Mommy Makeover
Starting a family is perhaps one of the most anticipated experiences of our lives, and it presents moms with a whole host of new challenges and experiences. While pregnancy is often a beautiful time in a woman’s life, and most of these changes are welcome, it’s no secret that the actual pregnancy, breastfeeding, and sudden lack of personal time can cause permanent changes in her body. And unfortunately, it can affect a young mother’s body in ways that cannot be corrected simply with diet or exercise. And no matter how hard moms try to undo the physical changes that occur during the childbearing years, they often cannot get back their pre-pregnancy size and shape. For women who wish to reverse some or all of the changes that having a baby causes, a “Mommy Makeover” can help.
Why Have a Mommy Makeover? The goal of a mommy makeover is to help women regain their youthful silhouettes and feel more comfortable and confident in their bodies. Many of the changes caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding are ones that cannot be reversed entirely with at-home alternatives like diet and exercise. A Mommy Makeover addresses these changes and helps women reshape, rejuvenate and refine their bodies and faces to meet their aesthetic needs.
What are the Benefits of a Mommy Makeover?
Enhancing body contours
Firming and tightening “trouble areas”
Restoring lift and volume to the breasts
Creating an overall more lifted, sexy, and rejuvenated appearance
What is a Mommy Makeover?
According to The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a mommy makeover refers to an entire group of aesthetic procedures that are commonly performed to address problem areas in post-pregnancy bodies.
As more and more women are discovering that “Mommy Makeover” surgery offers them a way to reclaim their bodies, the “Mommy Makeover” procedure has grown to include a variety of plastic surgery and body contouring procedures, covering all areas of a woman’s face and body.
These procedures are among the fastest-growing cosmetic surgery treatments in both Seattle and the Eastside for women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Here are some tips on getting your Mommy Makeover to reclaim your pre-pregnancy physique.
Common Procedures and Combinations
Performed in Mommy Makeovers
Tummy Tuck
Despite most women’s best efforts, pregnancy almost always leaves mothers with a soft tummy and excess skin once the baby is born. For some women, the skin “bounces back,” but for many, it does not. The goal here is to remove excess skin and fat while restoring muscle tone to create a flatter, more attractive profile.
Breast Lift
When breasts grow and shrink, it’s common for there to be a permanent loss of volume and perkiness. While not all women want implants, most prefer to restore their breasts to a more youthful, lifted state. Breast lifts remove excess skin, tighten existing tissue, and create a more desirable breast contour for breasts of all sizes. Additionally, if the areola has become enlarged, a breast lift will reduce its size to be proportionate to the breast.
Breast Augmentation
Breast Implants and fat transfer are excellent tools for restoring volume, enhancing the cleavage, and creating a more attractive overall figure for moms who may have noticed a change in their breasts after pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Once breastfeeding is complete, women can opt for medical-grade silicone gel or saline implants of various sizes and shapes to create a breast shape that is more flattering and in line with their aesthetic goals. For silicone breast implants, we use FDA-approved Motiva® and Sientra implants, both of which have exceptional safety profiles with some of the lowest complication rates in the industry. Motiva® implants in particular can be positioned either in front of or behind the pectoral muscle, and are praised for looking, feeling and moving like natural breast tissue. If desired, breasts can be augmented with fat from the thighs, buttocks, or abdomen via liposuction, which is another popular procedure.
Liposuction
Even the healthiest, most active women often have problem areas of their bodies that do not respond well to diet or exercise. This is even more true for women who have experienced pregnancy.
Liposuction is not intended for significant weight loss, but it can remove noticeable pockets of fat from places like the thighs, buttocks, love handles, belly, back, and arms. This creates a smoother, firmer figure that moms can feel confident about showing off.
Arm Lift
An arm lift is something many women don’t think of when they ask about a mommy makeover, but it’s commonly combined with liposuction and other body contouring procedures. It can be difficult to tone and firm the “bat wing” that happens in the upper arm, especially if loose skin is part of the problem.
Arm lifts remove excess skin and tighten the supportive tissues in the upper arm to reshape and firm them in a way that’s impossible to achieve with exercise.
Thigh lift
Thigh lifts are another makeover option that most women don’t think of, but they can make a big difference in a woman’s figure. Like an arm lift, thigh lifts are often combined with liposuction and create a smoother, tighter, and more toned appearance for the thighs, reducing the appearance of dimples and cellulite.
Buttock Augmentation
Buttock augmentation is most commonly combined with liposuction and thigh lift procedures because they work well together to achieve a much greater effect. Buttock augmentation can help to lift, reshape, and enhance the curves of your butt and legs by transferring body fat from the thighs, hips, or abdomen into the buttocks.
Most Mommy Makeover patients opt for some type of tummy procedure (full tummy tuck, mini tummy tuck, or liposuction) and some type of breast procedure (breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast augmentation with fat transfer) as pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause sagging and volume loss in the breasts.
Ultimately, there is no “standard” set of mommy makeover treatments. Instead, Dr. Salemy can create a personalized plan that will help you achieve your unique goals.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
The best candidates for mommy makeovers should be in overall good health and are not planning any more pregnancies, among other criteria. After meeting with Dr. Salemy he can give you recommendations on whether or not you are a good candidate for a Mommy Makeover. In general, ideal candidates are:
• In their 20s to 40s
• Do not plan any more pregnancies
• Have given birth to their last child at least 6 months prior to their makeover
• Do not smoke
• Are in overall good health
• Have a stable weight
• Are no longer breastfeeding
• Have realistic expectations
Mommy Makeovers Can Help You Get Your Verve Back
No matter how much you love your children, it is entirely normal to want to feel as confident, sexy, and womanly as you did before your first pregnancy. Mommy makeovers can be as subtle or dramatic as you wish, and your results can last a lifetime.
Diet and exercise can only go so far when it comes to reversing the changes that happened in your body throughout pregnancy, birth, and nursing. If you are struggling to achieve your pre-baby body goals, the truth is that you might need a little help getting there, and that’s okay.
Whether you want to make minor adjustments or a significant change, a mommy makeover may be exactly what you need to feel confident and comfortable in your body once again.
Fast Facts: Mommy Makeover
Improve post-pregnancy body including breast, contouring, and rejuvenating procedures
Patients can see results immediately,
but it can take several weeks to
a month to see final results
Procedure typically takes
4 - 6 hours
Incision length may vary based on patient's individual condition
Plastic Surgery Reviews
Patient Reviews
Dr. Salemy, Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. I am so happy with my new body! You really worked with me by listening to what…
Dr. Salemy, Wow! That was my first words 3 weeks after surgery and we were taking post surgery pictures. I looked great then, but now at almost 6 months after…
Mommy Makeover Frequently Asked Questions
How should I choose a plastic surgeon?
Choosing a plastic surgeon can be difficult, which is why it is important to ask the right questions before undergoing any procedure. Here are some critical factors to consider when vetting your surgeon:
1. Credentials
The first question you should ask is whether your doctor has proper credentials. Surgeons are not required by law to be specifically trained for the procedures they offer. Ask your doctor if they are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery to ensure that they have the proper training and certification.
You can also ask if they are accredited members of legitimate, recognized professional societies like the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which is an additional voluntary step that proves they are committed to the highest standards of ethics, patient safety, and mastery of plastic surgery. (This also ensures that your procedures will be done in a state-licensed and accredited medical facility so that you receive the best possible care and outcomes.)
2. Experience
Also, make sure to ask about your doctor’s experience. Just because the doctor is a certified professional, that does not mean they can deliver the results you want. Make sure that the surgeon you choose has already performed the procedures and has years of experience.
3. Reputation and Reviews
Spend time researching each candidate online. Read plenty of reviews, both good and critical ones, to get a more complete picture of what kind of work each surgeon does.
4. Before & After Photos
Review photos of actual patients for the procedures you are considering. This will give you a much better look at the kinds of results the doctor has produced.
5. A Positive Consultation Experience
Once you have compiled a short list of potential surgeons you’re most interested in, you will need to schedule in-person consultations with each one. These consultations are an important next step in the vetting process, so you should be well-prepared on the day.
You can read more about Finding and Vetting a Mommy Makeover Surgeon here.
When considering Dr. Salemy, you should know that he is a board-certified surgeon in the Seattle, Washington area whom you can trust with your Mommy Makeover. He has years of experience performing tummy tucks, breast augmentations, breast lifts, liposuction, and other procedures. His patients enjoy the highest levels of patient safety, privacy, and comfort in his state-of-the-art AAAASF-accredited surgical facility.
What happens during a Mommy Makeover consultation?
The right plastic surgeon will be warm and professional, and will openly and honestly discuss your health history, aesthetic goals, concerns, and possible outcomes. They will give honest answers to your questions and make sure that you have realistic expectations about what plastic surgery can do for your body. In addition, they should be able to give you plenty of before and after pictures so that you can see if their aesthetic style and typical clientele match your body shape and desired results.
Finally, during your consultation, the conversation with your surgeon should feel like a partnership. While the surgeon may have the expertise and in-depth knowledge, they are ultimately working together with you to achieve your vision for yourself. This requires an openness and willingness to listen and treat you as a valuable part of the process.
What happens during a Mommy Makeover?
The changes that take place as a result of pregnancy and breastfeeding – the sagging breasts, the flabby tummies, the stubborn pockets of fat – can all be addressed at the time of your procedure. Dr. Salemy sits down with clients and discusses goals for each procedure, as some women are looking to simply reclaim their pre-pregnancy physique, while others want a more dramatic enhancement. He then outlines a plan for the procedure, and addresses each area of concern, which can include:
- Enhancement of the breasts, through augmentation, lift, or both
- Narrowing and flattening of the tummy, through a tummy tuck, liposculpture, or both
- Contouring of the hips, thighs, and buttocks through liposculpture
However, not everybody wants the same procedures done during their Mommy Makeover. Be sure you and the doctor agree on what is the most beautiful look for your body. Get on the same page with your doctor and discuss what it is you want from the Mommy Makeover procedure.
To make sure you get what you want, take a look at pictures of that doctor’s previous work and compare their work with your body type. Ask your doctor to reiterate their plan and describe each step of the procedures that you want. In addition, make sure you are being honest with the doctor to ensure that you are fully communicating what you want and what you expect from the procedures.
What does the recovery from a Mommy Makeover look like?
Recovery depends in part on the type of procedure or procedures performed as well as the individual ability to heal and bounce back from surgery. In general, Dr. Salemy recommends 10 to 14 days off from work, so that recovery can happen in the comfort of your home. Most procedures are outpatient procedures (you will not need to stay in the hospital) and take 2 to 4 hours. Dr. Salemy sees patients at regular intervals after the procedure to monitor progress, and most patients report feeling quite comfortable between 2 to 3 weeks after their procedure.
What does a Mommy Makeover cost?
Because there is no standard set of mommy makeover procedures, there is no single number that accurately represents the cost. However, Dr. Salemy will provide a detailed breakdown of costs for your desired procedures during your consultation with him.
In general, you can expect to see the following common fees included in your breakdown:
- Surgeon’s fees: This includes pre-and post-surgical care visits as well as performing the procedure.
- Surgical facility costs: This refers to the cost of utilizing the facility for your procedure and if you require additional inpatient care.
- Anesthesia fees: These cover the costs of anesthesia and trained anesthesiologists.
- Medical tests and X-rays: Any imaging or testing that needs to be done before or after your procedures will be included in the cost.
- Implants: If you opt for breast augmentation, the cost of your desired implants will be included.
- Post-surgery garments: Most mommy makeover procedures require you to wear special compression or recovery garments for a certain amount of time following the surgery.
- Prescriptions: Any medications prescribed before or after surgery are included here.
What financing options are available?
Most plastic surgeon’s offices should be able to offer financing options to make your treatments more accessible. Dr. Salemy can discuss lines of medical credit when you meet with him. In addition, some patients prefer to open a line of personal credit specifically for cosmetic surgery or get a personal loan to cover the costs.
