During Your Mommy Makeover Procedure
You鈥檒l need to avoid eating or drinking anything after midnight on the day of surgery. When you arrive for your surgery, we will prepare with these steps:
- Drawing incision (cut) guidelines on your skin
- Giving you an intravenous (IV) line that delivers fluids, general anesthesia, and pain medication
- Placing noninvasive monitors that track your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels
Then, your plastic surgeon will perform one or more procedures.
- Tummy tuck: Your surgeon will make an incision in your abdomen and use an instrument that lifts your skin and fat. Then they will stitch your abdominal muscles closer together to increase the flatness and firmness of your abdomen. You may have a mini tummy tuck, which targets just the area below your belly button. Or you may have a full tummy tuck, which targets your entire abdomen.
- Breast augmentation: Your surgeon will make an incision along your breast crease or around your areolae (dark tissue around your nipples). Then they will create a pocket to place breast implants beneath your breast tissue.
- Breast lift: Your surgeon will make one or more incisions on your breasts. Then they will remove excess skin, reshape your breast tissue, and reposition your nipples and areolae.
- Breast reduction: Your surgeon will make one or more incisions on your breasts. Then they will remove excess skin, fat, and other tissue from your breasts. They will also reposition your nipples and areolae. They may remove tissue from other surrounding areas, such as your sides or near your armpits, to complement your new breast size.
- Liposuction: Your surgeon will make several small incisions in the areas you want to target. They will insert a small, hollow tube (cannula) through the incisions to loosen and suction fat from your body.
How Long Does a Mommy Makeover Take?
The length of your surgery varies depending on what procedures you have with your mommy makeover.
- Tummy tuck: 1.5鈥2 hours for a mini tummy tuck or 2鈥3 hours for a full tummy tuck
- Breast augmentation: 1鈥2 hours
- Breast lift: 1鈥3 hours
- Breast reduction: 3鈥4 hours
- Liposuction: 30 minutes or more, depending on the areas treated
If we anticipate that your surgery will take more than six hours, we may advise splitting your mommy makeover into two separate surgeries. You can have these two surgeries about three months apart.
Mommy Makeover Recovery
You鈥檒l rest in a recovery area for about two hours after a mommy makeover. You can return home the same day. You鈥檒l need to arrange for someone to drive you home. A responsible adult must stay with you if you are staying overnight.
Your surgeon will review aftercare instructions with you:
- How to care for drains, if you have them
- How long to wear compression garments, a surgical bra, or bandages
- When and how to take pain medications
Mommy Makeover Scars
Depending on your procedures, you will have a few scars around your abdomen and breasts. You will also have very small scars around areas where you had liposuction.
A skilled plastic surgeon will make incisions as discretely as possible to make your scars less noticeable. Proper aftercare can also help reduce the appearance of scars:
- Avoid smoking.
- Eat a nutritious diet.
- Keep your incisions clean during healing.
- Limit exposure to the sun or ultraviolet (UV) light.
- Rest and minimize strain on your incisions so that they heal properly.
Mommy Makeover Recovery Timeline
You鈥檒l have regular follow-up visits with your surgeon to monitor your recovery. Recovery times vary depending on what specific procedures you had. The following timeline shows what you can expect in general:
- The first several days: You鈥檒l need someone to help you at home for at least a few days. You may need help for several weeks if you have a tummy tuck.
- Two weeks: If needed, you鈥檒l have drainage tubes that prevent fluid buildup around your incisions for 2鈥4 weeks.
- Six weeks: You鈥檒l need to avoid lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds for at least six weeks.
- Twelve weeks: Most women are recovered enough to resume usual activities and feel confident in a swimsuit.
How Painful Is Recovery From a Mommy Makeover?
You will have discomfort, swelling, and bruising in the first few days and weeks after a mommy makeover. How much pain you have depends on multiple factors, including what procedures you had. Pain is usually most severe in the first 1鈥2 weeks after surgery and should decrease significantly as you continue recovering.
Find a Plastic Surgeon
Schedule an Appointment
Call our office at 801-581-7719 if you would like to learn more about having a mommy makeover. We will be happy to schedule your consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons who specializes in the procedures you want.
