Modern plastic surgery makes it possible for mothers to look as young as they feel. "Mommy makeover" is a term that has become common in today's plastic surgery lexicon, and it describes a special approach to body contouring that caters to mothers who wish to restore a youthful, flattering figure.

1. 1/9 | http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body/mommy-makeover/planning
BY
Dennis J. Hurwitz, M.D.
SENIOR SECTIONAL EDITOR
updated March 12, 2015
Source: http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body/mommy-
makeover/planning
Childbirth offers a wealth of rewards, but it also takes a tremendous toll
on the body. Pregnancy always involves a degree of weight gain, which
can result in retained fat deposits after childbirth and a compromise in
the elasticity of the skin. The breasts increase in size during breast
feeding, and this can cause them to sag and lose their youthful shape
when lactation ends. Childbirth causes the greatest changes in the
abdomen. The abdominal muscles can become separated, skin can
stretch and sag, and the lingering effects can generally change a
woman's figure in ways that make her feel less confident about her
Planning a Mommy Makeover

2. 2/9 | http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body/mommy-makeover/planning
appearance.
Fortunately, modern plastic surgery makes it possible for mothers to
look as young as they feel. "Mommy makeover" is a term that has
become common in today's plastic surgery lexicon, and it describes a
special approach to body contouring that caters to mothers who wish to
restore a youthful, flattering figure. With the technology and techniques
available today, this procedure is better than ever, and helps many
women experience renewed confidence during motherhood. A mommy
makeover can include virtually any combination of treatments deemed
necessary to help the patient achieve her goals, but the most commonly
combined treatments include liposuction, lift procedures focused on the
trunk and limbs, and breast enhancement.
A mommy makeover is a fully customized treatment tailored precisely to
a mother's goals. If you are considering this popular treatment, thorough
planning is the absolute best way to achieve beautiful results and long-
term satisfaction. Though you may not have the expertise to know
precisely which procedures you want, it helps to have specific ideas of
what you hope to accomplish. By describing these goals to your
surgeon, he or she can recommend the right combination and extent of
treatments to help you look and feel your very best. You should also
spend ample time thinking about whether you wish to have more
children in the future. In most cases, a mommy makeover provides the
best long-term results for women who do not wish to have any more
children. Spend plenty of time researching surgeons in your area,
gathering as many word-of-mouth recommendations as possible,
scheduling consultations with several prospective surgeons, and closely
analyzing the results those surgeons have provided for other patients. A
mommy makeover can help you experience even greater satisfaction in
life as a mother, and you owe it to yourself to plan a treatment that can
help you feel confident, attractive, and youthful.
Your Consultation: Establishing Your Goals
and Receiving Expert Recommendations
You should schedule consultations with two or three surgeons before
making a final decision. If you have friends who have undergone this
procedure and achieved satisfying results, consider meeting with their

3. 3/9 | http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body/mommy-makeover/planning
surgeons. As you browse practices near you, take a look at prospective
surgeons' credentials, reviews, and examples of the results they have
provided for others. Make certain that the surgeon is especially adept at
body contouring, liposuction and breast augmentation.It is very
important that you feel comfortable with your surgeon. He or she should
take plenty of time to note your goals, review your health history and
current health, and provide you with plenty of options.
The women who approach my
practice have experienced
changes in their body as a result
of childbirth, and they want to
enhance their figures. Most
commonly, they have had their
children, and plan to have no
more. It is acceptable to move
ahead even if further family is
being considered, but it may limit
the scope of treatment.
By the time we sit down the the
consult, the patent can tell me exactly what they wish to accomplish
through a mommy makeover. In many other cases, the patient will come
in with one idea of a procedure they believe would help them meet their
goals, and I will recommend other treatments I believe would
complement that treatment for further enhanced results. During my
consultations, I spend time creating digital 3D imaging using high-
quality standardized photography, especially for the breasts. One of the
most important tools I use is a full-length mirror, which allows us to
look at all angles necessary, so the patient can more thoroughly explain
her goals and help me to make recommendations. After a
comprehensive evaluation, I provide a range of options, and they select
procedures a la carte from that menu.
It can be very helpful if patients have pictures of models or celebrities to
give me an idea of the features they wish to achieve. I would advise
anyone considering a mommy makeover to gather visual reference
points like this to help their surgeon gain a better understanding of their
goals.
As you browse practices
near you, take a look at
prospective surgeons'
credentials, reviews, and
examples of the results
they have provided for
others

4. 4/9 | http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body/mommy-makeover/planning
•
Of course, not every woman's goals are cosmetic. Following her
pregnancy, my patient Patty had very large breasts that made activities
like riding horses and jogging extremely difficult. She enjoys leading an
active lifestyle, and during our consultation, she explained that wanted
to be unencumbered by the physical changes she experienced as a
result of pregnancy.
"I guess my pregnancy just did not treat me well," Patty said. "I thought
it was time to do something about it. Now I am able to do things
physically that I was not able to do prior. I have been a lot more
physically active, and I have a lot more self-confidence."
Establishing Expectations
The important next step in planning a mommy makeover is establishing
realistic expectations. While modern cosmetic surgery is capable of
providing incredible results, it has its limitations.My approach to a
mommy makeover has as much to do with expectations as reality.
You and your surgeon have to discuss what is likely to be
accomplished. You must realize that the surgeon does not always know
for certain what is going to happen in terms of shape and proportions.
The best thing you can do is choose a surgeon whose judgement you
trust, and depend on him or her to do their absolute best in achieving
your goals. Your surgeon may actually be able to exceed your
expectations, but you should be willing to undergo some additional work
if necessary.
Choosing the Necessary Treatments
A crucial step in planning your mommy makeover involves deciding
upon which treatments to combine. The most common treatments
performed during a mommy makeover include:
Breast Augmentation and Breast Lift: Throughout pregnancy and
breastfeeding, the breasts can experience a drastic increase in size
that subsides once lactation has ceased. The skin of the breast can
become stretched during this time, resulting in sagging and an overall

5. 5/9 | http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body/mommy-makeover/planning
•
•
•
loss of youthful contour. By combining a breast augmentation and a
breast lift, I can restore a youthful and perky contour to the breast. I
remove excess skin and tissue, while adding projection by placing a
breast implant. Patients must choose either a silicone or saline
implant, choose an implant size, and decide whether it should be
placed above or below the pectoral muscle. Each of these options has
unique benefits. For example, while many patients believe that
silicone implants provide the most natural look and feel, others are
more comfortable with saline implants because they carry a reduced
risk of capsular contracture (the tightening of scar tissue surrounding
the implant, resulting in a distorted shape).
Abdominoplasty: During pregnancy and childbirth, the midsection
experiences the greatest fluctuations. The considerable strain placed
on the skin as the fetus develops can not only result in sagging skin
and a loss of definition, but also a separation of the abdominal
muscles. Abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck, is a process of removing
excess skin, using liposuction to remove excess fat, and tightening
the abdominal muscles to restore a fit, lean midsection. A tummy tuck
can be limited (focusing on the lower abdomen and involving some
skin and fat removal as well as abdominal tightening), moderate
(involving a greater degree of skin and tissue removal), or extended
(involving a greater degree of liposuction extending into the flanks, or
love handles).
Liposuction: Stubborn fat deposits that developed during pregnancy
and refuse to respond to diet and exercise can be eliminated through
liposuction. Your surgeon will create tiny incisions in the treatment
area, and use a special tool called a cannula to gently suction the fat
from beneath the skin. I personally use a system called VASERlipoTM
that incorporates ultrasound waves to liquefy the fat before it is
removed, providing more predictable results. Extracting fat using this
method is an especially effective approach if the patient wishes to
undergo a fat transfer.
Fat Transfer: There is a movement toward adding fat to augment
certain features, such as the breasts, buttocks, and face. Fat transfer
can be a great way to achieve leaner contours in one area, enhance
contours in another, and eliminate risks such as rejection that can
accompany the use of synthetic implants. In some cases, fat transfer
can also be a great complement to implants.
Your doctor will provide you with options, and explain the benefits and

6. 6/9 | http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body/mommy-makeover/planning
risks of combining certain treatments. While most patients would prefer
to have the full extent of their treatment carried out in a single surgical
session, this may not always be advisable.
Phasing Treatment
You and your surgeon must decide if the full scope of treatment can be
safely and realistically performed in one treatment, or if carrying out
your treatment in phases is a better option.
Some surgeons feel confident carrying out very complex procedures,
while others don't want to go beyond performing one treatment at a
time. In my efforts to serve patients as comprehensively as possible, I
have learned when to avoid overly complex operations that carry high
risks. I'm aware of situations such as a patient being over age 50,
overweight, or diagnosed with medical conditions, when an extensive
procedure is not advisable.
About 75 percent of the time, I can satisfy the patient's expectations in a
single stage, including treatments involving work in the upper and lower
body. An example of a complete package I often perform in a single
stage would include breast reshaping with implants, a breast lift,
abdominoplasty, and liposuction.
Because of my experience in total body contouring, my in-house team
and I are able to perform a number of treatments simultaneously in a
few hours of a working day. Increasingly, I have found that I can
combine more treatments with liposuction for strikingly attractive
results. In total, four to five hours is usually enough time to carry out
the full scope of treatment.
About 75 percent of the time, I can
satisfy the patient's expectations in a
single stage

7. 7/9 | http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body/mommy-makeover/planning
Ambulatory Centers: Where Will Surgery
Take Place?
Many surgeons, including myself, have their own surgical suite. If the
patient requires extensive liposuction, or if they have conditions such as
diabetes or another chronic illness, I may recommend that we perform
the procedure in a hospital. In this setting, there are more resources
available to address any complications.
Anesthesia
General anesthesia, or complete sedation, will be necessary during your
mommy makeover surgery. While local anesthesia (the numbing of the
treatment site) is sufficient for some standalone procedures, the
extensive nature of this surgery requires general anesthesia to ensure
your comfort throughout treatment. In some cases, you will have a
choice of having anesthesia administered either by a nurse or an
anesthesiologist.
I have found that in many cases, nurse-administered anesthesia is a
safe option that comes at a lower cost. However, patients who are
diabetic, have high blood pressure, or suffer from other conditions that
place them at a higher risk of blood loss are well advised to spend the
extra money to have an anesthesiologist on hand. For some patients, an
anesthesiologist simply provides greater peace of mind. While
consulting with surgeons, find out exactly which anesthesia options are
available, be upfront about your health and your concerns, and make a
choice based on your surgeon's recommendation.
Determining Financing
Before proceeding with surgery, you will need to choose a financing
option. A mommy makeover is a predominantly cosmetic procedure, but
in some instances, portions of the procedure may be eligible for
insurance coverage. This can include the removal of excess skin that
causes rashes and discomfort, and a breast reduction to relieve back
pain and others symptoms. However, it is important to understand that

8. 8/9 | http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body/mommy-makeover/planning
insurance will cover only the amount of treatment needed to relieve
symptoms, and if you are seeking more comprehensive treatment, you
can expect to pay out pocket to achieve the aesthetic enhancement you
desire. Practices always accept cash and credit cards. Many work with
third-party financing companies, or finance procedures internally. If you
choose to finance your surgery or use a credit card, make certain that
you understand your obligations, and plan carefully to be certain you
can make your scheduled payments.
Recovery Time
The planning and anticipation of a mommy makeover can be very
exciting, but it is important to consider the weeks of recovery time you
will likely require following surgery. When combining several body
contouring procedures, it can often require twice as much recovery
time as a single procedure. Four to six weeks of downtime is definitely
not uncommon. Checkups will be necessary during that time, and your
surgeon may recommend additional treatments to aid in recovery. I
often include VelaShapeTM therapy, which uses ultrasound to improve
drainage and reduce swelling. In total, this treatment can reduce your
overall recovery time and discomfort, as well as your risk of needing a
revision surgery.
Depending upon the extent of your treatment, you will probably need
help for three to four days to a week to get around the house and carry
out everyday tasks. If you work, you should definitely try and save up as
much vacation time as possible leading up to your surgery. If possible,
you may wish to speak to your employer about working from home. If
you have very young children, it may also be a great benefit to you and
your family to arrange for childcare during your recovery.
Planning for Long-term Emotional and
Aesthetic Satisfaction
Careful planning of a mommy makeover can help you enjoy a calm and
comfortable experience from your initial consultation until the time you
have fully recovered. Audition several surgeons, ask plenty of questions
so you can make informed choices about your treatments, and make the

9. 9/9 | http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body/mommy-makeover/planning
•
•
•
necessary arrangements so that your recovery time is relaxing. With
proper planning, your mommy makeover can make parenthood even
more enjoyable.
References & Resources
Source:
http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body/mommy-
makeover/planning
Author: Dennis J. Hurwitz, M.D.
Publisher: DocShop