Mommy makeover

Childbirth is one of the most beautiful events in a woman's life. Unfortunately, the period of pregnancy and breastfeeding leaves sequels and our bodies change.

In fact, the body undergoes changes during the pregnancy process that can later affect the loss of self-esteem and self-confidence. These include breast sagging, stretch marks, excess skin, excess fat deposits and many others. I will try to explain you the mommy makeover surgery that could help you to revert the changes caused by the pregnancy period.

What is a mommy makeover?

Mommy makeover can restore the appearance of a woman's body to the look before the pregnancy, breastfeeding and hormonal changes.

In most cases, a mommy makeover is a single procedure that combines several surgical techniques and usually involves improving the appearance of the breasts, abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks and intimate area.

It is a procedure that can help mothers regain their confidence and improve their body shape after several pregnancies. From breast surgery to liposuction, I've summarized the key procedures to help you to get back the pre pregnancy body.

Are you a good candidate for mommy makeover?

Mommy makeover procedures are chosen by women of child-bearing age, or mothers who have finished their pregnancies and would like to return the appearance of their bodies to their pre-pregnancy and hormonal changes.

The combination of procedures in the mommy makeover is tailored to each individual patient. The key is that you want the surgery by yourself and do not want to fulfil someone else's wishes or aesthetic ideals. This is the main key to satisfaction after the procedure. Another advantage of the mommy makeover is the shorter total anaesthesia time and, above all, the shorter and one-off recovery period compared to if the procedures were performed individually. And of course, satisfaction on several parts of the body!

Is a mommy makeover suitable for every woman?

I recommend the mommy makeover surgery to women who are healthy, regularly physically active, have a well-regulated diet and are within their ideal weight.

It is also recommended that you have finished with your pregnancies and breastfeeding and have realistic expectations.

After the mommy makeover, you will feel more confident, your self-esteem will improve and you will regain the motivation to get back to physical activity and enjoy life. This can further contribute to satisfaction with the result as well as to success in other areas of life.

What does mommy makeover include?

The mommy makeover procedure most often combines breast and tummy surgery. These are the areas where pregnancy, weight loss and hormonal changes leave the most effects. To achieve the best result, we combine different surgical techniques and different ways of tightening the excess skin.

Breast surgery

After pregnancy and breastfeeding, women may experience several common breast changes. These changes can vary in severity and may include:

Decreased breast volume: Pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause the breasts to increase in size due to hormonal changes and milk production. However, once breastfeeding ends, the breasts may lose volume and appear deflated or smaller than before pregnancy.
Breast sagging: Pregnancy hormones, weight gain, and breastfeeding can stretch the skin and ligaments that support the breasts. As a result, the breasts may sag or droop, losing their youthful position and shape.
Loss of breast firmness: The stretching of the breast skin and ligaments can also lead to a loss of breast firmness. The breasts may feel softer and less perky than before pregnancy.
Changes in breast shape and symmetry: Pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause changes in breast shape and symmetry. The breasts may become asymmetrical, with one breast appearing larger or differently shaped than the other.
Enlarged or darkened nipples: During pregnancy, the nipples may become larger, darker, and more sensitive. While these changes are temporary and usually revert back after breastfeeding ends, some women may experience long-term changes in nipple size or pigmentation.

It's important to note that these breast changes are natural and commonly experienced by women after pregnancy and breastfeeding. While some women may embrace these changes as a part of motherhood, others may feel self-conscious or unhappy with the appearance of their breasts. In such cases, cosmetic procedures like breast augmentation, breast lift, or a combination of both can be considered as part of a mommy makeover to address these concerns and restore the breasts to a more youthful and desirable shape and position.

Breast lift is the most common breast surgery for mothers. A breast lift reshapes the breast tissue, removes excess skin, usually reduces the areolas and puts the nipple in the right place. Together with the breast lift, with the insertion of breast implants we can achieve a slightly larger breast size, a fuller upper half of the breast and a more aesthetically harmonious shape of the whole breast. This procedure is called a breast lift with implants and is the most commonly used procedure for mothers. Sometimes the breasts are too large and breast reduction is necessary. This procedure involves both breast lifting and breast reduction, including removal of excess skin and fat, reduction of the areola and nipple repositioning.

BREAST AUGMENTATION

BREAST LIFT

BREAST REDUCTION

Tummy contouring

During mommy makeover, the most common procedure performed at the same time as the breast surgery is the tummy tuck. It involves the surgical excision of excess, stretched skin and the additional removal of fatty tissue from the abdomen and flanks by liposuction. Liposuction of the hips and abdomen can be used to accentuate the natural lines of the underlying abdominal muscles (line 11) or to create an even more feminine, harmonious figure (hourglass shape).

Muscle separation is very common after several pregnancies. You may feel bloated during the most part of the day as well as your tummy can look like few months pregnant. In the case of muscle separation, the sheaths of the abdominal muscles are sutured together (muscle tightening), thus contributing to a firmer and flatter abdomen. If you have had a caesarean section, the scar from the caesarean section is also removed, together with the excess skin and fatty tissue.

TUMMY TUCK

LIPOSUCTION

Other procedures

The procedures for mothers can also be combined with buttock reshaping by injecting the patient's own fat tissue into the buttocks in so called Brasilian But Lift (BBL), correction of the saggy skin on the arms (arm lift or brachioplasty) and correction of the intimate areas (reduction of the labia minora and enlargement of the labia majora).

As the patient's safety is always my first priority, I tailor the procedures to each individual patient and choose the appropriate combination of procedures. Sometimes I also perform the procedures in two stages.

INTIMATE SURGERY

ARM LIFT

What are the steps of mommy makeover surgery?

The mommy makeover is performed under general anesthesia and takes between 4 and 5 hours. During the procedure, I combine different surgical techniques to reshape the body in a way that is safe and the results look natural.

Immediately after the procedure, we will apply a compression garment and bra and you will need to wear them for six weeks. You will spend the night at the clinic and will be discharged from the clinic the following day after a dressing change and wound check-up. All the postoperative instructions will be given to you and in addition to painkillers, I will prescribe you the blood thinners (anticoagulant) against the blood clots and antibiotic prophylaxis against bacterial infection.

What should I expect during mommy makeover recovery?

Every operation is followed by a recovery, which you should take your time without rush and stress.

Immediately after the surgery you will be taken to a recovery area where you will be closely monitored by medical staff. You may have drains placed to collect excess fluid, and you will be wearing compression garments to support the healing process.

In the first few days you will likely experience discomfort, swelling, and bruising in the operated areas. Pain medication will be prescribed to manage any pain or discomfort. It is important to rest and avoid any strenuous activities during this time.

In the first week you will need to take time off work and limit physical activities.

During the first few weeks swelling and bruising will gradually subside, and you may start feeling more comfortable. You will start the lymphatic massage. However, you should still avoid any strenuous activities and lifting heavy objects.

In the first few months you should gradually resume light exercises and activities. It may take several months for the swelling to completely resolve, and the final results of the surgery may not be fully visible until this time.

To help you recover as smoothly as possible and to reduce the chance of complications, the postoperative instructions are summarized below:

If you have young children who need you, get help.
Have steristrips and dressings placed over the suture lines on the operated areas for two weeks after the surgery. You can start showering over the steristrips seven days after the operation.
After two to three weeks, you can start caring for the scars, at least once a day for 15 minutes. This will help the scars to soften and fade.
After 14 days, book an appointment for a manual lymphatic massage. The lymphatic massage will help to speed up recovery and reduce swelling. I recommend at least 5 visits, at least once a week.
I advise eating healthy, easily digestible food rich in vitamins and minerals, drinking plenty of fluid and getting enough sleep. All these factors will boost your metabolism.
When you feel strong enough, I also recommend short walks.
Compression garments and bra should be worn permanently for six to eight weeks after surgery. They can easily be hidden under your clothes and worn to work.
You can gradually start sporting activities four to six weeks after the procedure.
You can return to work after two weeks.

What are the risks and potential complications of mommy makeover?

The complications are possible after any surgical procedure. I will explain to you all the possible risks and complications during the consultation before the surgery. However, if you take time to recover and follow the instructions, complications are rare.

Some complications that can occur after mommy makeover are:

Infection: Infections can occur after any surgical procedure. I will prescribe antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. However, if an infection does occur, it may require additional treatment with antibiotics or, in severe cases, surgical drainage.
Bleeding: Some bleeding is normal after a tummy tuck, but excessive bleeding can occur. In rare cases, it may be necessary to return to the operating room to control bleeding or remove accumulated blood (hematoma).
Blood clots: Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis) can form in the legs after surgery, which can be a serious complication. To reduce the risk of blood clots, I will recommend blood thinners, compression stockings, and early ambulation.
Poor wound healing: In some cases, the incisions may heal slowly or develop complications such as wound separation or skin necrosis. This can be more common in individuals who smoke or have certain medical conditions.
Scarring: A tummy tuck involves incisions, resulting in permanent scars. While efforts are made to minimize scarring and place incisions in discreet locations, individual healing and scar formation can vary. Proper scar care and following your surgeon's instructions can help optimize the appearance of scars.
Changes in sensation: Temporary or permanent changes in sensation, including numbness or increased sensitivity, may occur in the abdominal area or around the incisions. These changes are usually temporary but can be permanent in rare cases.
Seroma: Fluid buildup (seroma) can occur after a tummy tuck, leading to swelling and discomfort. Drains are typically placed during surgery to prevent seroma formation, and they may need to be removed during a follow-up visit.
Skin irregularities: In some cases, the skin may appear uneven or have contour irregularities after a tummy tuck. Additional procedures may be necessary to address these issues.

However, the procedure is risky for patients who are overweight, have diabetes, smoke or have a bleeding disorder. You should also be aware that the mommy makeover procedure is not a way to lose weight. It is a way for reshaping body parts that are troublesome and cannot improved through diet and regular exercise. Healthy diet and regular physical activity remain key to long-term body transformation. I recommend that you continue with both also after the mommy makeover procedure.

When will I see the results of mommy makeover?

The mommy makeover is a procedure that can transform your body. We can correct troublesome body areas caused by pregnancy, breastfeeding, hormonal changes or major weight loss. Each body reacts differently to the procedure. I advise you to follow the instructions during the recovery period, to take care of regular physical activity and a well-balanced diet.

The timeline for seeing the results of a mommy makeover can vary depending on the specific procedures performed, individual healing process, and the extent of the makeover. Here is a general timeline that may help you understand when you can expect to see the results of a mommy makeover:

Immediate results: Right after the surgery, you will notice some immediate changes in your body, such as a flatter abdomen (if a tummy tuck was performed), increased breast volume or lift (if breast augmentation or breast lift was performed), and reduction in excess fat deposits (if liposuction was performed). However, these immediate results may be masked by swelling, bruising, and bandages.
Initial recovery period (1-2 weeks): During the first week or two after the surgery, you will experience swelling, bruising, and discomfort. It's normal for the initial results to be obscured by these temporary side effects. You will be advised to rest, wear compression garments, and follow post-operative care instructions to aid in the healing process.
Subsequent weeks (2-6 weeks): As the swelling gradually subsides and the bruising fades, you may start to see more noticeable improvements in your body shape and contours. Your incision scars will also start to heal and fade over time. It's essential to continue following your surgeon's recommendations for optimal healing and results.
Final results (3-6 months): It typically takes several months for the final results of a mommy makeover to fully manifest. By this time, the swelling should have significantly decreased, and your body should have healed and settled into its new shape. Your breasts will have settled into their new position, and your abdomen will appear flatter and more toned. The scars will continue to mature and fade over time.

Are any lifestyle changes necessary after the mommy makeover?

It's important to remember that individual healing times can vary, and some patients may see results sooner or later than the general timeline mentioned above. It's crucial to be patient and allow your body ample time to heal and adjust after undergoing multiple procedures as part of a mommy makeover.

Regular follow-up appointments with me will help track your progress and ensure that you are healing properly.

After the mommy makeover surgery, you will feel more confident, your self-esteem will improve and you will regain the motivation to resume physical activities and enjoy life. This can further contribute to satisfaction in everyday life and as well as success at the workplace.

Now it's your turn!

Deciding to have a mommy makeover is a big step in your life. It is completely normal you have some remaining questions, doubts or concerns. I would be happy to discuss the procedure with you and together we will find the best possible solution for your individual needs. To schedule a consultation please click here.