you choose to combine, the complexity of your program, and potentially other details unique to your needs and goals. Dr. Zeff and our medical team will review your entire program and discuss the total cost with you, so you are well-informed from the beginning. We want you to be an active partner in all stages of your care, and we are dedicated to patient education. If you would like to consider plastic surgery financing to help pay for your treatment plan, we work with a number of reputable lenders. We can go over your options at your initial consultation, if desired.
Schedule a Consultation
Mommy makeovers can help rejuvenate your body after pregnancy with effective procedures that can make you look great! For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please contact us today.
