Mommy Makeover
This surgery can improve simultaneously breast, tummy, body contour, and even facial changes, which commonly occur after childbearing. As specialist in this procedure, we work with you to design single operation with a single recovery that can address all your needs. For many patients the surgery may involve only breast surgery or only a tummy tuck. For others, however, optimal correction requires a more extensive procedure. As a team of 2 surgeons, we can work together to do this safely in a time and cost-efficient manner. Our entire team is trained to help you with education, planning, and recovery. We see patients from all over the Bay area, and even out of state and country; and each patient has unique needs.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What are the procedures commonly considered in mommy-makeover surgery?
A: The most common breast deformity seen after pregnancy is what we call a deflation effect. A result of the expansion and contraction of breast volume with pregnancies. The skin may be stretched and breast tissue lost leading to an “empty sac” appearance. In some cases, restoring volume with an implant completely corrects this problem. For others, breast uplift or reduction may be required. For many patients, uplift and implants must be utilized. Also, there are changes in abdominal contour. Stretching of the abdominal muscle girdle leads to unnatural protrusion of the lower abdomen often bordering on a hernia. Stretched skin creates multiple marks or striae and laxity of tissue around the belly button. Finally, there may be a tendency to carry extra weight in the mid torso especially in the abdomen and hips. This type of body contour surgery is much like sculpting. An artist would not create a perfectly formed breast, and match it with an aged or deformed lower torso. Optimum reconstruction therefore requires addressing these problems at once. As experts in the individual surgeries involved, we can determine which combination of the procedures will achieved the best results.
Q: Is it safe to undergo a multi-procedure operation and how long does it take to do the surgery?
A: The first decision regarding any surgery has to be safety. More extensive procedures require more operative time. Although, there may not be a significant difference between a 2-hour surgery and a 3-hour surgery, very long procedures can increase nonspecific risk. By working as a two-surgeon team with especially trained assistants, we can decrease the required operating time often by half. It is therefore possible to safely address these problems in one procedure, if the patient is healthy.
Q: What is recovery like?
A: Obviously, there is variation depending on the procedure required. However, for a procedure involving breast, tummy, and possibly liposuction, we would ask you to plan 2-4 weeks for recovery. The surgery itself will take 4-6 hours and require an overnight stay at the surgical facility. You should plan to have assistance with all activities of daily living, or several days after your procedure. Most moms are used to being a caretaker, and it is not possible to return home and resume this role immediately. We expect you to be up and around the day after the surgery with gradual resumption of normal activities such as driving, and independent care at approximately 7-10 days, and resumption of more vigorous activities such as exercise at 2-3 weeks. Complete maturation of scars and return of completely natural appearance can require several months or even a year.
Q: Do I need to be at my ideal weight before considering surgery?
A: The most important thing is to be at stable weight. Many patients of ours have difficulty reaching their pre-pregnancy weight and feel defeated. The surgery should be a motivator to reach new goals and you will see dramatic results after surgery if you continue to exercise and strive for your optimal weight.
Q: Is mommy makeover surgery only for young moms?
A: Absolutely not. We have been introduced to moms by their daughters upon whom we have operated. Sometimes, one does not have the time or financial resources to do something for your self until later time in life. Facial surgery is often a common request of older moms.
Q: Is there anything that could be done to correct a tired facial appearance, which seem to be out of proportion to my age?
A: Yes. Facial rejuvenation can be considered as part of a combined procedure. For younger moms, this may be Botox, combined with injectable fillers or laser treatments. For some, face lifting may be necessary to maintain facial and body contour harmony.
Q: My husband tells me I just need to work out more and my postpregnancy changes will go away. Is this true?
A: Obviously, a return to prepregnancy exercise is important in younger moms. This will often allow you to approach your previous stable weight. However, there are anatomic changes relating to stretching of abdominal musculature and skin that no amount of exercise can correct. Lax breasts are not going to become high and tight with exercise, and abdominal hernia is not going to repair itself. We have found that when spouses understand the anatomic changes brought about by pregnancy cannot be corrected with exercise, they are very supportive of the options to correct it. We have often joked that if childbearing did to men’s bodies what it does to women’s, our practice would be mostly male.
Q: How do I decide if I am a candidate for mommy makeover and who my doctor should be?
A: In spite of the light-hearted nature of the name, this is real surgery and requires due diligence. You must understand what the tradeoffs and potential risks of your surgery are and be appropriately prepared for recovery. In order to be expert in multiple procedure surgeries, the surgeon first must be expert in all the individual procedures involved. In most cases this requires a board certified plastic surgeon with years of experience in these individual procedures. With more extensive procedures, we feel it is definitely advantageous to have a team of surgeons and a supportive staff who are used to dealing with your special needs.