The Most Important Things You Need to Know: Mommy Makeover

What is a Mommy Makeover?

The Mommy Makeover isn’t actually one specific surgery; it’s typically (and most recently) comprised of three

different procedures: breast rejuvenation, a tummy tuck and buttock rejuvenation, with the buttock rejuvenation being the more recent addition to the umbrella of the Mommy Makeover procedure. Liposuction may also be included, and if so, it’s a good idea to use the fat that’s taken out and put it in the buttocks or the breast for a natural breast augmentation. When considering Mommy Makeover plastic surgery, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s a full-body rejuvenation for those who have had multiple children or drastic weight loss to help get the body in proportion.

The Breast Rejuvenation

Some just need a simple breast augmentation for deflated breasts after breastfeeding, which can be done with

traditional implants or with a fat transfer to the breasts; others need a breast lift in addition to an augmentation. And others need (or choose) a breast lift with no augmentation at all. Your size goals will determine if you need augmentation, but a breast lift is needed in cases where the nipples drop down below the inframammary fold. An easy way to tell if you’ll need a breast lift (other than, and in addition to consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon) is to take a q-tip or pencil and place it in your inframammary fold; if your nipple is below the q-tip or pencil, you’ll likely need one.

The Tummy Tuck

Usually a fairly straightforward procedure, the complexity (or lack thereof) of your particular tummy tuck will

depend on any past hernias or surgerys, like a c-section, gallbladder removal, appendectomy, past liposuction or even CoolSculpting. If none of these apply to you, your tummy tuck will likely be pretty straightforward, with much less time needed on the operating table. But if they do apply to you, don’t worry—this likely won’t make you a bad candidate, it just means it takes a little more time and detail for the tummy tuck aspect of your Mommy Makeover.

The Buttock Rejuvenation

The fat transfer to the buttocks, otherwise known as the Brazillian Butt Lift, is a two-part body contouring procedure that includes liposuction and fat transfer to the butt. It’s a great option for those who have some deflation to the buttocks, and delivers that coveted “S” curve to your silhouette. It should be noted that not everyone gets this part of the Mommy Makeover—and if it’s not for you, that’s totally fine!

Choosing your Mommy Makeover Plastic Surgeon

The key goal of the Mommy Makeover as a whole, and particularly the breast rejuvenation, is to look as natural as possible. Dr. Barrett specializes in natural-looking breast augmentation and enhancement, for which he is world-renowned, but if you choose to go with a different surgeon, be sure they perform a lot of breast procedures, as it’s usually one of the more complicated parts of a Mommy Makeover. For the tummy tuck, it’s important to look for great-looking before and after images, and in particular, pay special attention to the belly button. Does it look natural? A bad belly button is a dead giveaway that you’ve had a tummy tuck. To give you an idea of how important it is, Dr. Barrett speds an hour alone on belly button reconstruction for all his Mommy Makeover patients. For the Brazilian Butt Lift, you want a surgeon who spends the time to transfer lots of tiny little fat droplets in their own space, so that each of those fat cells has a chance to survive, ensuring you get the size and volume you want.

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The Cost of a Mommy Makeover.

As with a lot of plastic surgery, the short answer is: it depends. Mommy Makeover costs can run anywhere from $8,000 to $35,000 (and more if your situation is particularly complicated), and everything from the combination of procedures you choose, to your personal medical history and your choice of a surgeon impacts your final total.

Mommy Makeover Downtime & Recovery

A minimum of two weeks of downtime is needed for your initial recovery—but keep in mind that it’s really dependent on the individual and the procedures performed; some may need longer than two weeks of downtime. Keep in mind that no matter what procedure combination you choose, you don’t want to do any heavy lifting for at least six weeks.

Mommy Makeover Scarring

Again, the most accurate answer here is that it depends. But with regards to the tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Barrett in particular likes to do a very low scar so that it may be hidden in a bikini bottom. Additionally, his careful and mindful incisions and layered closure techniques  radically reduce the size and visibility of scars, while his carefully curated postoperative scar regimen ensures the biggest reminder of your procedure are your sculpted results.

When to Get a Mommy Makeover

Dr. Barrett advises patients to wait at least six months after you’re done breastfeeding to give your breasts time to recover and shrink down so that your breast augmentation and/or breast lift can be accurately performed. Done too soon, and you’re not only at greater risk for capsular contracture, but also being unsatisfied with the final look of your breasts.

Are you interested in a mommy makeover? Call us at (310) 398-2648 or fill out this virtual consultation form and we will reach out to you as soon as possible. We’re excited for you to take this next step!

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