“Mommy Makeover” Surgeries Help Women Get Their Pre-Child Bodies Back

Sometimes, your body does not go back to the way it was before childbirth. You expect the changes but not always to the extent they can come. Mommy makeovers are a selection of cosmetic surgeries aimed at bringing your body closer to what it was before your baby was born.

What is a mommy makeover?

During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through many changes. Your belly expands, your breasts enlarge, you put on weight, your fingers and feet swell, and the list goes on. Once your baby is born, your body begins to return to normal. It is unlikely, though, that your body will return to your pre-baby form.

Some mothers will have a mommy makeover. Designed to be tailored to the individual needs of each mom, mommy makeovers help you return even closer to your pre-baby body.

What is included in a mommy makeover?

Everybody is different. Everyone experiences different changes during pregnancy. Everyone heals differently. This is why a mommy makeover is designed specifically for you.

Procedures include:

Liposuction. removal of fat that is hard to lose, even when you’ve lost all the baby weight.

Breast lift. removal of extra skin from the swelling during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Tummy tuck. removal or repair of skin and muscles of the stomach.

Butt augmentation. removal of extra skin or fat grafting to add fullness.

Labiaplasty. repair of the labia minora, the two inner, hairless lips or folds that help protect the vagina. During childbirth, they can become stretched. This can lead to irritation as they are meant to be protected by the labia majora — the hairy outer lips or folds that protect female genitalia.

When you choose a plastic surgeon, make sure they offer all the procedures you would like. Do your research and decide how you would like to look. That way you can know what procedures you need to have done.

When after having a baby can I have a mommy makeover?

The time to have a mommy makeover is as personal as what to include in your mommy makeover. There are some things you do need to take into consideration.

You should be fully healed from your most recent childbirth. If you plan to have surgery on your breasts, and you decide to breastfeed your baby, you should wait several months after you finish before having surgery.

You may wish to decide to wait to have a mommy makeover until you are done having children. That way you only need to undergo surgery once. Also, take into consideration the length of time needed to recover from surgery.

You may not have all of your procedures done at the same time. Make sure you plan for child care and help at home while you are healing.

What if I've had a c-section?

There are very few differences in mommy makeovers between moms who have a c-section and those who do not. The timing will be delayed, due to the longer recovery time from the c-section. Your surgeon will need to know that you had a c-section. Scars from incisions can change how your surgery is done. The plastic surgeon will need to plan for these things when they do your mommy makeover.

What if I get pregnant after the makeover?

There is no risk if you become pregnant after a mommy makeover. The procedures done for a mommy makeover do not change the inside of your body —your uterus and ovaries. You will have no difficulties getting pregnant or carrying your baby to term.

The only issue you will have is that your body will change again. This is why your surgeon will advise you to only have the mommy makeover after you have finished having babies. It can be expensive to have the makeover more than once. There are also always risks when you have surgery, so it is best to avoid having those risks multiple times.

What are the risks of a mommy makeover?

The risks of a Mommy makeover are similar to any other surgery. Your risks will depend on the different procedures you decide to have done.

Basic risks include:

Speak with your doctor about the risks and benefits of any of the procedures you would like done.

What kind of scarring should I expect?

Every surgical procedure comes with scars. There is no way to avoid them. Plastic surgeons have learned how to minimize scars. Placing the incisions in certain parts of the body, in certain ways decreases their visibility. There are also creams and ointments you can use on the incision sites and scars to help them be less noticeable.

With every surgery, there is a risk your scars will be more obvious. This depends on many factors, including which surgeon you use, how your body heals, and which procedure you have.

What is recovery like with a mommy makeover?

Like the risks, recovery is based on the specific procedures you decide to have done. With any of the procedures, you can expect some of the same things during your recovery time. You will have some bruising and swelling in the first few weeks. There will be some pain at the beginning of your recovery. It would be a good idea to have someone available to help you during those first few weeks.

Do not be concerned if you don’t see the results you desire in the mirror during the first few months. It can take time for your body to heal and for the final results to be noticeable.

A mommy makeover is used to help those who have had a baby and want help to return to their pre-pregnancy body. Each makeover is created individually for each person. Speak with your plastic surgeon to discuss options, risks, and ways to minimize scarring.