Mommy Makeover
Many women love being pregnant and experiencing the physical changes their bodies go through to form new life. For some women, however, the joys of motherhood do not roll over to their post-baby bodies.
Not every mother’s body snaps back to its pre-pregnancy shape and tone after childbirth, even with diligent exercise and healthy eating habits. The changes experienced before, during and after pregnancy can leave some mothers feeling less confident about their appearance.
Southern California Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Daniel Kolder has helped hundreds of moms look and feel their best after pregnancy and breastfeeding through a customized mommy makeover procedure.
To learn more about our mommy makeover procedures or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kolder, please contact us online or call us today at 805-491-9535.
Mommy Makeover
Many women love being pregnant and experiencing the physical changes their bodies go through to form new life. For some women, however, the joys of motherhood do not roll over to their post-baby bodies.
Not every mother’s body snaps back to its pre-pregnancy shape and tone after childbirth, even with diligent exercise and healthy eating habits. The changes experienced before, during and after pregnancy can leave some mothers feeling less confident about their appearance.
Our Southern California board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Kolder has helped hundreds of moms address the after-effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding through our customized mommy makeover procedures.
To learn more about our mommy makeover procedures or to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Kolder, please contact us online or call us today at 805-491-9535.
Good candidates for a mommy makeover are women who:
- Eat a healthy diet
- Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight
- Do not smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol
- Are finished having children
- Have a dependable support system to help during post-surgery recovery
- Have realistic expectations for their results
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The Mommy Makeover Procedure
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A mommy makeover is a common term used today to describe a group of cosmetic procedures that can help women reshape, lift, and tighten problem areas near the abdomen, breasts, hips and thighs. The female body undergoes numerous changes during pregnancy — many of which are extremely difficult to reverse afterward, despite your best efforts.
A mommy makeover is designed to address these changes, providing women with the beautiful, natural-looking feminine curves they had before having children. It is a way for women to enjoy being mothers without having to completely sacrifice their bodies.
The most common procedures involved in a mommy makeover are:
- A tummy tuck to remove excess fat & skin from the abdomen while tightening the underlying abdominal muscles.
- Breast enhancement to raise sagging breasts with a breast lift or to increase breast size with silicone or saline implants.
- Liposuction to spot-reduce stubborn body fat that is resistant to diet & exercise.
- Brachioplasty (arm lift) is a surgical procedure to reduce excess skin and fatty tissue from the upper arm can also be included with the mommy makover procedure.
Recovery will vary from patient to patient depending on the procedures performed for your mommy makeover. You may choose to perform these procedures together as a single surgery or spread them out over time as multiple sessions.
During your consultation, Dr. Kolder will go over your health history, discuss and examine your areas of concern and design a treatment plan to help achieve your aesthetic goals.
Recovery & Results
After your mommy makeover surgery, you will have bandages in the place of your incisions. Support garments will be put in place to keep swelling down and support healing during your recovery. Dr. Kolder will give you post-surgery instructions that will be specific to your procedures. As you continue to heal and your swelling diminishes over the next several weeks, you will see improvements to your body’s contours. Avoid strenuous activity for at least 4 to 6 weeks after your mommy makeover.
Recovery and results vary for each woman, but final results can take several months as residual swelling subsides and implants settle. It’s important to follow Dr. Kolder aftercare guidelines and go to your follow-up appointments to ensure you are healing properly and ready to partake in certain activities.
Healing will continue for several weeks as swelling decreases and the shape of the breasts, abdomen, waist, genitalia and buttocks improves. Continue to follow your plastic surgeon’s instructions and attend follow-up visits as scheduled.
Women who undergo a mommy makeover with Dr. Kolder are thrilled with their results. Getting back the body they had before having children often has a significantly positive impact on women’s lives moving forward. This surgery allows women to be both a mother and to have a body they can feel confident about.
Next Steps
If you are unhappy with your post-baby body and would like to learn more about beginning your own mommy makeover, please contact us online to schedule a cosmetic consultation.
Mommy Makeover FAQs
When looking for a plastic surgeon to perform your mommy makeover, you want to look for a surgeon that is board-certified, experienced with performing these procedures and can address all of your individual concerns. Ask to see before and after photos of previous clients to give you an idea of what to expect. Be sure to find a plastic surgeon that you are comfortable with and that listens to your questions and concerns.
During your mommy makeover, you will have general anesthesia so you should not feel any pain. Afterwards, you will likely have some discomfort, but most pain can be managed with over the counter or prescription medications given to you after the procedures.
Medical advancements have made all procedures involved in mommy makeovers relatively safe, but any surgical procedure comes with certain risks. With mommy makeovers, the most common complications include adverse reactions, infections or excessive bleeding. Dr. Kolder will go over your medical history during your initial consultation and address any possible complications. After the procedures, you will receive post-op instructions to help minimize any risks during your healing process.
The recovery period for a mommy makeover again depends on the procedures you have. With a tummy tuck, for example, you can expect to be off work for at least two weeks, but you will also be restricted from lifting more than 25 pounds for as long as 3 months.
This means if you have small children, you will need to have extra help around the house. Many mommy makeover patients are able to return to work or normal activity within a couple of weeks, being careful to avoid strenuous activity for at least 4 to 6 weeks.
As your mommy makeover day approaches, there are some steps you can take to make your recovery
a little easier.
- Quitting smoking at least 4 weeks before your mommy makeover and do not start again until you are
completely healed. Smoking can adversely impact healing after surgical procedures, so it would be
best to quit smoking altogether.
- Quitting smoking at least 4 weeks before your mommy makeover and do not start again until you are
- Avoiding blood thinners such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications and herbal supplements
as these can contribute to increased bleeding complications.
- Avoiding blood thinners such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications and herbal supplements
- Avoiding strenuous activity for some time during recovery.
- Readying your recovery space. Gather groceries, make meals ahead so you have food to easily heat up,
pick up necessary prescriptions before your big day and don’t forget to have some relaxing
entertainment in place, such as a book or a list of Netflix shows you have been wanting to catch
up on.
The cost of a mommy makeover greatly depends on which and how many procedures are included. For example, a mommy makeover that combines a tummy tuck with lower-body liposuction will cost less than a mommy makeover that combines a tummy tuck, liposuction and a breast lift with implants. Dr. Kolder will be able to provide you with a more accurate mommy makeover cost estimate at your consultation, based on your specific goals and the details of your procedure.
Getting word-of-mouth referrals from friends and family in your area is one of the best ways to start your search for the best mommy makeover plastic surgeon near you. You will also want to verify medical credentials, such as certification with the American Board of Plastic Surgery, of the plastic surgeon and staff members online. You can also look at mommy makeover before and after photos, read online reviews and, finally, schedule a consultation or two with your top picks to find the best fit for you.
There is no single best age to get a mommy makeover. In fact, this procedure is popular with women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and even 60s (the increasingly popular “granny makeover”). More important than age is the stage of life you are in when determining the best timing for your mommy makeover. If you are still considering having more children, you will likely want to hold off on getting a mommy makeover until you are more certain you have completed your family. Otherwise, you may need a revision procedure to obtain your same results after a subsequent pregnancy.
There is no set weight limit for getting a mommy makeover. Generally speaking, however, Dr. Kolder prefers mommy makeover candidates to have a BMI of 30 or lower to minimize the risk of complications and to ensure optimal results. This typically equates to being within 10 to 20 pounds of your target weight, although the closer you can get to your ideal weight prior to your mommy makeover, the better your results may be.
At your mommy makeover consultation, Dr. Kolder will perform a physical examination and listen to your ultimate goals to determine if you could be a good candidate for the procedures you would like to include in your mommy makeover.
Mommy makeover results can be very long-lasting, or even permanent in some cases. The longevity of your results will largely depend on which procedures you’ve included in your mommy makeover. Breast implants, for instance, may need to be replaced after 10 or more years, while tummy tuck results may be nearly permanent, provided you maintain healthy lifestyle habits and avoid significant weight fluctuations.
