Motherhood is immensely beautiful and gratifying however it may also be accompanied with alterations and changes in your body shape which you wouldn’t necessarily like. You may feel as if you are now entrapped into a stranger’s body, someone you had never expected you would become. However, there are some women indeed whose bodies who do not undergo any dramatic change, yet at the same time there are those who indeed suffer and for them mommy makeover is the ideal solution.

The most common changes which might alter your body shape are loose skin, stretch marks, and excessive weight. These changes are effectively addressed by mommy makeovers.

What is a mommy makeover?

Mommy makeovers include all those surgical procedures which would enable you to restore your bodies to their pre-pregnancy shape.

There are various surgical procedures included under this umbrella term such as tummy tuck, breast implants, breast lifts, breast reduction, liposuction, butt lift, fat grafting etc.

Who is an ideal patient for a mommy makeover?

Mothers who do not plan on getting pregnant again should embark upon this surgical procedure. Also, it is best to wait for a period of three to six months after your pregnancy. Moreover, you ought to stop breastfeeding before you decide to have a mommy makeover done so that the doctor can have an accurate idea of the size as well as the location of your breasts.

Who is not an ideal patient for a mommy makeover?

As it has been mentioned formerly, if you are planning to become a mother again, then you ought not to embark upon this process as the results of the surgery might be reversed after a second pregnancy.

How much does a mommy makeover cost?

The cost for this surgical procedure is determined by a number of factors such as the type of surgery, extent of surgery, expertise and qualification of the surgeon etc. On an average, the process may range from $8000 to $15000.

Also, since these surgeries fall under the cosmetic category, therefore they are not covered by insurance.

What is the procedure?

Mommy make over is a combination of several surgical procedures and so the techniques which are deployed also vary.

– Tummy tuck (also called “abdominoplasty”):

This process helps in the removal of excessive skin and fat and helps to restore the patient’s body back to its youthful shape. Moreover, it enables you to get rid of any sagging skin and makes your abdominal profile firmer and well-toned.

The procedure involves an incision which is made at the pubic bone .If you are having a full tummy tuck done, then the incision would be made from the belly button to the pubic hairline. Moreover, the length of incisions is also determined by how much skin and fat you want to remove. After the removal of excessive skin, the weakened muscles of your abdominal profile will also be reinforced. Moreover, any protruding packets of fat can be eliminated by deploying liposuction.

There is a great variety in as far as tummy tuck procedures are concerned. The varying factors include different degrees of skin and muscle laxness. These different types include:

• traditional tummy tucks
• mini tummy tucks
• reverse tummy tucks
• and extended tummy tucks

The placement and length of incisions in each of these processes vary. If you have had a C-Section already then that same incision would be utilized for tummy tuck.

– Breast enhancement:

There is a surge of hormonal changes during pregnancy and breast feeding. If your breasts go low on what their initial size used to be, you can deploy breast enhancement techniques to restore your original size and shape. Eventually, you will end up with bigger, rounder and perkier breasts.

– Breast lift:

Breast Lift, or “mastopexy,” is a procedure whereby not only the excessive skin is removed but the muscles surrounding breasts are also tightened so that your breast contours become firmer and perkier. However, the scarring left behind by this process would be more than that left behind by breast enhancement/ augmentation. These scars would run from the nipple to the breast crease. Also, in some instances, these scars may also run along the breast crease. So if you are reluctant about getting scars, then perhaps breast implants might be a better option for you.

Breast lifts can also take care of enlarged areolas. Breast lifts might suit you if you are okay with your breast size but only want them to be more high and perky. Yet, it might not be able address other issues such as breast size.

Which surgical procedure would work for you and which incision technique ought to be deployed? This decision is taken by your doctor depending upon your individual breast size and shape, the quality of your skin, the placement of your areolas and the amount of excessive skin present.

There are three common incision patterns:

1. around the areola;
2. around the areola and vertically down until the breast crease;
3. around the areola, vertically down until the breast crease, and then horizontally along the breast crease.

Once the incision has been made, the breast tissue is given a new shape and its contours are improved. The surgeon may also reposition your nipple and areola so that the results are natural and more youthful. If your areolas have enlarged, then their size may also be reduced and the issue of sagging skin may be addressed by removing excessive skin. Eventually, the incisions are closed down.

One fact that you ought to remember is that incision lines are permanent, however their scars may improve significantly with time and may fade gradually.

Breast Implants:

Breast implants may be the right option for you if your breast position satisfies you but not your breast size. If you want your breasts to be bigger and fuller, then there are two implant options available for you. The first one is that of silicone/ saline implants and the other one is of fat grafting.

In the former surgical procedure, the patient should choose between saline breast implants and silicone breast implants. You can discuss with your surgeon which option would work the best for you. In order for the implant to be placed, an incision has to be made in such a manner that it stays inconspicuous. Your preferences and your requirements from the surgery will determine which incision patterns would work the best for you. The incisions options which are available at present include periareolar, inframammary, and transaxillary incisions. Once the incision is made, the surgeon inserts the implants inside the breast. Generally the implants’ positions are either sub muscular or sub glandular.

– Fat removal:

A tiny incision is made in the skin whereby a cannula is inserted inside. This cannula is used to vacuum out all excessive fat and skin. What it does is that it first liquidates the skin and then sucks it out. This process is termed as liposuction/ fat removal.

Liposuction is a fairly popular process with lots of new, innovative techniques being introduced regularly. You can choose the best technique for yourself after appropriate consultation with your surgeon paying heed to the location that has to be operated upon and the amount of fat which is present there.

However, there are certain limitations to liposuction as well. It does enable you to remove excessive fat, however it is not the appropriate solution for saggy, droopy muscles and skin. Moreover, it doesn’t mask stretch marks as well and for this particular reason, it is often conjugated with a tummy tuck. This flat abdomen with a well-toned waist complements your new and firmer breasts and thus you restore your pre-pregnancy body or perhaps even improve it.

– Brazilian buttock lift:

Brazilian buttock lift is the other name for butt augmentation. If you have flat or sagging buttocks, then this procedure is ideal for you as it will enable you to end up with youthful and perkier buttocks. Also, you may embark upon this process if sudden weight fluctuations have altered the shape of your butt. A very common technique for Brazilian Butt lift is that of Fat Grafting.

Under this technique, the patient’s own fat from different areas of his/her own body is extracted and then transferred to the buttock region. As a consequence, the process results in enhanced and natural looking breasts.

How will be the procedure be performed? The techniques vary and your individual buttock size and shape would determine which technique is suitable for you. There are other determining factors too such as skin quality, elasticity and the availability of extra skin. Moreover, different surgeons have different styles and their idiosyncrasies may also prompt the variety in techniques.

However, the basics of the procedure have been elaborated below:

1. First of all, fat is extracted from other parts of the body via liposuction.
2. This extracted fat is then processed by deploying the processes of decanting and centrifugation.
3. It is then filled into syringes which are connected to a cannula.
4. This cannula is then utilized to transfer this extracted and duly processed fat to the patient’s buttocks. Hundreds of small injections insert this fact all over the buttocks in various depths. As a consequence, the absorption rate is better and longer lasting.

Although the patient would come across immediate results after the surgery, yet the full impact of the results wouldn’t be apparent for almost a year since the fat takes some time to be appropriately absorbed and ‘taken’. Moreover, even after the surgery the shape of your buttock may alter with fluctuations in your weight since this fat is just like all other fat present in your body.

What kind of anesthesia is used during a mommy makeover?

Owing to the fact that there are a number of surgeries involved in mommy make over, the patients are given general anesthesia.

What should the patient do before surgery?

• The pre-operative care for mommy makeover is similar to other cosmetic surgeries. The patient ought to convey her wishes, expectations and surgical goals frankly to the surgeon prior to the surgery.
• The surgeon ought to be highly qualified and experienced in the field.
• The patient should inform the doctor about her medical history (including allergies, conditions and any past or current treatments).
• The surgeon in turn should acquaint the patient with the details of the procedure so that the patients is prepared and informed of all of its facets such as its techniques, its recovery process, risks involved and financing options etc.
• Moreover, the patient will be subjected to certain tests to evaluate her general health.
• Also, the patient will be asked to quit smoking, stop taking aspirin, contraceptive pills and other drugs of the like kind.

How long does a mommy makeover take?

The surgery can last from three to five hours. The duration depends upon the extent and type of surgeries being carried out.

What are the risks or possible complications of a mommy makeover?

Since it is a surgical procedure, rather combination of procedures, therefore there would be multiple surgical risks involved including the possibility of infections.

What is the postoperative care?

1. After the surgery, the patient should make arrangements for someone to drive her home.
2. Moreover, this caregiver ought to stay with the patient for at least a couple of days to help with her healing and household chores.
3. The doctor may prescribe certain pain medications during this healing period to help ease the pain.
4. There would be a certain amount of swelling and bruising, but it would gradually subside with time. Moreover, compression garments may also be worn to help with swelling and accelerate healing.
5. The patient would be able to resume her routine work a couple of weeks following the surgery. However strenuous activities and exercises need to be postponed for another four weeks.

Dr. Amjadi MD, DDS, FACS

Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons

915 Gessner Rd #870

Houston, TX 77024

713-465-6198