About Mommy Makeover Procedure
The goal of a mommy makeover is to restore the shape and appearance of a woman’s body after childbearing. Many women notice changes in their bodies post-pregnancy. There are many areas of the body that can be addressed, most commonly the breasts, abdomen, waist, vagina and buttocks.
What’s Included in the procedure?
A mommy makeover is any combination of these procedures and is customized to each patient depending on their concerns and aesthetic goals. Possible procedures in a mommy makeover include:
As we’ve mentioned before, Plastic Surgery is not an exact science. Every person has a unique anatomy and their own idea of what their body goals should be.
This is why consultations with AJ Plastic Surgery Centre are vital so we can work together to create the best possible plan, customized for your personal needs and goals.
- Before Procedure
- During Procedure
- Results & Recovery
Things You Need to Know Before a Mommy Makeover
We consider mommy makeover to be one of the most rewarding and life changing surgeries we perform. We are familiar with many of the changes that pregnancy can have on mothers’ bodies. Not only do the surgeries help restore physical changes but they also often improve core strength and function and help women feel more comfortable in clothing and with exercise and activities. Because many of these surgeries involve surgery on opposite parts of the body, for post op care and healing reasons, they may need to be done staged, at separate surgeries to provide the best results. We believe in doing each surgery as perfectly as possible. We will discuss the order of procedures and timing at the consultation.
At your consultation we will take a complete medical history and conduct a careful examination and develop a customized plan based on your anatomy as well as your aesthetic goals. We consider age, overall health, emotional well-being, as well as expectations for surgery when evaluating a candidate for this procedure. Patients who are obese (BMI 30 or greater) or who smoke have a significantly higher risk of wound healing problems.
How Should We Prepare for a Mommy Makeover?
We require patients to have stopped smoking for anywhere from 2 months to a year depending on their smoking history before having surgery. To minimize the possibility of excess bleeding, you will need to avoid taking drugs containing aspirin, anti-inflammatories, alcohol, or herbal medications two weeks before surgery. You will receive a complete list of medications to avoid and detailed instructions before surgery. We consider the preparation before surgery and your understanding of how to take care of yourself critical to having the best possible results so we will walk you through each part of the process every step of the way.
What Happens During a Mommy Makeover
For your comfort and safety, most of these surgeries are performed under general anesthesia. We believe that every part of the surgical team at AJ Plastic Surgery Centre is essential to having a perfect and smooth surgery, so every part of our extended team is focused during surgery and pays attention to every detail. We will all ensure that as you enter the operating room and are gently placed under anesthesia you will feel relaxed and calm and excited. During the operation we will all be focused on keeping you warm, comfortable, and cared for.
During the surgery, we are gentle and respectful and ensure a positive and calm environment around you. We will also place a numbing solution in your surgery sites so you will not feel pain even though you are under anesthesia.
How Long Does a Mommy Makeover Take?
The total time of your surgery will vary with the extent and type of procedure you are having. Most of the surgeries involved in a mommy makeover involve skin tightening or fat removal or re-shaping. For most of these surgeries we have developed special techniques that result in natural looking results with a nearly invisible suture line. We take extreme pride in our attention to detail with every single step of the surgeries we perform and take our time in each procedure to create the best possible results.
Mommy Makeover Results & Recovery: What to Expect
For the surgeries included as part of mommy makeover, we have developed gentle techniques that have minimal pain and a quick recovery. For some of the surgeries, such as Abdominoplasty and Brazilian Butt Lift, you will spend the first night at a plastic surgery after care facility with nursing. After any surgery you will have some swelling and discomfort but none of the surgery sites should be painful.
Will I Need to Take Any Medications?
If you do have discomfort, Tylenol is usually all that’s needed. We will give you a prescription for a few pain pills to have in case you need them but they are usually not necessary. We encourage patients to stick to Tylenol instead of the prescription pain medication since those pills often create constipation and bloating. You will wear compression garments to support your surgery sites for 6-8 weeks after surgery. This is something we will measure and provide for you. Most of our patients feel almost back to normal at around 1 week after surgery.
How Long Before I Can Return to My Regular Activities?
Allow at least 2 weeks to recuperate before returning to work. If you are a patient from out of Nairobi, you will need to stay in town for at least 2 weeks after surgery. Wait at least 4 weeks to start any strenuous exercise. Scars take about 12 months to fade. You will start scar treatments at around 2 weeks after surgery. We will discuss scar care in detail with you and also provide you with scar medications and products.
Mommy makeover is one of the most life changing surgeries that we do! Our patients feel physically stronger, more comfortable every day, and much more confident in clothing and even a bathing suit or bikini. Also, many patients are able to exercise better. Moms do so much for their families and everyone else around them. It gives us so much joy to help give them the improved self-confidence and the self-care they deserve.