Questions Every Woman Should Ask During Her Mommy Makeover Consultation

Mommy makeover can restore and even improve upon a woman’s pre-pregnancy body. Many women are saddened by the stretched out skin of the abdomen and breasts after pregnancy, and a mommy makeover can address both areas in one surgical setting to improve their torso.

Here, Sacramento plastic surgeon Dr. Debra Johnson shares four questions you should ask during your mommy makeover consultation.

Am I a Good Candidate?

Women who are in good overall health and have a stable weight can consider undergoing a mommy makeover. For best results, it is recommended that women wait to have surgery until they are sure they will not have any more children. Although it is safe to get pregnant after mommy makeover, the cosmetic results can be sabotaged, leaving you with a need for additional surgery. Women should wait at least four months after stopping breastfeeding and be at a good, stable weight prior to undergoing a mommy makeover.

What Are My Treatment Options?

Depending on the body areas that have been affected by pregnancy and breastfeeding, a mommy makeover can include the following:

Breast augmentation: This procedure restores volume and fullness to deflated, breasts. Placing breast implants can fill the skin, restore cleavage, and correct asymmetry, if needed.

Breast lift: This procedure raises saggy breasts for a more youthful appearance. Breast lift eliminates excess skin and re-sculpts the breast tissue higher on the chest wall. Overly large or stretched out areolas can be reduced for a more pleasing appearance.

Tummy tuck: Tummy tuck eliminates loose, excess skin on the abdomen for a flatter and firmer contour. The procedure also removes excess fat and repairs separated muscles. Stretch marks below the belly button are removed, while those above are moved lower on the abdomen and are less noticeable.

Liposuction: The gold standard in fat removal, liposuction eliminates pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. It can be used on the abdomen, upper arms, hips, thighs, buttocks, underneath the chin and on the neck. Liposuction is commonly performed with breast lift and tummy tuck to produce more aesthetically-pleasing results.

What Should I Expect During My Recovery?

Mommy makeover is a serious surgical procedure that requires downtime. Patients should plan on taking three to four weeks off from their normal routine (including work and exercise) Each patient’s recovery timeline will be tailored to her personal needs and healing progress.

How Long Until I See My Results?

It is important to understand that the final results of mommy makeover are not immediate. It takes three to four months for the body contours to settle, and up to twelve months for scars to mature. During this time, it is important to follow the surgeon’s post-op instructions, live a healthy lifestyle (i.e., eat healthily, exercise, not smoke) and maintain a positive attitude. The results of your mommy makeover will be worth the wait!

To discuss your mommy makeover treatment options, schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Debra Johnson. Please call (916) 929-1833 or send our office an email today.