The mommy makeover is a popular body contouring procedure that many women choose to get after completing their families. If you’re bothered by a stubborn belly bulge, loose skin or other concerns that tend to crop up following pregnancy, childbirth and the natural aging process, a mommy makeover could be right for you.
Your first step is to choose the best female plastic surgeon for your mommy makeover, then schedule a consultation to discuss your goals and timeline.
Consultation
This is your time to ask any questions about your mommy makeover you might have and decide if this plastic surgeon is the right one for you. Explain where your trouble spots are and what you’re hoping to get out of your mommy makeover. Your plastic surgeon should provide a thorough physical exam and ask about your medical history.
Jot down a list of questions to bring, such as:
- Are you board-certified?
- How many mommy makeovers have you performed in the past?
- Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
- Can the procedures I want to include in my mommy makeover be combined into one surgery, or do you recommend splitting them up?
Pre-Op Appointment
Once you’ve decided that a mommy makeover is right for you and booked your surgery date, you should have a pre-op appointment around two weeks before the big day.
At this appointment, be sure to ask any lingering questions that you still have. This is an opportunity to make sure you feel confident about your upcoming procedure. Your plastic surgeon should go over what will happen on the day of your surgery, what to wear and bring that morning and what you can do now to prepare, such as getting your prescriptions filled early.
Surgery Day
On the day of your surgery, make sure you have a spouse, friend or family member drive you to your appointment and be there to drive you home.
You’ll meet with the certified anesthesia provider, who may ask you some questions about any previous experiences with anesthesia you might have had, as well as answer any of your questions.
When you head into the operating room, you should have a chance to ask your plastic surgeon any last questions you might have before you’ll be given anesthesia and gradually fall asleep for your surgery.
1 to 2 Weeks after Your Mommy Makeover
Be sure to stick to your follow-up appointments, as they’re helpful check-ins to make sure everything is healing as it should.
For the first two weeks after your mommy makeover, you’ll want to focus on resting and taking care of your body. Stitches may be removed around the first week, and most women are able to go back to work and resume other daily activities by week two. Your plastic surgeon will likely schedule a follow-up visit before giving you the okay to return to work.
3 Months after Your Mommy Makeover
Around three months after your mommy makeover, the majority of the swelling should be gone, so you finally get a chance to see the beginnings of your final results. At this point, you should also be back to your normal daily life, including your regular exercise routine.
Keep in mind that it’ll still take some time for your full mommy makeover results to develop, so don’t get discouraged if you’re still seeing some swelling or slight differences in either sides of your body. It’s not uncommon, for example, for one breast to “drop and fluff” faster than the other after breast augmentation.
Dr. Jennifer Harrington is a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota. Harrington Plastic Surgery is pleased to offer the most advanced cosmetic and reconstructive techniques performed by a highly specialized all-female team of board-certified plastic surgeons and professional staff.