A Mommy Makeover typically includes breast surgery, a tummy tuck and liposuction, but you may not need all three procedures to improve your appearance. Whichever surgeries you decide to have, our surgeons will customize them to achieve the look you desire.
Mommy Makeover in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Port St. Lucie
Motherhood brings with it many joys, but it can also bring some unwelcome changes to a woman’s body. Changes such as drooping breasts, excess skin laxity, and carrying extra weight can cause women to feel unhappy with their appearance. To help women feel more confident and more comfortable in their post-baby bodies, Lickstein Plastic Surgery offers Mommy Makeover procedures for women in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and beyond.
What is a Mommy Makeover?
To help women feel more comfortable with their appearance after childbirth, a tailored suite of contouring plastic surgery procedures referred to as a “Mommy Makeover” is recommended, which may include breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, tummy tuck and liposuction.1
Mommy Makeover Procedures
Breast Surgery
The breasts often undergo significant changes during and after pregnancy. Additionally, some women have been unhappy with the shape or size of their breasts for some time, but postponed breast surgery until after they were finished having children and breastfeeding. Our plastic surgeons can perform cosmetic breast surgery to help women feel more confident in their appearance.
Breast Augmentation
Many women feel that their breasts decrease in size after breastfeeding and as a result of weight fluctuations and hormone changes associated with pregnancy. Breast augmentation is performed to increase breast volume, making breasts look larger and fuller. We offer a range of breast implant options, allowing patients to customize their breast augmentation results.
Breast implants often work well with a breast lift, helping women augment the size of their breasts and restore their pre-pregnancy shape. By reducing skin laxity and improving shape and size, a breast lift along with breast augmentation can significantly improve a woman’s confidence and expand the styles she is comfortable wearing.
Breast Lift
A breast lift (mastopexy) raises the position and reshapes the breasts for a more lifted, perky appearance, which may also include lifting the downward facing nipples and reducing the size of the areolas. Although breast lift surgery doesn't significantly change breast size, this procedure is often performed in conjunction with breast augmentation or reduction.
Breast Reduction
Following pregnancy, some women become uncomfortable with the appearance of breasts that appear overly large, or find that the weight of their larger breasts causes them physical discomfort. During breast reduction surgery, breast volume is reduced and tissues are lifted and reshaped, the areolas are repositioned and/or reduced, and loose skin is removed.
Liposuction
Women also will face new and stubborn fat deposits after pregnancy and childbirth. Fat may naturally begin occurring in new areas where it has not appeared before, and many women may struggle and fail to eliminate it despite the most stringent diet and exercise routines. Also, not all fat responds well to diet and exercise. However, women have an option to target and eliminate this excess fat with liposuction.
Liposuction is a precision-targeted procedure to remove stubborn fat from troubled areas, such as arms, back, abdomen, hips and thighs. When combined with breast augmentation and a tummy tuck, liposuction helps to improve your tone and contours, heighten the effect of other procedures, and most importantly, to boost your self-confidence.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Pregnancy perhaps takes the greatest toll on a woman’s abdomen since the abdominal skin is stretched, and the abdominal muscles can become separated, increasing the laxity women experience in this area after childbirth. Through your tummy tuck procedure, your surgeon will remove excess skin and fat, improving your skin tone and also helping reduce or eliminate stretch marks located on the skin being excised. A tummy tuck also tightens weakened abdominal muscles to produce a more toned and slender midsection, giving you noticeable and lasting improvements in this area of your body.
Benefits of a Mommy Makeover
A Mommy Makeover can help women feel more confident in their bodies, more comfortable in their clothes, and better able to live a more active lifestyle—all of which result in increased self-esteem.
In general, women will choose Mommy Makeover options to help them achieve some of the following primary goals, which include:
- A more youthful looking body
- A flatter, more toned tummy
- A leaner or hourglass silhouette
- Removal of saggy, loose skin
- Improved breast appearance
Benefits specific to combining multiple plastic surgery procedures into a single Mommy Makeover include:
- Consolidated recovery time
- Mommy Mommy makeover is more cost-effective than a number of separate procedures
- Reduced anesthesia risks associated with multiple surgeries
Best of all, patients who undergo a number of procedures during a Mommy Makeover see the full results much sooner than if they had multiple separate surgeries!
Preparing for Your Mommy Makeover
Mommy Makeovers are not one-size-fits-all! The key to feeling well-prepared for your Mommy Makeover is to attend a personal consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons. During this meeting, you will be able to candidly discuss your cosmetic concerns, and your doctor will help you review all of the options available to you. Together, you will decide on the right treatment plan for your unique goals.
When your Mommy Makeover has been scheduled, we will give you detailed instructions for preparing for your surgery as well as clear expectations for the recovery period. It is important to note that you will not be permitted to lift anything heavy (including a child) after your surgery, so we encourage you to make sure you have someone present to help while you are recovering.
How Mommy Makeover Works
A Mommy Makeover is performed under general anesthesia and is typically an outpatient procedure. Each woman’s Mommy Makeover treatment plan is unique: some patients may need to undergo certain procedures on separate dates, and an overnight hospital may be required.
During a breast lift procedure, discreet incisions are made before excess skin, fat, and tissue are removed. Breast tissue is then raised and reshaped, and in some cases, changes are made to the size of the areolas and the projection of the nipples.
For breast augmentation, incisions may be made around the areola, in the crease under the breast, or in the armpit. Once a pocket is created within the breast, implants are placed and adjusted for optimal results.
During a breast reduction procedure, incisions may be made around the areola and vertically from the areola to the crease of the breast, or a larger incision called a keyhole incision may be made. Excess breast tissue is removed, and the remaining tissue is sculpted for a rounder and more lifted appearance. The nipple and areola are moved to a higher position on the breasts.
For a liposuction procedure, tumescent fluid is injected into fat in the treatment area. Discreet incisions are made, and a cannula is inserted to vacuum away unwanted fat. Our plastic surgeons will also use the cannula to shape and contour the area before the cannula is removed and the incisions are closed.
During a tummy tuck, an incision is made on the lower abdomen where it will be concealed by underwear or a bikini bottom. Excess skin (including stretch marks) and fat are removed, and separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) are repaired to produce a leaner, flatter abdominal area.
Mommy Makeover Surgery
Immediately after surgery, you will remain in the surgical facility for observation until your anesthesia has worn off. With your surgeon’s approval, you can then return home. You will need a friend or loved one to drive you home after your surgery, and you will also require at-home assistance for the first 24 to 48 hours.
Although you can expect some discomfort after surgery, this is normal, and you can take prescribed medication to control your pain. Swelling may last from a few days to a few weeks depending on the procedures you’ve had and how much augmentation you’ve received. However, most patients feel comfortable resuming their normal activities after two weeks.
We will ask you to continue to avoid strenuous activity and exercise for at least six weeks, though, to protect your healing incisions and ensure the best possible results. While every woman heals differently and at their own rate, during recovery, you can expect a steady increase in your strength, energy levels and readiness to resume your pre-surgery routines. Also, by having multiple procedures at once, you will benefit from a much shorter recovery time than if you had had separate procedures.
Results of a Mommy Makeover Procedure
After recovery, you will enjoy significant improvements to your breasts, abdomen and mid-section appearance. A Mommy Makeover will give you more youthful looking breasts with improved shape and projection. Also, a flatter, more toned tummy with better mid-section contours will give you something to smile about. While every surgery will result in some scarring, your surgeon will place incisions in the most inconspicuous locations possible, where they can be easily hidden by clothing. Also, all scars will fade over time, making this aspect of your surgery much less noticeable. Since a tummy tuck also removes scarring, such as stretch marks, you will have minimal surgical scarring with significant overall improvements.
The results of your Mommy Makeover will last as well, especially if you wait until after you have completed your childbearing before having your surgery. While your body will continue to age naturally, you can maintain the long-lasting results of your surgery by continuing a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
Am I a good candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
If you are physically healthy and close to your goal weight, you are a good candidate for a Mommy Makeover. While having liposuction and a tummy tuck together will substantially reduce stubborn abdominal fat, these procedures do not substitute for a diet and exercise program and are not meant as ways to achieve weight loss.2
What are the risks of a Mommy Makeover?
Some of our patients are concerned that combining multiple surgical procedures results in a higher risk of complications than undergoing a series of singular procedures. Studies show that this is not the case.3
Risks and complications of a Mommy Makeover are similar to other cosmetic surgery procedures and may include:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Hematoma
- Changes in skin sensation
- Breast implant complications, including rupture, leakage, and capsular contracture
- Sup-optimal scarring4
There are risks to any surgical procedure. Working with an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon is the best way to reduce your risks and achieve the results you desire.
Do I need to have both a breast augmentation and a breast lift, or can I have one or the other?
You can have one or the other procedure; however, you may get better results by having both procedures together. For example, if you are experiencing sagging, and a breast augmentation is performed without a breast lift, you may face a higher likelihood of complications after surgery. However, if you do not have any sagging, you may get the results you want without a breast lift. Ultimately, your concerns will suggest the right surgical path to follow.
When should I have my Mommy Makeover?
Consider having a Mommy Makeover once you have completed your childbearing. You can have the procedure even if you plan to have more children, but pregnancy and birth may adversely affect the results achieved by your surgery. While you can breastfeed after having breast implants or a breast lift, you may face a slightly higher risk of problems.
Are all Mommy Makeover procedures for body contouring?
No! Any procedure that helps you feel more confident can be included in a Mommy Makeover. Some of our patients opt to include BOTOX®, dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing, and other non-surgical treatments from our Medical Spa in their Mommy Makeover.
Contact Us
To learn more about how you might benefit from a Mommy Makeover, contact us at Lickstein Plastic Surgery to schedule your personal consultation with an experienced cosmetic surgeon. We are proud to serve patients from Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Port St. Lucy and beyond achieve their cosmetic goals.
Contact Us
Sources1American Society of Plastic Surgeons. What is a Mommy Makeover? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/mommy-makeover. Accessed July 14, 2023.
2 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Who is a good candidate for a Mommy Makeover? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/mommy-makeover/candidates. Accessed July 14, 2023.
3 Khavanin N, Jordan SW, Vieira BL, Hume KM, Mlodinow AS, Simmons CJ, Murphy RX Jr, Gutowski KA, Kim JY. Combining abdominal and cosmetic breast surgery does not increase short-term complication rates: a comparison of each individual procedure and pretreatment risk stratification tool. Aesthet Surg J. 2015 Nov;35(8):999-1006. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjv087. Epub 2015 Jul 9. PMID: 26163312; PMCID: PMC6296326. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26163312/. Accessed July 14, 2023.
4 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. What are the risks of a Mommy Makeover? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/mommy-makeover/safety. Accessed July 14, 2023.
The Doctors at Lickstein Plastic Surgery have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
Page Updated: