What is a Mommy Makeover?

Mommy Makeover:  The term “mommy makeover” doesn’t represent anyone procedure, but encompasses a number of potential operations to correct the body changes that come with childbirth. In general, the term “mommy makeover” applies to surgeries that address both the breast and body contouring at the same time. Having children often changes the volume, skin laxity, and contours of the breast. Pregnancy also stretches the natural tissue laxity of the abdominal skin and structural support of the abdomen. The “mommy makeover” will address the breast changes with a breast augmentation, breast lift, or lift with an augmentation at the same setting as body contouring. Body contouring may only be liposuction to address stubborn fat deposits that won’t go away after having kids, or it may involve doing some form of tummy tuck to get rid of loose skin and stretch marks as well as allow tightening of the underlying muscles and fascia of the abdomen to regain the youthful contours.

Tummy tucks themselves are a constellation of procedures that begin with the mini-tummy tuck, but can also be extended all the way around the abdomen and back which is a circumferential tummy tuck. The circumferential variety of tummy tuck is more frequently done in the setting of major weight loss, but on occasion, someone might have had enough body changes from pregnancies to make the circumferential indicated. As patients can imagine the more the body changed with the pregnancies the more might have to be done. If someone might have only a little breast atrophy needing only a breast augmentation then we don’t use the term “mommy makeover” for only one thing needed correction, but it still fixed a “mommy” problem from having children. In the same vein if a patient only needs a tummy tuck and no breast surgery we don’t call that a mommy makeover. Mommy makeover is just a term to simplify the education process to patients. It’s usually best to be done having children before proceeding with a mommy makeover for the patient can lose some of the benefits the surgery provided if they get pregnant again. Feel free to contact the office for a consult if you wish to discuss which mix of options would serve your desires the best.