While the choice of procedures to include in your Mommy Makeover is entirely up to you and your surgeon, many patients find value in the following procedures, as they each target common post-pregnancy concerns.
Mommy Makeover in Washington, D.C.
Pregnancy can be a magical experience, but it can also take a toll on a woman’s body, affecting her breasts, abdomen, legs, and more. After giving her body over to one or more babies, it’s normal for a woman to long for the return of her pre-baby figure. A Mommy Makeover at our Washington, DC-area practice is an effective surgical solution to restoring your former curves and boosting your confidence.
Our board-certified plastic surgeons at Center for Plastic Surgery work with our Mommy Makeover patients to create individualized surgical plans to address every goal safely and effectively.
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Before & After Photos
What Are the Benefits of a Mommy Makeover?
Even the healthiest new mommies who work hard to get their figures back find that the changes from pregnancy simply cannot be exercised away. Excess skin that occurs when the body is stretched and pulled is left behind, and the swelling and subsequent shrinking of the breasts can leave them flatter and sometimes looking deflated or fallen.
The Mommy Makeover procedure can provide a variety of improvements with a single surgery and recovery period. Women choose these procedures for any combination of the following benefits:
- Reduce excess skin
- Remove stubborn pockets of fat
- Surgically tighten lax or separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti)
- Lift and shape sagging or deflated breasts
- Improve breast symmetry
- Restore lost breast volume
- Restore lost confidence and empowerment
As Mommy Makeovers are a combination of other cosmetic procedures, each woman will experience different benefits, as their goals and results will be unique to their bodies. Your Mommy Makeover will bring you benefits that may incorporate some of the above, but overall, it’s entirely customized to you.
Take a look at our Mommy Makeover photo gallery to get a better idea of what popular procedure combinations look like on real patients.
Am I a Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
Women who have experienced childbirth and are looking to restore their pre-baby bodies can often benefit from Mommy Makeover surgery. However, a woman does not need to have ever been pregnant to undergo a Mommy Makeover, as the combination of procedures benefits many women. Ideal Mommy Makeover candidates:
- Are in good health
- Are at their ideal body weight
- Are finished having children and breastfeeding
Future pregnancies can negatively impact your Mommy Makeover results, so we highly recommend waiting to undergo your procedure until you are sure you are finished having children. Additionally, if you have recently delivered a child, it is recommended that you let your body heal for at least six months before undergoing Mommy Makeover surgery.
The best way to determine if this procedure is right for you is through a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons.
What Are My Mommy Makeover Options?
Tummy Tuck
During pregnancy, the abdominal area stretches and doesn’t always snap back into place, leading to lax skin. A tummy tuck is done to correct changes to the abdominal area by removing excess skin and tightening the weakened or separated abdominal muscles, also known as diastasis recti or rectus diastasis.
Breast Augmentation
Both pregnancy and breastfeeding can lead to deflated breasts. After the extreme fluctuations due to breastfeeding, it’s not uncommon for mothers to lose the new volume–and then some. Breast augmentation is done to restore volume loss through the use of breast implants or via autologous fat transfer for a “natural” breast augmentation.
Breast Lift
Sagging, deflated breasts are one of the most common aftereffects of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the natural aging process. A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a procedure designed to restore breasts to a youthful position on the chest, removing excess skin and lifting the nipples to an appealing position on the breast. If you are experiencing both breast ptosis and a loss of volume, a breast lift is popularly combined with an augmentation to correct these issues at the same time.
Liposuction
Liposuction is done to reduce pockets of stubborn fat or enhance the results of another procedure. It is often combined with a tummy tuck procedure for optimal results, but it can be used to treat excess fat throughout the body, including the thighs, hips, and back, for a more cohesive, slimming result.
Labiaplasty
Enlarged labia minora (inner vaginal lips) are very common for women, either due to genetics or pregnancy and childbirth. Large labia can be a source of physical discomfort, pinching, or pulling during exercise or sex, but patients experience emotional distress as well. Labiaplasty is rapidly becoming a popular procedure to combine within a Mommy Makeover, restoring patients’ most intimate features through both aesthetic and functional improvement.
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How Is a Mommy Makeover Performed?
Your Mommy Makeover Consultation
By design, a Mommy Makeover is customized exactly to the needs and goals of the patient. Most patients come to CPS with an idea of what procedures they may want or which body parts they would like to improve or enhance; in preparation for your consultation, start thinking about your “problem” areas and what type of results you think you’d like.
When you meet with your plastic surgeon, they will listen to your goals for the procedure and supply you with suggestions as to which procedures can help you achieve them. Additionally, your surgeon will discuss the risks and benefits of Mommy Makeovers, including the risks and benefits of each procedure, their recovery times, and what your surgery may entail as far as anesthesia and where your surgery will be performed. Once you and your plastic surgeon decide on the combination of procedures incorporated into your Mommy Makeover–including the specificities of each surgery–we will provide you with your individualized surgical plan.
A Mommy Makeover is a huge undertaking for both the patient and surgeon; we’re here to ensure that your procedure is performed by a surgical expert who also has your best interests at heart. Each of our surgeons, nurses, and support staff is an advocate for our patients and is dedicated to the safety, comfort, and efficacy of each procedure.
The Mommy Makeover Procedure
It goes without saying that each Mommy Makeover will be different than the next, but the following is what you can generally expect from the procedure itself:
On the day of surgery, your surgeon will check in with you, review your surgical plan, and place the incision markings around the treatment areas. Mommy Makeovers are performed under general anesthesia and are usually outpatient procedures, although, in rare instances, some patients may need to be monitored overnight.
Once you are safely under anesthesia, your surgeon will begin the surgery. Mommy Makeovers generally take multiple hours, depending on the type of procedures included, their relative complexity, and the level of necessary revision. Once your procedures are concluded, your surgeon will carefully close the incisions, and you will be monitored as you are taken out of anesthesia.
You may be wrapped in protective gauze or bandages, and you will likely be sent home with a compression garment and surgical bra, if applicable. You will need help getting home after your procedure, so be sure to ask a friend or family member to drive you home and make sure you are stable once you are there.
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What Can I Expect From Mommy Makeover Recovery?
Recovery time for a Mommy Makeover will vary greatly, depending on the combination of procedures you have received. A good guideline to go by is to expect a recovery similar to that required of the most extensive procedure that you are having; for example, tummy tucks may result in about two to three weeks of downtime, so that timeframe is what you should follow.
Patients will need to avoid heavy lifting and exercise for at least six weeks (which includes lifting young children). You will be required to wear gauze or bandages following surgery and a compression garment to help support your new body contours and control swelling. Our surgeons use the latest pain medication protocols and long-acting local pain medication (such as Exparel®) to minimize your discomfort and reduce the use of narcotic pain medications. Be sure to follow your surgeon’s post-op instructions to ensure a smooth recovery experience.
As with most surgical procedures, there will be some scarring from your Mommy Makeover procedures; however, our team will create all incisions in inconspicuous locations that can easily be covered with underwear or clothing.
Your Mommy Makeover results will include a slimmer and more proportionate overall body silhouette. There’s often also an instant boost in confidence, so you can be the best mother you can be!
Mommy Makeover Recovery Timeline
Mommy Makeover recovery is difficult to measure, as each patient will have different procedures and variations within those procedures. A general recovery timeline may look like the following:
Week One:
- Discomfort, bruising, and swelling are at their worst
- Very limited mobility: difficulty standing straight, lifting your arms, and bending over
- Possible drain and suture removal
- Be very cautious with movement this week and follow your instructions closely
Week Two:
- Breast surgeries should be feeling better
- Swelling should be reduced
- Most patients feel better than in week one
- Continue to take pain medication as needed
- Avoid exercise, including bending down and lifting your arms
- Some light activity is OK, such as light walking
Weeks Three and Four:
- Most patients can return to work
- Some bruising may be present, though most will have improved
- Most patients are feeling more like themselves
Month Two:
- Slow return to all activity, including physical exercise, may be OK’d by your surgeon
- You should be back to all your usual household and work routines
Month Three and Beyond:
- The majority of swelling should be gone by now, although some patients may experience residual swelling for up to a year
- You will be able to see the final results of your Mommy Makeover as your swelling and bruising dissipate
While pain is usually at a minimum after the first week, be sure to continue to care for your body throughout the remaining months of Mommy Makeover recovery. It’s important to listen to your body and allow your surgeon to help guide your recovery. In general, we want patients up and moving right after surgery and returning to their usual tasks as soon as they can.
Be sure to remain in contact with our team at CPS. We’re here to help if any questions or concerns arise during recovery, making this transition as painless as possible.
How Much Does a Mommy Makeover Cost?
The cost of Mommy Makeover procedures in Washington, D.C., starts at $18,000 and rises from there, depending on the combination of surgeries performed. You will be provided with a price quote for your Mommy Makeover after your consultation with one of our providers. We offer patient financing for interested patients who would like to see if they qualify.
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Mommy Makeover Frequently Asked Questions
Are Mommy Makeovers safe?
While any surgical procedure carries some risk, Mommy Makeovers are considered safe when performed by an experienced and qualified plastic surgeon. At CPS, safety is our top priority. Mommy Makeovers have been safely performed by our board-certified plastic surgeons for years, and we only agree to do surgery if we are completely convinced of the patient’s candidacy and safety.
In the same vein, we only perform multiple procedures when it is safe to do so. This means that if planned procedures may result in surgery that lasts too long, our surgeons will opt to perform the Mommy Makeover in two separate operations to ensure that no patient is at risk.
How can I maintain the results of my Mommy Makeover?
The prospect of a newly rejuvenated body is very exciting; we understand that our patients are eager to make the most of their tightened abdomens and slimmed contours. Our surgeons will help get you back to your usual routines and exercise as soon as possible and when it is safe to do so.
A comprehensive exercise routine and a good diet are the best ways to maintain your results. Often Mommy Makeover surgeries are the catalysts for patients to make these lifestyle changes. Our surgeons will be here to guide you along the way and to advise you about helpful therapies, such as lymphatic massages and compression garment therapy.
With a healthy, whole-food diet and appropriate exercise, you can enjoy the results of your Mommy Makeover for years.
Can my tummy tuck remove my stretch marks?
Sometimes. A tummy tuck does remove excess skin around the midsection, and if your stretch marks are in that area of extra skin, then they can be removed. However, there is no guarantee this is possible. If you are interested in removing your stretch marks, be sure to discuss this possibility with your plastic surgeon during your Mommy Makeover consultation. They will be able to examine your stomach to give you a better idea.
How soon after I have my baby can I have a Mommy Makeover?
What our surgeons look for when determining a recent mom’s candidacy for a Mommy Makeover is how far along in the healing process she is. We don’t have to tell you that your body has gone through amazing fluctuations over the course of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding; It needs time to heal, bounce back to normal proportions, and minimize swelling.
Most patients should wait at least six months or until they are finished breastfeeding, whichever comes first.
When is the best time to have a Mommy Makeover?
While many women choose to undergo a Mommy Makeover procedure while their children are very young so that they can return to their desired appearance earlier, there is no “wrong” time to undergo a Mommy Makeover. Even experienced mothers who would like to improve their overall appearance can benefit from this procedure years after giving birth. The main factor to remember is that you should only undergo a Mommy Makeover if you are finished having children. If you have any questions regarding the “best” time to undergo a Mommy Makeover procedure, we would be happy to answer them during your consultation appointment.
Interested in a Mommy Makeover in Washington, D.C.?
With a Mommy Makeover procedure, women are able to give a little back to themselves after pouring so much into their kids. By looking great, they will have even more confidence in themselves as parents and women. If you’re looking for a mommy makeover specialist in Chevy Chase or Bethesda, MD, Arlington, VA, or elsewhere in the DC area, use this contact form to request a complimentary consultation or call us at 301-652-7700.
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