Posted on August 16, 2024 in Mommy Makeover

While pregnancy and childbirth can be joyful occasions, these life events can also lead to changes in the shape and appearance of a woman’s body. Patients who are seeking to restore their pre-baby figures can often benefit from a mommy makeover, which consists of a personalized combination of plastic surgery procedures. During consutlation, many patients ask questions regarding what they can expect following their mommy makeover procedures. Read on for the answers to these questions.

What is a Mommy Makeover?

A mommy makeover consists of a combination of plastic surgery procedures customized to a woman’s unique needs. The most common combination of procedures includes a breast augmentation and breast lift, along with a tummy tuck. Liposuction and labiaplasty may also be options based on your cosmetic goals. Additionally, we can perform non-surgical procedures such as Botox to improve results further.

It is important that patients considering a mommy makeover understand that future pregnancy can negatively alter results. Therefore, ideal candidates are those who are finished having children and are dedicated to a healthy lifestyle to maintain a stable weight.

Mommy Makeover Recovery

Because a mommy makeover is highly individualized, each patient’s recovery process will differ. Most patients can expect at least 1-2 weeks of downtime and are able to return to normal activities within 6 weeks. It is normal to experience swelling, bruising, and some discomfort following surgery, which can be controlled with support garments and prescription pain medication. Detailed recovery instructions will be provided to you after your procedure.

The Day of Your Procedure

A mommy makeover is performed under general anesthesia, which means that you will be asleep during the procedure. After surgery, you can expect to feel a little bit groggy as the anesthesia wears off. Bandages and drains may be present when you awaken from surgery. Compression garments will also be in place, and they should be worn to reduce swelling and support new contours. A friend or family member will need to drive you home the next morning, as most patients will need to stay overnight at our OR facility for comfort and safety.

The First Week After a Mommy Makeover

During the first week, rest is vital. Walking short distances, from room to room at home, is encouraged every hour or two while you are awake.  Longer distances should be avoided until you are medically cleared.  Swelling and bruising are to be expected. Patients may be prescribed pain medication to help ensure a comfortable healing process. The length of time that you will need to take off work will depend on the extent of surgery and the type of job you have. Patients generally take 1-2 weeks off from work for office-based jobs and up to a month for more strenuous jobs. 

After the First Week

Patients will be provided specific instructions regarding when they may return to activities. While some changes may be noticed right away, results will become more noticeable once swelling and bruising resolve. As incision sites heal, scarring will be present and should improve in appearance over one year post-op.

Some patients can expect the entire healing process to take about 6 months despite the fact many can return to their normal routines much sooner. To best maintain results, patients should maintain a healthy weight. Future pregnancy can negatively impact results, so it is important that you are sure that you have finished having children before your procedure.

Tips For a Quick Recovery

You can support a quick and safe recovery in some easy ways. Some quick tips include:

• Eat a healthy, nutritious diet to support healing.
• Avoid heavy lifting (anything over 5 lbs.) to protect incisions.
• While rest is important, gentle movement, such as walking short distances, can help to promote healing and lower risk of complications. 

Schedule a Consultation

To learn more about the mommy makeover procedure and if it is right for you, contact Power Plastic Surgery in Toronto, ON, Canada, today. Your first step toward treatment is to schedule a consultation with Stephanie Power, MD.