Mommy Makeover
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“Having a mommy makeover wasn’t something I had planned or even considered before children, but I had my third child at 38 and really struggled to tone my tummy. I was frustrated with the roll over my jeans and the way my breasts sagged. I will never regret the decision to have this surgery with Dr Dower. He always made me feel comfortable and it’s restored a confidence in myself that I had lost for some time.”
Real Patient Results
Giving a woman back her confidence is one of the best things about what I do.
“I always take post-op pictures and good physical results bring me great satisfaction. However, the biggest reward I get from doing this procedure is seeing the change in the way patients look when they walk through the door for follow-up appointments. They seem to wear their clothes differently, I notice a change in their posture, and they seem more comfortable and confident” – Dr Rory Dower
FAQs about Mommy Makeovers
What is a Mommy Makeover?
A “mommy makeover” combines surgical and/or non-surgical cosmetic enhancement procedures designed to get you closer to your pre-pregnancy state. These can include body contouring plastic surgery procedures, facelift surgery, breast enhancement, and other options.
What do you hope to offer to your patients with the Mommy Makeover?
The Mommy Makeover procedure is all about helping mothers restore their bodies to their pre-pregnancy self. As wonderful as having children is, it can alter your body so drastically that no amount of exercise or diet can shift it back to the way it was before – and this affects many women’s confidence. Having said that, the Mommy Makeover procedure will not always give you back your exact pre-pregnancy self, as your body will still have scars or stretch marks – and it’s important that patients’ expectations are set correctly.
Is everyone who’s had a child a candidate for a Mommy Makeover procedure?
Not all patients are candidates for Mommy Makeover plastic surgery, and so it’s important that patients do not have unrealistic expectations of the procedure. Some people may not have excess skin and fat, and then the procedure may have to be modified (i.e. only liposuction or a mini tummy tuck). People with major medical issues are also not good candidates.
Does a Mommy Makeover negate the need for a healthy diet or taking up exercise after having a child?
No – not at all. Ideally women should be at their goal weight when going for this procedure.
Mommy Makeover plastic surgery will flatten the anterior abdominal contour (the front of the tummy) by taking away excess skin and removing the bulge by bringing your stomach muscles together. Your breasts will also be lifted, with or without increasing their size, depending on whether or not an augmentation is done. This won’t however affect the shape and contour of other parts of your body such as your arms, back, flanks (love handles) and thighs.
Is the mommy makeover done all at one time?
Depending on the procedures involved, they can be done together in one operation, or over two stages.
How soon after having their children do you recommend someone has a mommy makeover?
At least six months after giving birth and a minimum of three months after completing breastfeeding. This is because hormones affect elasticity and skin tone, so you need to give time for your skin to retract and cover.
It’s also a bad idea to have a tummy tuck at the same time as a C-section, because the skin is stretched and it’s difficult to judge how much skin to resect, because some of the skin will continue to retract over the next few months as the hormones in your body change.
Is it a good idea to have a tummy tuck at the same time as a C-section?
No, it’s a bad idea for these reasons:
- Disappointing results
The skin and muscles are stretched during pregnancy – over the next few months as the hormones in your body change, some of this stretching will retract. If you’re doing a tummy tuck at the same time of your C-section, it’s difficult for your surgeon to judge how much skin to cut out in order to achieve a good result. - Difficult recovery
Recovering from a tummy tuck or C-section is difficult. Recovering from both surgeries at the same time, on top of caring for a newborn baby, is complicated and exhausting! - Complications
Both procedures have risks, and combining them can increase the potential for complications. Around the time of pregnancy, women are also at increased risk of blood clots and fluid retention, plus there’s a greater risk of infection.
- Disappointing results
How soon after a mommy makeover can I lift my child?
A mommy makeover is a significant procedure, so there needs to be enough recovery time to prevent wound healing problems.
On average, the healing time would need to be four to six weeks, but it will depend on how much is done, and how fast you heal. During this time, you can sit with your child on the couch, or with them on your lap (as long as they are calm). It also helps if you go down to your child’s level (i.e bending down to speak to them), so that you feel less of a need to bring them up to yours.
I usually recommend that you start practicing this new way of interacting with your child a week or two before surgery, so that it’s less of a shock for your child when the time comes.
