Mommy Makeover
What’s included in a mommy makeover?
A mommy makeover is a customize treatment plan, designed by your plastic surgeon with your needs in mind.
A mommy makeover is a popular plastic surgery option for mothers who want to restore their pre-pregnancy bodies. The procedure is customized to meet the unique needs of each patient, but typically includes a combination of the following surgical procedures:
Tummy Tuck
This procedure removes excess skin and fat, tightens the belly, and repairs separated muscles. A diastasis recti repair may also be performed. In some cases, a belly button lift may be included.
Breast Surgery
A breast augmentation is typically performed to replace lost volume, with or without a breast lift to raise sagging breasts. Some mothers choose to have a breast reduction instead, to downsize large breasts by removing excess skin and tissue. Any breast surgery may also include areola reduction or nipple surgery.
Liposuction
This procedure is used for body contouring by selectively removing excess fat deposits.
Brazilian Butt Lift
This procedure involves the transfer of fat from other areas of the body to the buttocks to enhance their shape and size.
Vaginal Rejuvenation
Perineoplasty, vaginoplasty, and labiaplasty may be performed to improve the vaginal area appearance and function.
Additional Procedures
Laser skin rejuvenation or injectables such as Botox and dermal fillers may also be included in the mommy makeover treatment plan to smooth wrinkles and refresh the face.
Why Travel Abroad for a Mommy Makeover?
Getting a mommy makeover abroad is just as safe as undergoing the same treatment back home, if you select a reputable surgeon.
HebeDoc makes the entire process easier–listing only surgeons who meet a specific set of criteria. The cost of a mommy makeover varies greatly depending on the location and type of procedures you choose.
Mommy Makeover Prices in the United States
In the United States, the average cost of a mommy makeover is between $15,000 and $25,000. This price range includes the cost of the surgery, anesthesia, and all necessary follow-up appointments. However, the cost can vary depending on the specific procedures and the surgeon you choose.
If you’re considering a mommy makeover, it’s essential to choose a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon who can help you achieve your desired results.
Interested in saving money on your Mommy Makeover? Consider traveling to a destination where cosmetic surgeons hold deep expertise yet the procedure is considerably less expensive. Many women travel to Turkey to receive quality cosmetic surgery at a fraction of the cost.
The difference between a mommy makeover and a tummy tuck?
A full mommy makeover almost always includes a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty).
A mommy makeover is a popular plastic surgery option for mothers who want to restore their pre-pregnancy bodies. It is a comprehensive procedure that addresses multiple areas affected by pregnancy and childbirth, such as the tummy, breasts, and body contouring.
A tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, is a specific procedure that is often included in a mommy makeover. It removes excess skin and fat, tightens the abdominal muscles, and repositions the belly button.
A full tummy tuck addresses the entire abdominal area, while a mini tummy tuck focuses on the lower half of the abdomen below the belly button.
Pros and cons of a mommy makeover?
Pros
- Addresses multiple concerns in one surgery, reducing recovery time and costs.
- Transformative: restoring the body to pre-pregnancy appearance.
- Improves self-confidence and self-esteem.
- Removes stretch marks and C-section scars through tummy tuck (abdominoplasty).
- Improve medical issues such as diastasis recti, hernias, back pain, and urinary incontinence.
Cons
- Requires 2-4 weeks downtime.
- Recovery requires assistance with daily activities and any lifting.
- Future weight gain is possible. A healthy diet and regular exercise are necessary to maintain results.
- Leave scars, including a low hip-to-hip scar from a tummy tuck.
- Requires a significant financial investment.
- Potential complications include, bleeding, infection, and reactions to anesthesia.
- Realistic expectations are required. A mommy makeover is not a substitute for weight loss or a healthy lifestyle.
- A board-certified plastic surgeon, experienced in performing mommy makeovers is required.
- Future pregnancies can undo the results. Wait until you are done having children.
Mommy makeover cost?
- Procedure complexity.
- Plastic surgeon’s experience level.
- Location, where procedure will take place.
The cost of a mommy makeover varies greatly depending on the country in which it is performed.
USA: The average cost of a mommy makeover in the United States when you include surgery center, anesthesia and post-operative care, the costs climes closer to $20,000.
Turkey is known for its affordable cosmetic surgery options. The average cost of a mommy makeover in Turkey is around $8,000 to $10,000 including surgical center, anesthesia and post-operative care.
Thailand: In Thailand, a popular medical tourism destination, $6,000 to $8,000 is typical.
Are There Any Hidden Costs?
Booking with Hebedoc, there are never any hidden fees. Use our website or connect with a HebeDoc Team member and doctor consultation is free to you. All treatments are covered by our pricing pledge.
Note: Initial price quotes are provisional, and based on the details provided by patients with respect to their cosmetic goals, budget and preferred doctor.
How might I finance my elective surgery?
There are several options to finance elective surgery, including:
1: Health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) are savings accounts used to pay medical expenses, including elective surgery.
Personal loans: Many banks and lending institutions offer personal loans that can be used to pay for elective surgery.
Medical financing companies: There are companies that specialize in providing financing for medical procedures, including elective surgery.
Health insurance: Some elective surgeries may be covered by health insurance, depending on the policy and the specific procedure.
Coverage and financing options available depend on the type of surgery, your insurance coverage, and your personal financial situation. Consult with a healthcare professional to discuss options.
Who’s a good candidate for a mommy makeover?
- In good general health.
- Within 25 pounds of their ideal body weight
- Nonsmoker
- Stable weight
- Done having babies
- Six months or more post breastfeeding
- Honest about health assessment, to reduce complication risk.
Schedule a consultation to discuss any concerns and to determine if a mommy makeover is the right option for you.
How to prepare for a mommy makeover?
Preparation for you mommy makeover procedure, provides peace of mind and helps your recovery go more smoothly. Your surgeon’s office checklist may include these items.
- Recovery supplies
- Compression garments
- Stool softeners (pain medication causes constipation)
- Supplements your doctor recommends (arnica to reduce bruising).
- Supplies to keep your incisions clean.
- Antibiotic ointments (mupirocin)
- Loose clothing and button-down shirts you don’t have to pull over your head—particularly when it hurts to raise your arms—and prevent uncomfortable rubbing against incisions.
- Healthy meals prepared and frozen, so you have time to rest and heal.
- Childcare
- Avoid heavy lifting.
- Over activity at least the first week after surgery.
- Avoid nicotine
- Smoking cigarettes, vaping, or using nicotine replacement therapy, increases risk of serious complications and slows recovery.
- Exposure to second-hand smoke. Nicotine reduces blood flow to the skin, causing skin necrosis (tissue death).
- Review medications and supplements
- Decongestants, pain relievers, and prescribed medications are not suitable for use before surgery.
- Speak with your patient care coordinator.
- Chronic pain patients on opioid regimens need to inform their surgeon, general practitioner, and the anesthesiologist to make adjustments for surgery and recovery.
- Disclose any weight loss supplements to your doctor. Do not take phentermine (Lomaira and Adipex-P) prior to or on the day of your surgery; it can cause serious complications with anesthesia.
What to expect during mommy makeover surgery?
During a mommy makeover surgery, expect your procedure to be performed in a hospital or accredited private surgery center. If it’s not done in a hospital, make sure your plastic surgeon has hospital privileges for emergency care.
Anesthesia will be used to ensure you are asleep and intubated during the procedure. Your surgeon will follow the surgical plan you have agreed on.
This may include:
- Breast lift
- Breast augmentation
- Tummy tuck
- Liposuction
- Vaginal rejuvenation
- Brazilian butt lift.
After the surgery, you will be moved to a recovery area and monitored as you wake up. Dressings may be applied to the incisions and covered with tape or an elastic bandage. This is a major procedure requiring several hours of surgery, so it’s important to not cut corners.
How long does a mommy makeover take?
The duration of a Mommy Makeover depends on the number and extent of procedures performed; most surgeries take between 3 and 6 hours. Experienced plastic surgeons may limit the number of procedures performed during a single surgery for safety reasons. Never consider an elective surgery taking any longer than six hours. If you are combining procedures, limit the combination to finish under this time.
Is a Mommy Makeover Safe?
Yes. A Mommy Makeover is considered safe in the hands of a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, but there are risks. These risks increase when multiple procedures are performed during a single surgery. To minimize, choose a board-certified plastic surgeon.
The tummy tuck procedure, which is a common part of a Mommy Makeover, has the highest potential for complications among all cosmetic surgeries. According to a 2015 study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the complication rate for a tummy tuck is 3%, double the rate of other cosmetic surgeries.
Hematoma (blood collecting under the skin) is the most common, major complication. Tummy tucks have a higher mortality rate than many other cosmetic surgeries, with rates ranging from to 0.16% to 0.02%. To put this in perspective, C-section delivery death rate is about 0.02%
Other procedures commonly included in a Mommy Makeover, such as a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), also carry risks. A highly experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who follows the latest safety guidelines, minimizes these risks.
Possible complications include blood clots and, in rare cases, pulmonary thromboembolism (blood clots reaching the lungs). To reduce blood clot risk, patients should be alert to pain, swelling, or skin discoloration of the leg and seek immediate medical attention if necessary.
To ensure your safety during a Mommy Makeover, it is important to find a well-reviewed, board-certified plastic surgeon who regularly performs this operation.
During consultation, ask about:
- Their complication rates
- Steps taken to mitigate risks.
- How they handle complications.
Blood clotting risks may be higher for up to three months following surgery. Precautions such as waiting one week before flying, booking a business-class ticket, and wearing compression socks all reduce risk of complications.
Note: Potential mommy makeover risks and adverse side effects include, but are not limited to, infection, poor healing, unfavorable scarring, seroma, loss of nipple sensation, bleeding, inability to breastfeed, asymmetry, implant leak, capsular contracture, looseness of skin, fat necrosis, deep venous thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications, persistent pain and anesthesia risks.
Find out more about the risks associated with mommy makeover surgeries here.
What is the Recovery time from a Mommy Makeover?
Recovery time after a mommy makeover varies depending on the number of procedures performed. Anticipate needing 2 weeks off work and avoid heavy lifting for 6 weeks.
Swelling and bruising subside in 1-3 weeks, and final results are typically visible within 6 months post-surgery.
Scars will fade 6-12 months after surgery. Discuss scar treatment options with your surgeon.
You’ll be able to engage in light daily activity during the initial 2-week recovery period, with no exercise at all for 3 weeks and no intense exercise for 6 weeks.
Will I have Scars from a Mommy Makeover?
Scars, present at the incision sites, are designed to be well hidden in a bathing suit and fade with time. Scar treatments, including topical scar creams may help.
Medical-grade silicone scar therapy in the form of bandage-like sheets or gels can prevent abnormal scars, hypertrophic scars, and keloids. Applied to the incision site when you’ve significantly healed, they work by acting much like your skin’s moisture barrier, keeping the scar hydrated and helping prevent permanent scarring.
One month after surgery is enough time to begin using scar treatments once scabs have healed, but talk to your doctor.
Note, while scar treatments improve appearance, they will not completely eliminate them. Follow your surgeon’s post-surgery instructions and avoid activities that can cause excessive tension on the incision sites to minimize the risk of abnormal scarring.
How painful is a mommy makeover?
You’ll be under general anesthesia during the mommy makeover procedure and won’t feel any pain. Following surgery, pain medication will be administered through an IV drip to alleviate discomfort.
Your surgeon will prescribe pain medication for your recovery. If you’ve had a tummy tuck with your mommy makeover, “You’ll experience some pain and soreness and, usually, need prescription pain meds for the first four to seven days.”
Pain and soreness should subside following the first week making it manageable with over-the-counter medications. Talk with your doctor about drugs you should take, and avoid blood thinners like ibuprofen, which can affect normal blood clotting.
If you experience pain during recovery, reach out to your doctor. Pain can sap the energy you need to heal, and your surgeon will want you to be as comfortable as possible while you recover.
How long do mommy makeover results last?
Expect results of your mommy makeover to last ten years or more, as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle and stable weight.
Breast implants aren’t considered lifetime devices and may need to be exchanged in the future, though they don’t automatically need replacement.
Sources & studies
“Mommy Makeover: Combining Procedures for Optimal Results” by Dr. Bradley Bengtson, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal
“The Mommy Makeover: A Review of the Literature” by Dr. Michael C. Edwards and Dr. Bradley Bengtson, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal
“Safety and Satisfaction in Mommy Makeover Surgery” by Dr. Jason Pozner, Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
“The Mommy Makeover: Combining Procedures for Optimal Outcomes” by Dr. Mark P. Solomon, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal
“The Efficacy of Silicone Gel for the Treatment of Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids” by Neerja Puri and Ashutosh Talwar, Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery
“Abdominoplasty Improves Low Back Pain and Urinary Incontinence” by D. Taylor et al., Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
“Combined Breast Surgery and Abdominoplasty: Strategies for Success” by Alan Matarasso and David M. Smith, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery