Mommy Makeover

A mommy makeover surgery is a combination of plastic surgery procedures that aims to restore your pre-pregnancy body contours and reverse the physical changes of pregnancy. While there are many versions of a mommy makeover in Atlanta, a typical makeover might include a tummy tuck, breast surgery (breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction), and liposuction of the legs, arms, and stomach.

WHAT IS A MOMMY MAKEOVER?

Pregnancy causes significant changes in the female body, both inside and out. Constant hormonal changes during and after pregnancy, combined with the physical effects of childbirth, have a substantial impact on the appearance of the stomach, legs, and breasts.

After going through pregnancy, many patients have a hard time accepting the new way their body looks. Patients often express concerns about skin laxity, deflated breasts, weight gain, and a loss of self-confidence in consultations for a mommy makeover. Getting back to that pre-pregnancy body can be difficult, even with a proper diet and regular exercise. The mommy makeover surgery blends together many different body contouring procedures that have highly effective, cumulative results so mothers can reclaim their ideal body look.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR ATLANTA MOMMY MAKEOVER?

The plastic surgeries involved in a mommy makeover are designed for those who have tried to get back to their pre-baby body but can’t seem to reclaim their ideal shape and contour with diet and exercise alone. Ideal candidates for any plastic surgery should be at or near their ideal weight, in good overall health, and non-smoking.

If you have sagging, uneven breasts, excess tissue on the stomach, stretch marks, love handles, and excess fat in areas that weren’t problematic pre-pregnancy, this option can help to address all these concerns. It is best if you are done having children, as subsequent pregnancy could obstruct the results.

In your consultation, double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lisa DiFrancesco can listen to your concerns, review your medical history, and help you craft a customized plan to give you the results that will make you feel confident in what you see in the mirror each day.

THE MOMMY MAKEOVER PROCEDURE OVERVIEW

Since the term “mommy makeover” is used to describe a combination of many different plastic surgery procedures used, each reconstructive surgery is different for each patient (although it is most often performed using general anesthesia). And in addition to surgeries that address your unique needs, Dr. DiFrancesco can also administer non-surgical treatments for the body and face to help you look younger and more energized, as well as fine-tuning your curves. These non-surgical options include:

• Sculpsure body contouring
• Sculptra buttock enhancement
• Facial microneedling
• Chemical peels
• Microdermabrasion

In your consultation with our plastic surgeon, Dr. DiFrancesco, she will help you decide on which procedures will benefit you the most during a personal consultation in the Atlanta area to get your desired look.

MOMMY MAKEOVER PROCEDURES

Most mommy makeovers address the breasts and abdomen. However, there are multiple procedures available. Because pregnancy and childbirth affect every mom’s body differently, different body contouring procedures may be used in one person’s suite that aren’t used in another’s. Dr. DiFrancesco will help you create a custom treatment plan for your specific problem areas and desired recovery timeline during your consultation.

TUMMY TUCK (ABDOMINOPLASTY)

It’s common for many women to experience stretching of the abdominal muscles and skin during pregnancy. The tummy tuck flattens, firms, and contours your abdomen, creating a more ideal profile. This surgery is typically performed to remove sagging skin and fat while tightening the abdominal muscles to restore the abdomen to its pre-pregnancy shape. There are different variations of the tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, such as an endoscopic abdominoplasty, a mini abdominoplasty, and a modified abdominoplasty. The type of abdominoplasty used will depend on how much extra skin and fat tissue you have as well as your desired result.

BREAST AUGMENTATION

Some women lose volume in the breasts during pregnancy and nursing. Breast augmentation is a breast surgery that enhances the size and shape of your breasts to make them more proportional to your body, give a more breast feminine profile, and improve your overall self-esteem. Breast augmentation uses either saline or silicone breast implants or fat transfer to give you larger breasts. Breast implant surgery is currently and historically one of the most common plastic surgeries performed by board-certified plastic surgeons like Dr. DiFrancesco each year.

BREAST LIFT (MASTOPEXY)

Often performed in combination with breast augmentation, a breast lift procedure helps to raise, lift, and firm the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue. This cosmetic breast surgery is highly effective at giving women youthful, perky, and naturally shaped breasts, with or without implants.

One of the more common problems after pregnancy and childbirth involves sagging breasts and drooping nipples. A breast lift, or mastopexy, can address any and all of these concerns. There are many different incision types that can be used during a breast lift that further customize the breast enhancement procedure based on your degree of breast sagging and desired results.

LIPOSUCTION

Liposuction is another one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries done each year. It allows patients to precisely contour the body by getting rid of stubborn areas of fat and tightening the skin with small incisions. It can be used on multiple areas of the body, including the neck, back, abdomen, hips, buttocks, knees, thighs, arms, and calves. The fat suctioned out during this procedure can be used to augment other areas of the body in a fat transfer procedure—providing even more significant results to breast augmentation, for example.

As part of a mommy makeover, liposuction helps remove pockets of fat that don’t respond to a healthy diet and exercise routine, slimming down problem areas and helping patients feel more like the woman they were before pregnancy.

PREPARING FOR SURGERY

Preparation is key to effective recovery from any plastic surgery procedure. Before undergoing surgery, you should make sure that your home is prepared and that someone is able to assist you during recovery. Common preparation steps include:

• Setting out comfortable, loose clothes to wear for the first few days after surgery

• Doing chores such as grocery shopping and meal preparation ahead of time

• Gathering books, TV shows, movies, or other entertainment options to have on hand

• Setting up childcare (especially if you have small children) for the first few days after surgery

RESULTS AND RECOVERY PROCESS

Because the procedures used in a mommy makeover are personalized to the patient’s unique concerns and goals, recovery time and results vary widely by the patient. Generally, because the mommy makeover includes extensive procedures, recovery time is longer than many other cosmetic surgeries. However, there are some general instructions that apply to most plastic surgery procedures.

First and foremost, follow all of Dr. DiFrancesco’s instructions carefully for the most successful and risk-free recovery. You will need a caretaker to drive you home after surgery, as the anesthetic will likely not have completely worn off. Dr. DiFrancesco may have you wear a compression garment for a few days to help reduce any swelling, inflammation, or bleeding. You may have drains in place at incision sites to prevent fluid accumulation for a few days.

Swelling, redness, and some discomfort are normal during the recovery period and can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication approved by Dr. DiFrancesco. If at any time the pain becomes unbearable, contact DiFrancesco Plastic Surgery right away.

Most Atlanta mommy makeover patients are able to return to work and light daily activities within two to three weeks of surgery, but strenuous activity should be restricted for several weeks. Dr. DiFrancesco will help you along the recovery period so you know when you are cleared to resume all activities, including exercise.

Results also vary depending on the type and number of procedures performed during surgery. In general, you will start to see results as bruising and swelling go down. Many patients feel comfortable in form-fitting clothes or swimwear within three months after surgery.

In order to maintain your aesthetic goals after surgery, you should exercise regularly and eat a varied, balanced diet. Although you can still have more children after this surgery, it’s not recommended.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

Mommy makeovers are a highly effective way for women of all ages who wish to get back to their pre-baby bodies. To get started on your mommy makeover in Atlanta, schedule a consultation with Dr. DiFrancesco, who is double board-certified in plastic surgery and general surgery and has extensive experience with a wide variety of plastic surgery procedures. Feel free to call DiFrancesco Plastic Surgery at (404) 531-2478 or contact us online to get started on the journey to your best-looking body.

Frequently Asked Questions