Mommy Makeover

What Is a Mommy Makeover?

A mommy makeover is a customized combination of plastic surgery procedures designed to restore pre-pregnancy body contours. Rather than undergoing multiple separate surgeries, this approach allows you to address your breasts, abdomen and/or other problem areas during one surgical session. The specific procedures included depend entirely on your anatomy and goals.

What Procedures Are Included in a Mommy Makeover?

Every mommy makeover looks different because every mother’s body has changed differently. Dr. Terrasse works with you to determine which combination of procedures will deliver the results you want.

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

The tummy tuck forms the cornerstone of most mommy makeovers. This procedure removes excess abdominal skin, eliminates stubborn fat and repairs separated abdominal muscles. 

Diastasis recti, the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles along the midline, affects approximately 60% of women at six weeks postpartum and persists in about 33% of women a year after giving birth. A tummy tuck addresses this muscle separation while creating a flatter and more toned midsection.

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding often cause breasts to sag and lose their youthful position. A breast lift raises and reshapes the breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning the nipple-areola complex higher on the chest wall.

Breast Augmentation

If your breasts have lost volume after nursing, breast augmentation can restore fullness using implants. Many women combine a breast lift with augmentation to achieve lifted and fuller breasts in one procedure.

Breast Reduction

Some women experience significant breast growth during pregnancy that never fully resolves. Others have had overly large breasts since before having kids and wish to finally alleviate the problems they cause in a combination surgery. A breast reduction removes excess tissue to create smaller and more proportionate breasts while relieving back and shoulder strain.

Liposuction

Diet-resistant fat deposits in the hips, thighs, flanks and arms respond well to liposuction. Dr. Terrasse frequently incorporates liposuction into mommy makeovers to refine body contours and complement the results of other procedures.

Additional Mommy Makeover Options

Depending on your concerns, Dr. Terrasse may recommend other procedures as part of your mommy makeover. 

• An arm lift addresses loose skin and excess fat in the upper arms. 
• Nipple refinement can resize or reshape nipples that have become stretched from breastfeeding. 
• A body lift provides more comprehensive contouring when excess skin affects multiple areas around the midsection.

Benefits of Combining Procedures in a Mommy Makeover

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the tummy tuck remains among the top five cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States, with much of its popularity driven by mommy makeover patients. Combining a tummy tuck with breast surgery and liposuction offers several advantages over staging procedures separately.

A single recovery period means you take time off work and away from your routine just once rather than recovering from multiple surgeries months apart. Addressing the breasts and abdomen together creates balanced and harmonious body contours that individual procedures performed at different times may not achieve. From a financial standpoint, one anesthesia fee and one facility fee cost less than paying for separate surgical sessions.

What to Expect During Your Consultation

Your consultation at Terrasse Aesthetic Surgery begins with a candid conversation about your concerns and goals. Dr. Terrasse takes time to listen, asking questions about your pregnancies, breastfeeding history and lifestyle. He then performs a physical examination to assess which procedures will address your specific concerns.

Using advanced Vectra 3D imaging technology, Dr. Terrasse can show you realistic simulations of potential results. This visualization tool helps you make informed decisions about factors such as implant size and surgical approach before committing to a treatment plan.

How to Prepare for a Mommy Makeover

Preparation begins several weeks before surgery. Dr. Terrasse provides detailed preoperative instructions, which typically include stopping smoking well in advance of your procedure, discontinuing blood-thinning medications and supplements, arranging for help at home during your initial recovery and setting up a comfortable recovery space with essentials within easy reach.

Because mommy makeover surgery requires general anesthesia, you will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 to 48 hours. Many patients find it helpful to prepare meals in advance and arrange childcare so they can focus entirely on healing.

What Is Mommy Makeover Recovery Like?

Mommy makeover recovery varies depending on which procedures you undergo. Most patients take two to three weeks away from work and daily responsibilities. Dr. Terrasse provides compression garments to support your healing tissues and minimize swelling.

During the first week, you will need assistance with basic tasks and should avoid lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds. Walking short distances several times daily promotes circulation and reduces the risk of blood clots. By week three or four, most patients feel comfortable returning to light activities, though strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should wait until about six weeks postoperatively.

What Results Can I Expect From a Mommy Makeover?

Swelling continues to resolve over several months, with final results becoming apparent between three and six months after surgery. The results of a mommy makeover are long lasting. Your tummy tuck results remain stable as long as you maintain a consistent weight, and breast surgery results typically last many years. While aging and gravity will continue to affect your body, your contours will forever benefit from this enhancement, maintaining a tighter, more youthful shape compared to if you hadn’t undergone surgery.