When Should I Consider a Mommy Makeover?

A mommy makeover often combines body contouring and breast enhancement procedures to help women restore their pre-pregnancy figure after childbirth and breastfeeding. Timing your surgery around future pregnancies, breastfeeding plans, and adequate recovery time is essential to achieving long-lasting results.

A mommy makeover can be a great procedural option for women seeking to inclusively address aesthetic concerns such as loose skin in the midsection and lower body, breast sagging and/or volume loss, excess fat accumulations, and/or the appearance of stretch marks. These can all be the result of pregnancy, childbearing, and breastfeeding. Depending on your individual needs, a customized combination of body sculpting and breast enhancement procedures can be formulated to help you regain your pre-pregnancy figure with exceptional results.

Some of the most common procedures combined to create a mommy makeover at The Aesthetic Institute of Chicago include (but are not limited to):

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, addresses excess skin and stretched abdominal muscles that typically result from pregnancy. During this procedure, loose skin is removed and weakened muscles are tightened, creating a firmer, more toned midsection. Many women find that diet and exercise alone cannot correct these changes, making a tummy tuck a valuable component of a mommy makeover. This procedure is frequently combined with liposuction for more comprehensive contouring.

Liposuction

Liposuction targets stubborn pockets of fat that remain after pregnancy, even with a healthy diet and consistent exercise. Common treatment areas include the abdomen, flanks, hips, and thighs. This procedure can help refine and contour the body’s natural shape, complementing the results of a tummy tuck or other mommy makeover procedures. Recovery is generally quicker than more invasive body contouring surgeries.

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation can restore volume and fullness that may be lost after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Using saline or silicone implants, this procedure can enhance breast size and improve overall symmetry. Many women choose augmentation as part of their mommy makeover to help balance their proportions after significant changes to their breast tissue. It can also be combined with a lift for added shape correction.

Breast Lift

A breast lift helps address sagging by removing excess skin and repositioning breast tissue to a more youthful, elevated position. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause the breasts to lose elasticity and volume, leading to a drooping appearance. This procedure is often paired with augmentation for patients who desire both a lift and added fullness. Results can significantly enhance the overall silhouette and boost self-confidence.

Thigh Lift

A thigh lift is designed to remove excess, sagging skin from the inner and/or outer thighs, an area that can be significantly affected by pregnancy-related weight fluctuations. This procedure can create smoother, more toned contours and improve comfort in clothing and during physical activity. It is usually included in a mommy makeover for patients experiencing skin laxity beyond the midsection.

Lower Body Lift

A lower body lift is a more comprehensive procedure that can target excess skin around the abdomen, hips, thighs, and buttocks in a single surgery. This option may be ideal for patients with more extensive skin laxity following pregnancy or significant weight changes. By lifting and tightening multiple areas at once, patients can achieve a smoother, more proportionate lower body contour.

Timing Your Mommy Makeover

If you are considering a mommy makeover, timing is critical to not only attaining, but also maintaining an ideal outcome. For example, if you have recently given birth to a child and plan on breastfeeding, our board certified plastic surgeons – Dr. Brian Braithwaite and Dr. Lorri Cobbins – highly recommend waiting until you have finished breastfeeding before contemplating surgery. Additionally, if you plan to have any more kids later down the road, it is encouraged that you hold off on scheduling a mommy makeover until after you are done having children, as a new pregnancy and the related bodily changes may negatively affect your results.

Planning for Recovery

Another factor to take into consideration when thinking about the timing of a mommy makeover is recovery. Depending on the particular procedures you receive, the recovery period could extend two weeks, if not longer. For most of this time, you will need to avoid heavy lifting and/or strenuous activities that may impede the healing process. As a result, Drs. Cobbins and Braithwaite typically advise patients to refrain from scheduling their mommy makeover until they have an adequate amount of time to recover completely.

Choosing The Aesthetic Institute of Chicago for a Mommy Makeover

At The Aesthetic Institute of Chicago, mommy makeovers are performed by board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Braithwaite and Dr. Cobbins in an on-site, Quad A–accredited surgical facility. Both surgeons bring extensive experience in body contouring and breast surgeries, and are dedicated to helping you achieve natural-looking, long-lasting results. From your initial consultation through recovery, Dr. Braithwaite and Dr. Cobbins take the time to listen closely to your goals and design a customized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs and timeline.

Ultimately, by bearing this information in mind when considering a mommy makeover, you can help optimize the quality and longevity of your outcome. For more information, or if you would like to schedule a consultation with one of our board certified plastic surgeons, please contact us today.

Key Takeaways

• A mommy makeover typically combines body contouring and breast enhancement procedures to address post-pregnancy concerns including loose skin, volume loss, and stubborn fat.
• Common procedures include abdominoplasty, liposuction, breast augmentation, and more, often combined for comprehensive results.
• It’s generally best to wait until you’ve finished breastfeeding and are done having children before scheduling surgery to protect your results.
• Recovery can take two weeks or longer, so plan your surgery around a period when you can avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity.
• The Aesthetic Institute of Chicago’s board-certified surgeons offer personalized consultations to design a mommy makeover plan suited to your goals and timeline.