Planning for Your Mommy Makeover

Mommy makeovers have become hugely popular over the last several years, as more women are reclaiming their bodies after pregnancy to look and feel their best. Even with the most diligent exercise and strict diet, it may not be possible to restore the look of your pre-pregnancy body without help from a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. John Williams.

The mommy makeover is a favorite procedure of Dr. Williams, because it is such a transformative surgery for his patients. Women who may feel that they’ve lost their femininity and beauty feel restored and revitalized following their surgeries. However, a mommy makeover is not a wave of a magic wand. It is a significant surgical procedure—or rather, set of surgeries—with several weeks of downtime required. Therefore, it should start with careful planning and realistic expectations.

Consider Which Procedures Your Mommy Makeover Should Include

During your mommy makeover consultation, you should be open and honest about what bothers you most about with your body. Common patient concerns include sagging breasts and lost volume in the breasts, excess skin and fat in the abdomen, loss of definition in the arms and upper thighs, and excess weight around the hips and buttocks. To address these concerns, your makeover may include a breast lift with augmentation, tummy tuck, and liposuction. In some cases, an arm lift, thigh lift, or facial rejuvenation procedures may be included as well. The surgery is highly customizable to your needs.

Budget for the Mommy Makeover Cost

The average mommy makeover cost is about $15,000-$25,000. So, it should be an expense you are budgeting for. There are financing options to help you manage the costs. At John Williams, MD Plastic Surgery, patients may choose from Prosper Healthcare Lending, Alphaeon Credit, and CareCredit to finance surgical costs. Patients with qualified credit may be eligible for interest-free lending that simply breaks the costs of surgery into more manageable payments.

Allow Enough Mommy Makeover Recovery Time

Because the mommy makeover combines several surgical procedures, it does require an overnight stay in the hospital as well as 4-6 weeks of recovery time. During the first 2-3 weeks of your mommy makeover recovery, you should avoid any strenuous activity, including many household chores. Because breast implants most commonly are placed below the pectoral muscles, you should not do any lifting or upper body exercise after your surgery. You may also have some soreness in the abdomen following the tummy tuck. Thus, you may need extra help from your spouse or friends and family members to care for the kids and help around the house.

After 2-3 weeks, many women do return to work and light activities. However, it can take up to 2 months to get back to your normal daily routine. Additionally, you should plan for multiple follow-up visits to assess the results of your procedure after your surgery.

Plan on Maintaining Your Results

A mommy makeover can yield a dramatic transformation for patients, but you will need to maintain your results with a sensible diet and regular exercise. You should plan on getting back into an exercise routine soon after your surgery. Light cardio is achievable for most women well before the 8-week mark in their recovery. Lifting and more strenuous exercise should be scaled up to avoid injuring the pectoral and abdominal muscles, which will likely be restructured during your surgery.

The mommy makeover procedure may not be ideal if you are planning to have more children or if you are not near your ideal body weight. The mommy makeover is not intended as a weight loss procedure, although it can address stubborn areas of fat that are common problem areas for women post-pregnancy.

If you are ready to schedule a mommy makeover consultation, get in touch with Dr. Williams by calling (480) 630-1722. As a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience, Dr. John Williams can help you achieve exceptional results from your surgery.