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A Newbie’s Guide to Mommy Makeover

If you’re considering a Mommy Makeover then you’ve most likely done your research and know that this surgery is one of the bigger ones. What we mean by this is that it’s an extensive surgery because it’s actually what we call a combination procedure, where we combine multiple different surgeries into a single operation.

The Mommy Makeover includes a breast procedure, typically a breast lift, but in some cases it could be combined with a breast augmentation (or an augmentation alone) or any other breast procedure—it really just depends on what the patient needs. In addition to a breast procedure, the Mommy Makeover also includes a tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty and liposuction of the lower body.

Sounds like a lot, and it is, but it’s also wonderful as it significantly reduces your recovery time as well as any associated surgical risks compared to if you were to have these three surgeries done separately.

Though the Mommy Makeover is performed more or less the same way across the board, every clinic runs a little differently, so we thought it might be helpful for you to know what to expect at our practice when considering a Mommy Makeover procedure.

Things to Keep in Mind Before the First Consultation With Your Surgeon

  1. Don’t be fooled by the name! The Mommy Makeover is not just a procedure for moms. Many moms do undergo the procedure as it addresses many of the transformations that a woman’s body undergoes after she’s been pregnant and given birth, such as sagging breasts and breast changes (primarily from nursing), abdominal muscle damage (rectus diastasis) from childbirth, weight gain, as well as skin laxity from weight loss. That being said, the Mommy Makeover is also an extremely effective procedure for anyone who has experienced significant weight loss.
  2. The Mommy Makeover is performed under general anesthesia.
  3. Recovery after the Mommy Makeover is extensive. You need to be prepared to take 2 weeks off of work and your regular activities, and it will be about 6 weeks before you start feeling like yourself again.
  4. If you’re a smoker, you’ll need to quit smoking at least one month prior to your surgery, but we prefer that be two months, and same following your surgery.
  5. You’ll need to have an excellent post-surgical care system in place at home for at least the first 2 weeks of your recovery. This means childcare and someone who can help you through the initial recovery process.

What to Expect From Your Mommy Makeover Consultation

Your first consultation is such an exciting moment! You finally get to meet your surgeon! The person who will be joining you on this transformative journey from beginning to end. It’s their chance to get to know you and your goals and provide the expertise that comes with a practice with over 30 years of experience.

There are generally four things to expect from your first consultation.

  • Formalities: You’ll have a medical exam and medical history taken to determine that you’re fit for surgery.
  • Discussion: You get to tell your surgeon exactly what you’re expecting from this surgery, especially as this pertains to your goals and desires. Your surgeon is there for you and to listen to you. They will however tell you the result you can realistically expect from the surgery.
  • Questions: Ask as many as you want, and you should ask a lot. There are no stupid questions. This doctor will be performing your surgery and you want complete trust in them, so don’t be shy about asking about their experience, how many of these surgeries have they performed etc. And if you need to come back for another consultation to ask some more questions, at The Plastic Surgery Clinic, your surgeon will be happy to accommodate that. Consultations with us are always free because we believe no one should feel financial pressure to commit to a surgery before they’re fully informed and ready to do so.
  • Before and Afters: You’ll be able to take a look at a full selection of before and after pictures of patients who have undergone the same surgery. No result is identical, but it will give you an idea of the result you can expect.

Booking Your Mommy Makeover Surgery

Following your consultation, once you’ve made the exciting decision to move forward with your surgery, we will book your surgical appointment. From the point of your consultation, we are typically able to book surgery 8-12 weeks afterwards.

Once your surgery is booked, you’ll be offered a comprehensive information packet with all the information that you need and with the necessary forms to fill out and sign. While you await your surgery you’ll also be asked to undergo necessary lab tests which will be due approximately two weeks prior to your surgery.

Great news is you’ll also be assigned one of our wonderful patient coordinators who will assist you through the entire process and make sure you have everything you need to be ready for your Mommy Makeover.

This is the moment that you’ll also want to choose a caregiver who will be available to drive you to your surgery and pick you up afterwards and to stay with you for the first 24-48 hours following the procedure.

Surgery Day

It’s normal to be nervous. This is the big day you’ve been waiting for! You’ll be asked to come to the clinic in comfortable clothes. Don’t wear make-up, or have any polish on your nails. No jewelry too!

You’ll have a chance to meet with the pre-op nurses as well as your patient coordinators in the pre-op room prior to your surgery in order to ask any last minute questions. The anesthesiologist will also come and assess that everything’s a go.

You’ll also meet briefly with your surgeon who will map the surgery out for you. If this is all making you nervous just reading it, no need to be anxious. You’ll be given some oral medication to help calm your nerves before an IV is inserted for the anesthesia.

Once the operating room is ready you’ll be taken to the OR and put gently to sleep. For a Mommy Makeover you can expect the procedure to last anywhere from 4-6 hours. After surgery, you’ll wake up feeling groggy but you can rest assured you won’t be in pain. You’ll be on regular pain medication in order to keep you comfortable.

You’ll stay under observation in the recovery room for a few hours or until your surgeon has determined that you’re ready to head home, at which point your caregiver will be called to come pick you up and take you home.

Recovering Following Your Mommy Makeover: What to Expect

The most challenging portion of the Mommy Makeover recovery is the tummy tuck that you underwent, particularly if you had muscle repair and also in combination with liposuction. One of the toughest parts of the recovery is that you won’t be able stand completely straight for approximately two weeks. You’ll have to stay slightly bent at the hip until your surgeon gives you the green light to completely straighten out.

You’ll also feel pretty tender and swollen especially around the abdomen. You’ll need to wear a compression garment for six weeks which we will provide you with. The compression garment will help significantly to reduce swelling and help with your overall recovery.

Many patients are alarmed by the look of their incisions, especially in the initial days and weeks following surgery, but give your body time. Your surgeon will send you home with guidelines on how to properly tend to your incisions, and keep in mind that they typically look worse before they begin to look better and they will soften and fade with time—so be very patient with yourself. Many of our patients tell us that a year after their operation, they can’t believe how much their scars have faded.

Exercise is a no go at the beginning as well. We recommend only 10 steps an hour for the first little while, and then no vigorous or intense exercise for at least 6 weeks. You really need to let your body rest in order to properly recover following the Mommy Makeover.

Here’s the thing: everyone is different and recovers at different speeds. Some patients feel much better after two weeks and feel they can go back to work, but some don’t and prefer to give themselves a little more time, closer to 3-4 weeks.

Rest assured that after about 6 weeks you’ll be feeling like yourself again, but give yourself anywhere from 6 months to a year to really see the full results of your surgery. Of course you’ll see your results right away, but the final final result with imperceptible scars and all swelling and bruising gone will take a little while.

As daunting as all this may sound, our Mommy Makeover patients are thrilled with their results. The transformation the surgery offers is well worth the effort and patience.

Dr. Ahmad’s Go-To Non-Surgical Procedures
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Did we answer all your questions? Our goal is to ensure you have the best information possible to make your decision. If you still have questions, we’re here to help.

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