Mommy Makeover

Key Points

• A Mommy Makeover is a personalized combination of procedures hand-selected to address post-pregnancy changes and restore your pre-baby contours. 
•  While each patient’s Mommy Makeover is unique and tailored to their individual concerns, common components of the treatment plan usually include a blend of breast lift surgery, breast augmentation, tummy tuck surgery, liposuction, and/or labiaplasty. 
• A Mommy Makeover may be performed all at once or staged over time depending on the details of a patient’s surgery. 
• Preparation before a Mommy Makeover is crucial and enlisting help with childcare supervision, household chores, pick-ups and drop-offs, and other responsibilities during the initial healing period can encourage a smoother recovery.

“Dear Dr. Schooler, Thank you for your kind & compassionate care. Your skill and pursuit of excellence has been a gift that gives me a future where I can be comfortable in my own skin. You have been a blessing and I wish you and your family all the best.”

-M.Z.

• What is a Mommy Makeover?
• Areas of Concern After Pregnancy
• Mommy Makeover Benefits
• Mommy Makeover Candidates
• Mommy Makeover Procedures
• Mommy Makeover Recovery
• Mommy Makeover Results
• Mommy Makeover Scars
• Mommy Makeover Cost
• Mommy Makeover Alternatives

What is a Mommy Makeover?

A Mommy Makeover is a personalized combination of procedures performed to address the aesthetic changes caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding. After having children, it’s not uncommon for women to have flatter and softer breast contours, stretched out abdominal muscles, and pockets of stubborn fat around the body. Dieting and exercise may improve certain developments, but natural solutions typically cannot correct issues such as loose, excess skin and weakened musculature. By undergoing a Mommy Makeover, patients can reverse the tissue changes caused by childbirth to restore their pre-pregnancy figure. A Mommy Makeover can also be pursued to simply enhance your confidence after having children. Dr. Schooler is skilled in achieving the best possible outcomes with a Mommy Makeover and will work with you to develop a treatment plan custom-tailored to resolve your concerns.

Common Areas of Concern After Having Children

Abdomen and Midsection

Pregnancy causes the abdominal muscles and skin to stretch significantly, which can lead to persistent laxity, weakened muscle tone, and even separation of the abdominal muscles (diastasis recti). After childbirth, many individuals find that their midsection does not return to its pre-pregnancy state despite dieting and exercise. If you have a hanging or bulging belly despite living an active lifestyle, this can be a telling indication of separated abdominal muscles. Excess skin, stretch marks, and a protruding abdomen are common concerns in the midsection that can affect both physical comfort and confidence, which is why many patients consider procedures like a tummy tuck and/or liposuction to restore a smoother, sleeker abdominal profile.

Breast Contours

Hormonal changes, breastfeeding, and fluctuations in breast size during and after pregnancy can lead to noticeable changes in breast shape and firmness. Many women experience volume loss, sagging, or “deflation” once breastfeeding ends, resulting in a look of pendulousness or stretched breasts. The nipples may also shift downward or become enlarged. These changes can make finding a proper fit in bras and clothing more difficult, and often prompt interest in procedures like a breast lift, breast augmentation, or a breast lift with implants to restore shape and fullness.

Localized Fat Buildup

After pregnancy, it’s common for the body to retain stubborn pockets of fat that are resistant to traditional weight loss efforts. This fat buildup frequently develops in the upper arms, hips, thighs, lower abdomen, and flanks. Hormonal shifts and metabolic changes can make it more difficult to target these deposits with exercise alone, leading many individuals to seek contouring solutions like liposuction to help refine their overall silhouette.

Intimate Areas

Childbirth can also affect the appearance and function of the intimate areas. Stretching and tissue changes in the vaginal and labial regions may lead to concerns such as laxity, discomfort, or stretched tissue. These developments can impact physical comfort, confidence, and intimacy. As a result, some individuals explore treatments like labiaplasty to restore tone, improve comfort, and enhance overall well-being in these sensitive areas.

What Can a Mommy Makeover Achieve?

As a multi-procedure treatment plan, a Mommy Makeover is completely personalized to achieve a patient’s unique aesthetic goals. The benefits vary from patient to patient based on the nature of their concerns, but treatments can be chosen to:

• Reshape and rejuvenate the breasts
• Slim, tighten, and smooth the abdomen
• Reduce stubborn fat for a sleeker contour
• Rejuvenate the intimate areas and address excess labial tissue

Non-invasive facial rejuvenation options like injectables and dermal fillers can also be added to your Mommy Makeover to give you a more youthful, renewed look, if desired. By undergoing a combined surgical plan, patients can often treat multiple concerns while only contending with one operation and recovery period. That said, more extensive Mommy Makeovers may be completed in stages rather than all at once. Dr. Schooler will assess your needs and ensure you have a good understanding of what to expect during your procedure.

Is a Mommy Makeover Right for Me?

This combination of procedures can benefit a wide range of patients who may be unhappy with the body changes caused by pregnancy and/or breastfeeding, including individuals who are:

• Considering more than one procedure or treatment
• Healthy enough to undergo a Mommy Makeover and do not have any uncontrolled medical conditions
• Willing to undergo a recovery period and maintain a positive outlook on surgery
• Not planning to have more children in the future

We recommend undergoing a Mommy Makeover only after your family is complete, as future pregnancy can alter your results and potentially recreate the same concerns you originally sought to improve. Dr. Schooler would be happy to speak with you in more detail about the most optimal Mommy Makeover timing for your needs.

Mommy Makeover Procedure Options

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation with implants can give you larger, fuller breasts that are more proportionate to your body frame. Silicone or saline breast implants can provide you with more fullness and volume to the bustline, offering results that look natural and beautiful.

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Breast Lift

A breast lift is designed to address sagginess in the breasts that can develop after having children. Dr. Wesley Schooler can tighten the skin of the breasts, eliminating the excess to form a “perkier,” more youthful-looking bustline.

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Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) addresses the abdominal region, which becomes stretched and lax after pregnancy. The procedure tightens the abdominal muscles and pulls the surrounding skin taut, giving it a firmer, flatter appearance.

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Liposuction

Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures. This Mommy Makeover option can eliminate excess pockets of fat virtually anywhere on the body, providing a more contoured appearance.

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Labiaplasty

Excess labial tissue can cause physical discomfort and self-consciousness about your appearance. With labiaplasty, our plastic surgeon can remove stretched, enlarged, and loose labial skin with advanced vaginal rejuvenation surgery.

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What Can I Expect From the Mommy Makeover Recovery Period?

The recovery period varies from person to person, as the nature of each patient’s treatment plan differs. With all options in a Mommy Makeover, individuals can expect swelling, bruising, tenderness, and soreness to some extent after their procedure(s). These effects should subside as your body continues to heal, but pain medications and ice packs can help manage discomfort in the meantime. We recommend arranging for child supervision and assistance with household chores in advance so you can focus solely on recovering after your Mommy Makeover.

Depending on the nature of your job, most patients can return to work within two to three weeks. Exercise and rigorous activity should be avoided for at least four to six weeks or according to personalized aftercare instructions given by Dr. Schooler. Your Mommy Makeover may be performed all at once, or throughout multiple stages depending on the treatment options chosen by you and Dr. Schooler. The best timeline for you will be determined during one of your consultations.

Mommy Makeover Recovery Tips

During the recovery period, it’s essential to get plenty of rest and closely follow Dr. Schooler’s post-operative aftercare instructions. Each person has a unique rate of healing, but there are a few tips that can facilitate a smoother recovery period:

• Get help from a friend or loved one to monitor your recovery and take care of household responsibilities, such as cleaning and preparing meals.
• Arrange for childcare supervision, as well as pick-ups and drop-offs if necessary to allow you to rest after surgery undisturbed.
• Lightly ambulate as soon as you feel up to it by standing, walking around the house, etc.
• Stick to a healthy diet consisting of foods rich in protein, vitamins, and antioxidants.
• Wear compression garments for the amount of time prescribed by Dr. Schooler to help manage swelling.

How Long Do Mommy Makeover Results Last?

The final results of your Mommy Makeover should remain stable as long as you do not experience significant weight fluctuations. Unfortunately, factors like pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight gain after cosmetic surgery can stretch your skin and body contours, potentially altering the outcome of your enhancement. For this reason, our team recommends living an active lifestyle consisting of regular exercise and a healthy diet to maximize the longevity of your Mommy Makeover results. No surgical procedure can stop the natural aging process, but a Mommy Makeover can help you regain your pre-baby body and attain younger-looking breast and body contours.

Where Can I Expect My Mommy Makeover Scars?

Scarring after a Mommy Makeover is inevitable, but the visibility of your Mommy Makeover scars depends on which procedures you choose to be part of your unique treatment plan. For example, incisions made during liposuction are often less than an inch long, allowing scars to be virtually undetectable to outside observers. For breast surgery procedures, scars typically appear vertically from the areola to the inframammary crease, and/or along the natural breast fold. In some cases of breast augmentation, scars are limited to encircling the border of the areolas. Fortunately, this is not usually noticeable to most people. A tummy tuck typically leaves the most significant scarring compared to other cosmetic procedures, often extending from hip to hip below the pubic area. Dr. Schooler places incisions in the natural folds and creases of the skin whenever possible to further disguise scarring.

Less invasive surgeries usually require shorter incisions when compared to more extensive treatment options, and Dr. Schooler will help ensure you understand what you can respect with regard to scarring during your consultation.

How Much Does a Mommy Makeover Cost?

The cost of a Mommy Makeover depends on factors unique to each individual, such as the types of procedures chosen, the surgical techniques utilized, and the extent of one’s cosmetic concerns. Since the details of a Mommy Makeover are so personalized to each patient’s needs, Dr. Schooler cannot provide a personalized quote until your concerns are evaluated in a consultation. Our office also accepts plastic surgery financing from CareCredit® and ALPHAEON™ Credit for qualified patients who would like to pay for their procedure in more manageable installments. Please don’t hesitate to contact our office if you have any additional questions about the cost of a Mommy Makeover.

Are There Alternatives to a Mommy Makeover?

A Mommy Makeover can be a great way to combine treatments, but it may not be the most ideal option for all of our patients’ goals. Body lifting procedures can also be an effective way to resculpt your contours after weight loss surgery, particularly for patients who have excess, hanging skin. With post-weight loss body contouring, those who have lost a significant amount of weight can reshape areas prone to excess skin accumulation, such as the upper arms, inner thighs, and abdomen. Like a Mommy Makeover, a body lift is personalized to restore a sleeker, more defined look according to your areas of concern. Common treatment options include abdominoplasty, arm lift surgery, thigh lift surgery, and/or a surgical buttock lift. After an evaluation of your concerns, Dr. Schooler can recommend the best procedure(s) to achieve your goals.

Mommy Makeover procedures can be performed at once, or over the course of multiple appointments with Dr. Schooler. In addition to the procedures listed above, our plastic surgeon can also help renew your skin with BOTOX® Cosmetic and other skin rejuvenation treatments to give you a full body and skin makeover. Contact us with any questions you may have, or to schedule a consultation for a Mommy Makeover at the Santa Barbara Plastic Surgery Center.