Have you looked at photos of celebrity moms relaxing on the beach with their young children and wondered, “How do their bodies look so amazing?” These types of photos lead women to believe that if they exercise enough and follow a healthy diet, they can regain their pre-pregnancy bodies. What they may not realize, however, is that many of these celebrities undergo a plastic surgery procedure called a mommy makeover.
At our Little Rock, Arkansas, plastic surgery practice, Dr. Eric Wright performs this suite of body contouring procedures for patients whose midsection and breasts reflect the physical toll that pregnancy and breastfeeding have taken on their bodies. These changes—excess abdominal skin, a “belly pooch,” and sagging, deflated breasts—can’t be reversed with extra crunches or pushups.
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How Do You Qualify for a Mommy Makeover? Do You Have To Be a Mom?
Even though mommy makeover is a cute phrase, it’s important to know that it’s not just for moms. It’s for any healthy patient who wants to contour their midsection and enhance their breasts. Good candidates for the procedure are:
- In good health
- Nonsmokers
- At a stable, healthy weight
- Bothered by loose, excess skin on their abdomen
- Interested in changing their breast size, shape, or position
It’s also essential that you understand this is a major surgery that requires fairly significant recovery time. Still, patients believe the transformative results are well worth the temporary discomfort associated with the healing process.
How Much Do You Have to Weigh To Get a Mommy Makeover?
There’s no strict weight requirement for a mommy makeover, but surgeons typically recommend that patients be at or near their ideal weight before surgery—usually within 10 to 15 pounds of their goal. A stable weight and a healthy BMI (generally under 30) help ensure safer surgery, better healing, and long-lasting results. If you’re actively losing weight, it may be best to wait until you’ve reached a stable point before moving forward.
How Much Does a Mommy Makeover Cost in Arkansas?
Estimating the cost of a mommy makeover isn’t really possible because the procedures vary from patient to patient. The complexity and number of procedures involved will affect the price. Dr. Wright and his team discuss the cost of a mommy makeover with patients after the consultation so they know exactly what is included in the price.
What’s Involved in a Mommy Makeover?
The classic combination of procedures involves a tummy tuck, liposuction, and some type of breast enhancement surgery. Here’s a look at the most common procedures included in a mommy makeover:
Tummy Tuck & Liposuction
It’s rare to perform a tummy tuck without liposuction. A tummy tuck removes excess abdominal skin that’s stretched during pregnancy, but it’s often not the only body contouring procedure that’s needed during a mommy makeover. Some patients have a belly pooch over the belt line in addition to the excess skin caused by bulging abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck tightens the muscles, and liposuction reduces excess fat on the hips, flanks, and even the bra line.
This combination produces a flatter stomach and smooth, contoured results overall.
A tummy tuck requires the surgeon to make an incision that stretches from one hip to the other just above the pubic area. The scar, which is low enough to be concealed by bikini bottoms, usually fades after a year or so.
Breast Lift With Implants
Many patients want to restore a more youthful appearance to their sagging and deflated breasts. Combining a breast lift with implants reshapes and elevates the breasts and restores their pre-pregnancy fullness or increases the size. If a patient is satisfied with the size of her breasts, a breast lift alone may be all that’s needed.
What Is the Best Age for a Mommy Makeover?
There is no set age limit or “best” age for a mommy makeover. According to RealSelf, a popular online resource for people considering plastic surgery, most people who research mommy makeovers are 25- to 34-year-olds. Statistics from leading aesthetics organizations show that the procedures included in mommy makeovers are also popular with patients under 45.
When Is the Best Time To Get a Mommy Makeover?
Important factors to keep in mind regarding the timing of your procedure include:
- If you’re planning to have more children, we recommend postponing the procedure.
- Wait at least 6 months after giving birth so that your body is completely healed.
- If you’re breastfeeding, wait at least 6 months after weaning.
After you finish breastfeeding, your breast tissue needs time to shrink. You should also be as close to your optimal weight as possible before scheduling the surgery.
Emotional readiness and lifestyle readiness are equally important when you’re considering a mommy makeover. For example, since you won’t be able to lift small children during the recovery period, you may find it’s easier emotionally and physically to wait until your children are more independent.
Is a Mommy Makeover a Safe Surgery?
Combining procedures such as in a mommy makeover is considered safe when an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon performs the surgery. Dr. Wright customizes a mommy makeover to address each patient’s specific concerns after discussing her options at a consultation.
What Are the Benefits of Combining Surgeries?
There are multiple benefits of getting a mommy makeover. For moms with children at home, having to arrange for only a single recovery period is invaluable. There are also cost savings involved because certain fees only need to be paid once, and there’s an emotional benefit to completing the physical transformation at once instead of staging the procedures.
Mommy Makeover Recovery
A mommy makeover is major surgery, and you’ll need plenty of rest to help you heal after the procedure. Besides general discomfort, you can expect to experience tightness, swelling, and bruising during the first week after surgery. Medication helps manage your pain, and following our post-op instructions greatly minimizes the risk of complications.
Being realistic about the recovery makes it easier mentally to cope with the challenges. For example, it’s difficult to explain to toddlers why you can’t pick them up or why mommy needs to stay in bed so much. Preparing yourself for those challenges is helpful.
- Plan to take at least 2 weeks off from work if you have a job that’s not physically demanding.
- Prepare for recovery by creating a special area where you have access to everything you’ll want. Have extra pillows, including a full-body pillow, available to support your body completely.
- At 6 weeks post-op, most patients can return to their normal exercise routine.
Being patient during recovery is important, as it may take a while for swelling to completely diminish and your results to fully develop.
Getting Started
If you are considering a mommy makeover and looking for the best plastic surgeon in the Little Rock area, request a consultation with Dr. Wright using the online form or call us at (501) 575-0088 to schedule an appointment.
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