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Mommy Makeover Guide

What is a Mommy Makeover?

Many women notice changes in their bodies post-pregnancy that require surgical intervention to restore or improve upon. A mommy makeover is a set of personalized cosmetic procedures designed to address common effects of childbearing and aging in areas such as the breasts, abdomen, waist, and buttocks. There are many techniques used to perform a mommy makeover, and various factors determine which techniques will be most effective, including:

  • The desired amount of restoration
  • Placement of the incisions
  • Type of implant used (if recommended)

Dr. Spiro has been performing mommy makeovers with great success for 25 years. His surgical approach combines body contouring procedures to restore each patient’s desired appearance, improving their comfort and self-confidence.

Am I a Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?

The breasts and abdomen typically undergo the most physical changes during and after pregnancy. Despite a healthy diet and exercise, many women are discouraged when their breasts and bodies fail to return to their pre-pregnancy shapes. Ideal candidates for a mommy makeover are in good medical health, have realistic expectations for the outcome of surgery, and are finished with childbearing. You may benefit from a mommy makeover if you are experiencing:

  • Sagging and deflation of the breasts
  • Undesirable excess fat
  • Abdominal skin quality changes
  • Abdominal wall muscle separation

What to Expect During a Mommy Makeover Consultation

Every patient presents both unique and varied physical changes and concerns following pregnancy. Therefore, extensive evaluation, discussion, and planning are important during your mommy makeover consultation. Dr. Spiro will go over the following with you:

  • Your surgical goals
  • Current medications and drug allergies
  • Previous surgeries
  • Past medical conditions and treatments
  • Likely outcomes and any risks or potential complications

Dr. Spiro will also examine your problem areas and take measurements of their size and shape, skin quality, and skin thickness during your consultation.

Mommy Makeover Cost

The cost of mommy makeover surgery depends on the type of procedure(s). During your first consultation, you will receive a quote that is specific to your surgery and personal goals. Dr. Spiro offers financing plans and payment options to help you pay for the surgery. Mommy makeover costs may include:

  • Surgeon’s fee
  • Hospital fees
  • Anesthesia fees
  • Medical prescriptions
  • Implants (if necessary)
  • Post-surgical garments
  • Medical tests and x-rays

How to Prepare for a Mommy Makeover

Dr. Spiro will provide preoperative instructions to ensure the best possible outcome for your mommy makeover surgery. In preparation for the procedure, you may be asked to:

  • Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
  • Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
  • Stop smoking, vaping, THC, and CBD products
  • Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, or herbal supplements that may increase bleeding
  • Arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery

What’s Included in a Mommy Makeover?

In most cases, multiple procedures can be performed during a single operation, allowing a patient to improve several areas with only one surgery and recovery period. Dr. Spiro often combines some form of breast surgery with a tummy tuck, and he will determine which procedures can be used in one surgical setting. He will recommend the option best suited for your body and lifestyle, which may include a combination of the following procedures:

  1. Breast Augmentation

If you’ve experienced volume loss due to pregnancy and breastfeeding, breast augmentation surgery can help enhance the size and shape of your breasts. During the procedure, Dr. Spiro will make incisions based on the type of breast implant used, the degree of enlargement desired, and the patient’s specific anatomy. The implants are inserted either under the pectoral muscle or directly under the breast tissue. Then, the incisions are closed with layered sutures in the breast tissue and skin adhesive or tape to close the skin.

  1. Breast Lift

Among other changes, pregnancy can leave you with sagging breasts. If sagging is a major concern, a breast lift can help restore your breasts to a perkier shape through the preservation and redistribution of tissue. The three most common incision patterns for a breast lift are around the areola, vertically down from the areola to the breast crease, and horizontally along the breast crease. During the procedure, Dr. Spiro will lift the breast tissue, reposition the nipple and areola, and tighten and reduce the excess skin.

  1. Fat Grafting

After pregnancy, patients may experience volume loss in their buttocks. Fat grafting, or fat transfer, involves removing adipose fat tissue via liposuction, processing the fat, and then reinjecting it into the areas needing improvement. To maximize patient safety, Dr. Spiro only uses subcutaneous, non-muscle buttocks fat grafting techniques to help with volume restoration. Mommy makeover candidates may require a lifting procedure along with buttock augmentation to maximize physical results.

  1. Liposuction

For many post-pregnancy mothers, liposuction helps to remove unwanted fat in the hips, thighs, and arms, among other areas of the body. During the procedure, Dr. Spiro inserts a thin tube (cannula) through small incisions to dislodge any excess fat, using a back and forth motion. A surgical vacuum or syringe attached to the cannula is then used to extract the body fat. With liposuction surgery, Dr. Spiro is able to permanently remove the fat cells from the treatment areas, leading to more dramatic and positive shape changes.

  1. Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, combines abdominal wall repair and the removal of excess skin. Dr. Spiro performs versions of tummy tucks specifically designed to address more limited effects of pregnancy. While developing the RETAF technique, he identified other areas of the female torso that were not adequately addressed using conventional tummy tuck procedures. Among these are skin laxity of the flanks and hips, mons pubis sag, fat excess (or both), anterior hip fat excess along with skin laxity (secondary stretch mark areas), and buttock sag with or without volume loss. Depending on your situation, Dr. Spiro may use ancillary procedures, such as flankplasty and puboplasty, to increase aesthetic results and functional capabilities.

  1. Body Lift

Body lift procedures combine hip and buttock lift with tummy tuck and are the preferred treatment for women whose pregnancies have created laxity of skin in these areas. Recoveries are similar to tummy tuck recoveries.

Mommy Makeover Recovery

Following your mommy makeover surgery, gauze or bandages will be applied to your incisions. An elastic bandage or support bra will minimize swelling and support the breasts during healing. A compression garment may also be used to control swelling in the abdomen, waist, and buttocks. Combination procedures or abdominoplasty procedures involving abdominal wall management require at least a one-day overnight hospitalization. Dr. Spiro will provide you with postoperative instructions, including:

  • How to care for your surgical site(s)
  • Medications to apply or take orally
  • Specific issues to look out for
  • When to schedule a follow-up appointment

Recovery from mommy makeover surgery may vary based on the individual. After a breast or liposuction procedure, most patients can return to work within two weeks. Tummy tuck procedures require at least a week, if not longer. Combination procedures also have a variable recovery time, but patients can go back to work within two weeks and resume normal activities in three to six weeks.

Mommy Makeover Results

Healing will continue for several weeks as the swelling decreases and the shape of the breasts, abdomen, waist, and buttocks improves. Over time, the implants will settle, and scar lines will improve, although they’ll never disappear completely. How soon your final results appear depends on the type of procedures you have. Most patients feel comfortable and confident wearing a swimsuit within three months after surgery. 

Schedule a Mommy Makeover Consultation with Dr. Spiro

Dr. Spiro specializes in mommy makeover surgery to help women feel confident in their bodies again. With over 26 years of experience, Dr. Spiro provides the highest level of care for each patient from start to finish. At Spiro Plastic Surgery, we’ll create a treatment plan that meets all your needs in a safe and comforting environment. Contact us to schedule a consultation for a mommy makeover today!

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Graphite/Pencil Hybrid-Painting by Dr. Scott Spiro