Although we see a lot of celebrities and influencers bounce back to their pre-baby weight just weeks after giving birth, it’s simply not realistic for most women. It’s important to give your body time to adjust to the demands of being a new mother and not to be too hard on yourself.

Both pregnancy and childbirth put a lot of stress on a woman’s body. It would be dangerous to have Mommy Makeover surgery immediately afterwards. It’s imperative that you give your body time to heal and to focus on a healthy lifestyle with plenty of nutritious foods and exercise. 

A board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Applebaum usually recommends that you wait at least six months after giving birth before having major cosmetic surgical procedures. That will give your body time to lose weight naturally and give your abdominal muscles a chance to heal. 

Breastfeeding can be a great way to promote natural weight loss. However, it would be best if you waited to have cosmetic procedures until you’re finished breastfeeding for best results. 

Many women experience a change in the size or shape of their breasts and nipples after breastfeeding. In that case, a breast lift or nipple reduction surgery can help you feel better about your post-baby breasts again.

The Mommy Makeover is a significant operation that requires recovery time, but the amount of recovery time needed will depend on the procedures that are performed. As a general rule, most patients will be sore, bruised, and swollen for about two weeks.  You’ll need help performing routine chores in the days immediately following surgery, so be sure to enlist the help of a family member or friend. You will not be able to lift objects over ten pounds, including babies and children,  for at least a few weeks. Most of the severe swelling will subside within a few weeks after surgery, but final results may not appear for six months to a year.

A major difference between a tummy tuck and a Mommy Makeover is the number of procedures. 

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is ideal for women with concerns about the shape and appearance of their abdomen alone. Having tummy tuck surgery will remove excess fat and skin to create a smoother abdominal profile and tighten the stomach muscles.  

A Mommy Makeover is more comprehensive and includes two or more cosmetic procedures. Although it typically consists of some type of breast augmentation and tummy tuck. It can also include liposuction, nipple surgery, or other non-surgical body contouring treatments.  

Breast surgery is a fundamental component of a Mommy Makeover since the breasts often change shape and size after pregnancy, even without breastfeeding. The increase in volume in the breast and later decrease can lead to loose or sagging skin. 

A breast implant is an excellent and safe method for restoring lost volume or symmetry in the breast after breastfeeding. A breast augmentation can increase the size of your breasts and enhance the shape to help fill in your loose skin.

However, breast augmentation is not always the best solution if you have drooping breast tissue or downward-pointing areolas. A breast lift, or mastopexy, can raise the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the tissue to reshape the breast contour. 

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released new statistics showing that breast lifts have increased by 70% since 2000, outpacing the number of breast implants by 2-to-1. 

Both breast augmentation surgery and breast lift may be performed alone or combined, depending on the patient’s needs.  

Anytime a plastic surgeon makes an incision, you can expect a certain degree of scarring. The amount of scarring depends on hereditary factors and the type of surgical procedure.

A tummy tuck scar typically runs hip to hip to remove excess tissue from the abdomen. Dr. Applebaum always tries to make the incision as low as possible so it can be hidden by low-rise underwear or a bikini. 

There are multiple ways that breast implants can be inserted that will make an impact on the scarring. In most cases, the incision is made along the bottom crease of the breast, where a bikini top or bra line will be able to conceal it. 

If the implant is inserted through the bottom curve of the areola, the change in color between the areola and the breast usually does a great job disguising the scar naturally.

Scars from a breast lift will depend on the amount of sagging in the breasts. With less sagging,  you can expect a vertical scar along the breast and minor scarring around the areola. With more severe sagging, there will be a transverse scar in the inframammary fold. 

Regardless of how the incisions are made, you can hide scarring with a bikini or bra. 

Liposuction scars are typically small and hardly noticeable. If you have liposuction performed during a Mommy Makeover, the liposuction cannula can be inserted through the tummy tuck incision, so there will not be any additional scarring. Either way, the incisions are very small and tend to heal extremely well. 

The components of a Mommy Makeover vary from person to person, so there is a great deal of variability in terms of which patients are suited to which procedures and specific techniques. However, in general, the best candidates for a Mommy Makeover are:

• Women who are finished having children;
• Patients with a specific body issue that has not responded favorably to diet and exercise;
• Patients with tummies that have loose or extra skin that folds over when you sit down and also those patient with spread of the mid-line rectus muscle.
• Patients with drooping or sagging breasts with a loss of volume; 
• Patients with a muffin top,  excess skin, or fat;
• Patients who are nonsmokers.

Dr. Applebaum understands that many women want to regain their pre-baby bodies as quickly as possible. While the right time to have a Mommy Makeover is different for everyone, Dr. Applebaum has found that patients will receive the best results from the procedure if they allow plenty of time to breastfeed, wean their babies, and recover from the pregnancy process and are certain in their decision not to have any more children prior to undergoing a Mommy Makeover. Because the recovery from a Mommy Makeover can be lengthy, patients should keep in mind that they will not be able to do any heavy lifting (objects over ten pounds, including your babies and children) for at least 3-6  weeks after the procedures. Therefore, patients will need to be sure that they will have help from family or friends in the weeks following the procedure before committing to the surgery.

During your consultation,  Dr. Applebaum will evaluate your personal anatomic profile, goals and expectations, and other medical issues. Each patient’s needs and bodies are different, and there’s no “right way” to do a Mommy Makeover that suits everyone. Based on your conversation, Dr. Applebaum will make recommendations about the types of procedures that might help you look and feel your best as part of a Mommy Makeover. Dr. Applebaum will spend time with you to review all of the treatment options available that can boost your self esteem and give you self confidence  whether you are wearing a dress or a swimsuit.

Despite the name, you don’t have to be a mom to be eligible for a Mommy Makeover. The changes in the body that occur from pregnancy can happen to anyone who has experienced a significant amount of weight gain. 

Sagging breasts, stretch marks, and stubborn fat deposits can be a common complaint for anyone as they age, experience hormone imbalances, or are simply the result of their genetics. Some women even experience weight gain due to stress or underlying health conditions. 

Mommy makeover surgery can produce long-lasting results if you’re not planning to have more children or gain a substantial amount of weight in the future. The most important thing to consider when debating a Mommy Makeover is whether you are able to address the original source of weight gain.

For instance, a Mommy Makeover is a great option for someone who doesn’t plan on being pregnant again. This is because a Mommy Makeover procedure is designed to reduce some of the visible effects of pregnancy – getting pregnant again may put your body back where it was before the surgery.

If you have gained weight due to stress, inactivity, or diet changes, you may benefit from the procedures included within the overarching Mommy Makeover procedure. However, your weight may come back if you can’t find ways to manage your stress, increase your activity level, or implement a balanced diet. 

If your weight gain is due to a medical condition, you may want to discuss the possibility of a Mommy Makeover procedure with your primary care doctor. Together, you and your doctor can decide if the procedure is right for you and make plans to keep the weight from piling back on.

The cost for a Mommy Makeover will vary according to the number of procedures you’re having done, but it’s likely to be in the range of $30,000to $50,000. There are many factors that determine how much your Mommy Makeover will cost, so schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon today to learn more about your options.