Mommy Makeover

When we talk about a mommy makeover, what exactly are we talking about and why are we talking about it at all? What makes this different from the other procedures and when is the best time to get one? Well, this is actually a relatively new approach to aesthetic plastic surgery that has seen an incredible boom over the last 15-20 years. Many of the individual procedures have certainly been around but the concept of a “packaged” renewal seems to be a recent phenomenon. The reason for this may be a generational difference more than anything else. The baby boom and following generations of women are certainly similar with their mothers and grandmothers, in that they are not only still having children, but they are still experiencing changes to their bodies that no amount of exercise can reverse. However, these newer generations seem to be more active than their predecessors and in a more “get back out there” sort of way. Women today are doing everything from Yoga and Pilates, to sea and ski, and they have every intention of getting back into their jeans or a bikini and back out on the beach! When the previous generation thought of Cosmetic Surgery, it was probably long after the kids had gone and usually meant a facelift or an eyelid surgery. Not so with the later group. In fact, when it comes to the face, women today have a better understanding of facial rejuvenation, care and aging than ever before.  This generation has now turned its attention to the neck down and once they are done having kids, they are not waiting!

What procedures are involved in a Mommy Makeover?

Typically, we talk about the areas that undergo the most change after childbirth. Those are usually the breasts and the tummy. Both areas can undergo stretching to the skin that at times can be irreversible. Dr. Corey feels that a woman’s skin can lose its support and elasticity far sooner than previously thought. Whereas the common thought was that these changes happened at menopause, Dr. Corey has seen that these can happen much sooner, even in the early thirties. Many women have said that their skin really bounced back very well with the first two babies “but the third one…!” and it seems more correlated to just being older with that “third one” than anything else, and older can now be in the 30’s when it comes to these body areas. We know too that many women are now having children into their thirties and waiting a little longer than maybe their grandmothers did.

So the procedures we see most often with the mommy makeover are breast augmentation with or without a donut mastopexy or full mastopexy, to tighten and raise the breast skin and restore volume that has been lost, a tummy tuck , to re-align muscles that have been stretched apart and removed excess loose or hanging skin, and liposuction , on areas like the hips or thighs. Again, in certain areas the support of the skin can change dramatically after pregnancy and no amount or type of exercise can get that skin to magically tighten and lift back up.

So are these Mommy Makeover procedures done all at the same time and is it safe?

These may be done as single procedures but many times these are done in some combination. A typical Mommy Makeover might be: Breast Augmentation done with a full Mastopexy, a Tummy Tuck and Liposuction. Again, women today are ready to get back to their life and if they have young children, they are looking for as little down time as possible and have preferred to recover from these all at once. And in the proper surgical setting with a well-trained team, these procedures can be done very safely all at once.

How much “down time” is involved with the Mommy Makeover?

It is usually the tummy tuck that is the limiting factor in this and of the three procedures, this is the one that may take the most time to bounce back from. If that is part of the procedure, plan on about 2 weeks before you really feel like getting out and you may need help around the house for that period of time as well.

How do I prepare for a Mommy Makeover?

Pre-operatively, Phoenix cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Corey will consult with you to discuss your specific goals and to review surgical options and techniques. These are surgeries where Dr. Corey relies heavily on the training he received in Brazil. You will be provided with instructions regarding diet, smoking and medications. You will also be given necessary prescriptions, and photos will be taken.

I think I’m ready to talk about a Mommy Makeover and get my “body back!” What is the next step?

When dieting and exercising do not work to reshape the areas we talked about above, a mommy makeover may be the procedure for you. At his Scottsdale office, Dr. Corey offers two types of Mommy Makeover consultations: an individual consultation which costs $75 or, if you live out of the area, an online consultation which is free. Before you meet with Dr. Corey, make sure to write down all questions or concerns you have and bring them up with your surgeon. Why wait? It’s time for you now! Contact us today if you are in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe or Chandler, Arizona.

To visualize what a Mommy Makeover can do for you; click here to see some mommy makeover before and after pictures.