A mommy makeover is a surgical procedure that combines different procedures such as breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and liposuction to result in a more feminine and youthful physique. These days, the term mommy makeover refers to any or all of these procedures: breast lift or breast reduction (mastopexy) with augmentation mammoplasty, tummy tuck abdominoplasty, and liposuction. It is also sometimes used interchangeably with the term post-pregnancy body reconstruction surgery.
The procedure is therefore often known as mommy makeover surgery. It can be accomplished in either an outpatient or in-patient setting. The surgery is usually performed in a hospital with the patient under general anesthesia.
In this procedure, the patient uses local anesthesia on her back and typically wakes up in her bed after that. After the operation, she receives a prescription to take painkillers for a few days.
The first appearance of the procedure was made by Dr. Pauline D. Kuehne in 2009, who named it “The Relaunch” for mothers who wanted to achieve a sharper and firmer bodied post-baby body or reshape their previous body into a youthful and fit one. This procedure itself can be done in different ways. Breast lifts are always done by lifting the breast tissue up and forward (surgical lift). But some doctors also use fat transfer to make the breasts larger or change their shape. Tummy tucks are usually done by removing the excess skin after giving birth or having massive weight loss.
The results of the procedure come with specific difficulties and risks. Many women find that although they feel better, they do not look better.
Both the surgeon and patient must understand what is realistic and what will be possible after the surgery in terms of aesthetics. This understanding is critical because if the patient is informed of the final result, she can decide whether to go through with the procedure.
The patient needs to give her surgeon information about how she feels about her appearance. This information can be beneficial for both the surgeon and the patient. An excellent way to get this information is by being honest with yourself and asking your significant other or someone you trust to tell you if they are happy with your appearance.
Following the procedure, the patient needs to follow the doctor’s instructions closely and follow up with her surgeon. If a patient does not follow up after surgery, it can lead to complications and poor results.
A mommy makeover procedure is done in a hospital under general anesthesia. Sometimes patients may need an overnight stay because of pain or discomfort. The recovery period from one mommy makeover procedure is similar to that from other surgical procedures.
The recovery period for each surgery in a the procedure is dependent on the patient’s recovery from the previous surgery. Overall, patients recover over several weeks and resume normal daily activity in four to six weeks. However, there are some differences between the recovery periods of each procedure in the mommy makeover:
Breast augmentation is the only surgery done at the same time as liposuction and tummy tuck, so after this surgery, women can go home within two to three hours. However, they will require someone to help them at home while they recover. Breast augmentation recovery takes about three weeks.
Women have four to six weeks of recovery after their tummy tuck and lipo surgery. Women usually may need help lifting heavy items or even taking care of the children for up to two weeks after surgery. The recovery time, in this case, is quite long and requires additional support from family and friends or a caregiver or nanny.
Women who have the breast lift last will recover in six to eight weeks. Incisions are usually closed with stitches that the doctor in their office removes. Women who have a breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction will have three scars on the body which need to be treated with special care at home after surgery.
As for pre-operative and post-operative advice, the procedure is usually done in an outpatient setting. Anesthesia is usually local, using regional or general anesthesia. After surgery, patients must lie flat for 24 hours, depending on how their body reacts. The patient will be asked to wear surgical compression garments for about two weeks after surgery, and after that time, they can wear clothes, but care would be taken not to pull them too tight.
In conclusion, a mommy makeover is a relatively standard procedure for women who want to improve the appearance of their body after pregnancy or in a post-pregnancy body or reshape it into a more youthful and fit one. A mommy makeover is highly recommended for those women who are unhappy with the result of pregnancy or have complications due to the weight gained during pregnancy.
