What Is a Mommy Makeover, and What Can It Do for You?

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While motherhood is easily one of the most important and beautiful things a woman can experience, the toll that childbearing has on a woman’s body can be drastic. 

Everything from pregnancy to childbirth to breastfeeding can wreak havoc on the body, altering it in ways that can make many women feel self-conscious and even embarrassed. 

However, plastic surgery procedures can correct many of these frustrations by helping return a woman’s body closer to its pre-pregnancy appearance. And one of the most effective procedures is Mommy Makeover surgery.

What Is a Mommy Makeover?

Mommy Makeover surgery is not a single procedure; it is a customizable combination of procedures that address issues such as deflated breasts, loose and sagging skin on the body (especially in the midsection), stubborn fat, and C-section scars.

A Mommy Makeover helps correct these issues with any combination of the following procedures: liposuction, tummy tuck, breast augmentation, and breast lift. 

At your Mommy Makeover consultation, you will be able to discuss your physical concerns and goals, and Dr. Spies will evaluate your condition to help determine which procedures are best for you.

Liposuction

Liposuction surgery is one of the most versatile cosmetic surgical procedures available and can be performed as a standalone procedure or in conjunction with other procedures. 

This procedure is so trusted that it was the fourth most performed cosmetic surgical procedure in 2020. 

Liposuction removes stubborn, subcutaneous fat from the body. This is the excess fat that tends to develop after pregnancy and does not go away, no matter how healthy your diet is or how much you exercise. 

For this procedure, a small incision is made in the target area. A cannula (a thin tube) is inserted into the body through this incision. The excess fat is then vacuumed out of the body through the cannula to give you a sleeker and more contoured physique, whether in the midsection or anywhere else on your body.

Dr. Spies offers two different liposuction techniques: tumescent liposuction and power-assisted liposuction (PAL). 

For tumescent liposuction, Dr. Spies will inject tumescent fluid into the treatment area before inserting the cannula. The tumescent fluid helps break down and loosen the fat before it is suctioned out of the body. Similarly, power-assisted lipoplasty helps loosen the fat before it is suctioned out; however, with PAL, the cannula oscillates at a rapid rate to break down the fat and fibrous tissue between the fat cells, making it much easier to remove.

See more transformations by visiting our Mommy Makeover before and after gallery.

Tummy Tuck 

Tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) can completely transform a person’s entire physical aesthetic, and for moms, this procedure can help provide the toned and defined appearance they may have been missing since the birth of their babies.

A tummy tuck often tightens the abdominal muscles that have become loosened and separated during pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, this procedure allows for excess fat and skin to be removed so that you are left with a sleeker, more attractive tummy. 

For this procedure, an incision will be made just above your pubic area. This incision usually extends from hip to hip. If stubborn fat is present in the area, then liposuction will be used. 

Dr. Spies will then tighten your abdominal muscles with internal sutures. Excess skin will be removed, and the remaining skin will be tightened before the incisions are closed. With successful surgery, no longer will you worry about that belly “pooch”; instead, you’ll be able to look and feel more fit and confident.  

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation surgery is one of the most sought-after surgical procedures available to women. After pregnancy and breastfeeding, many women notice that their once full and large breasts have become deflated. 

Whether you are looking to restore the same size and shape you had before pregnancy, or you want to increase the size and volume of your breasts, augmentation surgery can help give you exactly what you want.

For a breast augmentation, Dr. Spies will insert either saline implants or silicone implants into your breasts. The size and shape of the breast implants are customizable to your preference. 

In addition to the type and size of the implants, Dr. Spies will help you decide which placement is best for you (subglandular or subpectoral – below the breast gland or below the muscle, respectively). Dr. Spies will make one of two types of incisions: periareolar, where the incision is on the lower side of the areola, or inframammary, where the incision is along the lower breast fold. 

After your breast augmentation surgery, you will have larger, fuller breasts that will make you feel comfortable, no matter where you are or what you’re wearing.

Breast Lift

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, your breast tissue stretches to make room for the new milk that your body is producing. However, after you are finished breastfeeding, that tissue does not always return to its original state. When this happens, the breasts sag. Sagging breasts can make a woman feel old and “frumpy.” Breast lift surgery (mastopexy) helps elevate your breasts so that they sit at a perkier height.

For a breast lift, one of three incision types will be made on the breast: circumareolar (around the areola), lollipop (around the areola, with an extra incision made down the center of the lower breast pole), or anchor (a lollipop incision with an additional horizontal incision made along the breast crease). 

Dr. Spies will then lift and reshape the breast tissue. Excess skin may also be removed, and the size and position of the areolas can be adjusted, if necessary. 

After your breast lift, you will hopefully be able to feel more confident and comfortable with your healthier, more youthful aesthetic.

Are There Any Other Procedures That Can Help Me?

While the surgeries discussed above make up a Mommy Makeover, that is not to say that other procedures won’t help you look and feel your best, now and in the future. 

Some of the other transformative surgical procedures we offer include facelift surgery, brow lift surgery (forehead lift), and eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). 

A facelift helps to correct sagging skin and the presence of wrinkles and fine lines on the lower two-thirds of the face; while a brow lift helps to smooth the skin and remove skin blemishes on the upper portion of the face, including around the eyes; and eyelid surgery helps correct puffiness and sagging on the eyelids. 

These other procedures can all help you look refreshed and rejuvenated. Combined with a toned and defined body from a Mommy Makeover, you can be sure that you will have the hot mom bod that turns heads for all the right reasons!

*Facial procedures will not be performed during a Mommy Makeover. These techniques will be scheduled once you have completely healed from your body sculpting transformation.

Have More Questions?

If you are interested in a Mommy Makeover or any of the other procedures we offer, contact Dr. Spies by calling 480-359-1019 or by filling out our online contact form. 

Dr. Spies is a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in Scottsdale, Arizona.