Most women having their first child are prepared for the changes in their lives that will come with the new arrival. Hardly anyone is ready for the scope of the changes to their body, however.
Pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding wreak havoc on a woman’s body. The localized weight gain and loss, both in the stomach and in the breasts, creates unique problems with stretched skin and sometimes separated muscles (in the abdomen).
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Months after delivery, even if she has lost all of her baby weight, a new mother can be discouraged by the stomach pooch that seems to have developed overnight, breasts that have flattened and are sagging, and pockets of fat that are impervious to exercise.
A mommy makeover with Dr. Turk addresses the changes pregnancy and childbirth have made on your figure, giving you back your pre-baby body…and maybe even then some.
What Is a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is simply a term for a combination of surgical procedures that target the changes in a woman’s body caused by pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Dr. Turk combines three procedures for his mommy makeovers: a tummy tuck, a breast lift with or without augmentation, and liposuction. These three procedures are grouped into a single surgical session, creating a mommy makeover.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
Unlike typical weight gain across the body, pregnancy creates very localized weight gain, both in the abdomen and the breasts. This can stretch the muscles and skin to a degree they cannot tighten back to their former degree of tautness afterwards. The size increase in the breasts, coupled with breastfeeding often leaves them flattened, sagging, and with less volume. Plus, even if you’ve worked hard to lose your baby weight, it’s likely a few pockets of stubborn fat have developed in the abdomen and maybe the outer thighs.
If your stretched stomach skin has created a pooch, Dr. Turk can address that with a tummy tuck. If your breasts have lost volume and seem flatter, a breast lift (with or without augmentation) will address that. And for those pockets of fat on your abdomen and maybe your thighs, liposuction can remove those. Put them all together, and you have a mommy makeover.
During your consultation for a mommy makeover, Dr. Turk stresses that to be a candidate for these procedures, you’ll need to be at or near your ideal weight. These are body-contouring procedures, not weight-loss procedures. This isn’t an arbitrary thing — if you lose additional weight, you will have more of the sagging skin in your abdomen and breasts that predicated these surgeries in the first place. So, if you still need to lose some of your baby weight, that needs to occur first, and then you can come in for a mommy makeover.
What Procedures Make Up a Mommy Makeover?
These are the procedures involved with Dr. Turk’s mommy makeovers:
- Breast lift
Because the breasts gain size and weight during pregnancy, the skin and support tissue can stretch, making the breasts flatten and sag. A breast lift removes excess skin and repositions the breasts back higher on the chest. Depending on the amount of sagging, the nipples may need to be relocated. - Breast augmentation
Breastfeeding tends to decrease breast volume. Women who want to return volume, particularly to the upper part of the breasts, or who simply would like larger breasts, can opt to have breast implants inserted after the breast lift procedure. This is an easy time to add implants because Dr. Turk can insert the implants through the incisions he has created for the breast lift. - Liposuction
Stubborn pockets of fat can show up after pregnancy. They won’t usually respond to exercise, either. Liposuction removes these pockets on the inner and outer thighs, hips, and abdomen. - Tummy tuck
As described above, the stretching of the stomach skin and muscles during pregnancy is extreme. A tummy tuck trims excess sagging skin and repositions separated muscles to give you back a flat stomach. Depending on the areas of sagging, a tummy tuck will involve one long incision from hipbone to hipbone positioned where it can be hidden beneath a bikini or underwear, and a second incision may be made around your navel.
What Is Recovery Like after a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover at Naples Cosmetic Surgery is a major procedure, and we’re not going to sugarcoat it — it’s not a simple recovery. You will have had surgery on at least two areas of your body, along with liposuction on other spots. These procedures will involve removing excess skin and repositioning muscles where necessary. The tummy tuck presents the most involved part of your recovery. This is because the length of the incision, along with the tightening of your abdominal muscles that have become separated.
Your first week after surgery is difficult. You won’t be able to do much of anything around the house and with the kids, so you’ll need to line up some help. Dr. Turk will have you in compression garments for one month for your tummy tuck and liposuction. This minimizes swelling, but it also helps your body adapt to its new slimmer contours. You’ll wear a support bra for at least one month, maybe longer, to take pressure off your breast lift sutures. This will be a 24-hours-a-day requirement, and you must be disciplined about it, as this helps your breast lift incisions heal and begin to become less noticeable more quickly.
Because of the hipbone-to-hipbone incision, a tummy tuck can take a full six months to completely heal. You can’t lift anything more than 10 pounds for a period of six weeks or more. You’ll be able to begin a light level of activity after one to two weeks, but any strenuous activity or exercise will need to wait for 6-8 weeks.
While your recovery is not easy, your new body will make it all worthwhile.
How Soon after Having a Baby Can I Have a Mommy Makeover?
A mother who has seen her body changed by pregnancy and childbirth can be frustrated and seek a mommy makeover, but you need to have some patience. You’ll need to have finished breastfeeding for at least three months before having a mommy makeover. This will allow your breasts to return to their normal, natural size. As mentioned above, Dr. Turk also requires patients for mommy makeovers to be within 10 percent of their ideal weight. It usually takes a few months for a new mom to lose her baby weight.
If I Plan on Having More Children, Can I Still Have a Mommy Makeover Now?
If you know that you want to have additional children, or even if you aren’t quite sure you are finished, you shouldn’t have a mommy makeover. Future pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding will wipe out the results of your mommy makeover. This is something to consider very seriously prior to planning for a mommy makeover.
Why Is It Best to Combine These Procedures into a Single Surgery?
While recovery after the various procedures in a mommy makeover is difficult, you need to remember that it still is just a single recovery. Should you instead opt to have a breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction as separate procedures, you will have three separate recovery periods. Yes, your first week after your mommy makeover will not be easy, but one recovery sure beats three.
Real Patient Reviews
"Just went in and had my breast augmentation. Dr. Turk, Kristy, and Cindy were fantastic!! Definitely calmed my nerves. Dr. Turk even called the night of surgery to make sure I was doing good!! Overall my experience has been fantastic!! Would definitely recommend Dr. Turk to anyone!!!"
"After my procedure, seeing how he transformed that part of my body making me more proportioned, I cannot express how much I absolutely love my results! I fit my clothes better and overall feel so much more confident than I did before...Dr. Turk did an amazing job and I highly recommend him!!!!"
"I am so pleased with my breast augmentation surgery I picked the best Dr. In Naples FL Dr. Turk! The nurses are so kind, gentle, and passionate. I highly recommend Dr. Turk and his staff to everyone"
Ready To Take The Next Step? Contact Us.
To learn more about our Mommy Makeover procedure, call us today at 239-316-1689 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. Naples Cosmetic Surgery Center is proud to serve Naples, FL and the surrounding areas.