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A “Mommy Makeover” combines several different cosmetic procedures to counter the unwanted side effects of pregnancy.

What procedures are included in a "Mommy Makeover"? Find out from Dr. Preminger.

Mommy Makeover

The number of women seeking Mommy Makeovers is growing drastically, thanks to improvements in safety and techniques, as well as changing public perception about cosmetic surgery. Today’s young mothers – in their 30s and 40’s – are turning to post pregnancy tune-ups to reclaim their figures and youthful bust lines after having children.

Statistics from The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) are telling about this postpartum plastic surgery trend.

Consider the following increases recorded between 2000 and 2010:

  • An 85 % increase in tummy tucks
  • A 70 % rise in breast lifts
  • A 39 % increase in breast augmentations

A Mommy Makeover rejuvenates the stomach area, breasts, thighs and other areas of concern with the least conspicuous scarring and minimal recovery time for busy women on the go. As a mother of three, NYC plastic surgeon Dr. B. Aviva Preminger understands the demands having a baby can place on the body. Combining multiple surgeries is preferable because there is less downtime overall. Average full recovery time usually takes 12 weeks or less.

Before & After

Two side-by-side images of a woman's torso showing before and after mommy makeover

Before & After

Two side-by-side images of a woman's torso showing before and after mommy makeover

Before & After

Two side-by-side images of a woman's torso showing before and after mommy makeover

The physical changes to a woman’s body after childbirth can be particularly hard to combat. Many women suffer permanent damage to the abdominal wall musculature, as well as volume loss and sagging from breastfeeding. When diet and exercise alone have failed, this suite of post maternity body contouring procedures allows women to regain their former curves. And while cosmetic surgery after pregnancy isn’t a new phenomenon, the escalating demand for Mommy Makeovers reflects a generation of mothers who aren’t ashamed to admit they had a nip and tuck in their quest for a more a youthful, streamlined figure.

Even if you’re in fantastic shape before getting pregnant, battling baby weight is no easy task. According to an ASPS survey, 62 % of women polled would seek cosmetic surgery after having kids. Mommy Makeovers have become a mainstream request, partly because of a more body-conscious culture and the array of advanced procedures available – all on an outpatient basis. Douglas Mackenzie, MD, a California board-certified plastic surgeon, attributes this post-maternity breast and body contouring trend to a universal acceptance of plastic surgery as well as our society’s apparent obsession with looking young.

“Unlike our parents’ generation, [these mothers] want to stay young and feel young, and preserve the body they’ve had,” Dr. Mackenzie explains. “The music they listen to, the restaurants they go to, the clothes they wear, all have a lot to do with it. It’s a new generation.”

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Is a Mommy Makeover worth it?

Giving birth to one or multiple children places huge demands on the body. Afterward, it’s not uncommon for extra pounds to settle around the midsection and thighs. Breasts begin to sag and deflate and stretched abdominal muscles can be impossible to tone, no matter how hard you hit the gym. Undergoing multiple plastic surgeries – including breast lift or augmentation, breast reduction, tummy tuck, liposuction and others – to improve your postpartum figure may be more popular than ever, but is it worth it?

Kimberly McDaniel, a 36-year-old Brooklyn resident, told the New York Daily News about the life-changing results of her Mommy Makeover. McDaniel’s petite frame changed drastically after having her second child ten years ago. Struggling with drooping breasts and a wrinkled mass for a stomach, McDaniel resolved to have a post-maternity tune-up when her workouts didn’t help. Motivated by her upcoming marriage, she had a full abdominoplasty and breast lift so she’d wow in her wedding dress — and the results paid off.

Dozens of others are telling the world how thrilled they are with their new post-baby bodies. On Real Self, one Houston mom was tired of sagging skin, stretch marks and the postpartum belly blues. Describing her Mommy Makeover as one of her best life decisions, the 36-year-old posted an honest assessment of her experience. Though she acknowledged some of the difficulties dealing with a long healing process, she states, “It’s been almost two months, I still cannot do many things as I am not completely healed yet, but I am gradually enjoying the world once again. If you’re considering this surgery, prepare yourself mentally and emotionally as your life will be on pause for a bit but it’s completely worth it!”

Quick Facts about Mommy Makeover surgery

Procedure Length

3-6 hours (depending on extent of procedure)

Anesthesia

General

In/Out Patient

Usually outpatient

Risks

Pain, bleeding, infection, rare damage to nerves, asymmetry

Side Effects

Temporary swelling, bruising, tightness and some pain

Recovery

Back at work in 1-2 weeks Resume light exercise at 2 weeks Resume strenuous activity at 6 weeks 8-12 weeks for swelling to resolve

Duration of Results

Years

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Mommy Makeover before and after

Women who have naturally thin skin may be more prone to stretch marks during pregnancy, while breastfeeding can stretch the areola and leave breasts shrunken and uneven. A Mommy Makeover restores the fullness, shape and size of the breasts, eliminates sagging and removes excess skin and fat in the abdominal region and other targeted areas.

Truly transformative results are possible with post-pregnancy breast enhancement or augmentation and body contouring in the capable hands of Dr. B. Aviva Preminger. The Mommy Makeover illustrates the positive outcomes of many patients, including one 30-year-old mother of three who saw great improvement after liposuction on her flanks, a full tummy tuck, and breast augmentation with saline implants inserted under the muscle. Since the patient had breast asymmetry to begin with, the breast surgery corrected this problem while delivering beautiful and natural-looking results.

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Mommy Makeover procedures

Since every woman is unique in her ability to bounce back after pregnancy, Mommy Makeovers will vary from patient to patient. This collection of post-baby plastic surgery procedures is designed to address separation of the abdominal wall, deflated breasts, the appearance of stretchmarks, as well as extra skin and pounds around the midsection and thighs. Some women may also benefit from complementary procedures such as an arm lift or thigh lift. However, if more kids are in your future, you are encouraged to postpone plastic surgery procedures until you’re done having children.

TUMMY TUCKS

Tummy tucks are the cornerstone of most Mommy Makeovers. No matter how many crunches you do, paunches of fat and loose skin on your waistline may remain stubbornly unimproved after childbirth. In these cases, abdominoplasty may be one of the best way to restore youthful firmness to your midsection. This outpatient procedure takes between two and four hours, depending on whether a mini or full tummy tuck is performed.

Most plastic surgeons recommend waiting to have tummy tuck surgery until you’re done having children. This is because pregnancy after a tummy tuck can affect long-term results and satisfaction with the original work done. For instance, while damaged abdominal muscles are repaired by your surgeon during tummy tuck surgery, they can easily separate again with another pregnancy. This doesn’t mean that women can’t have a child after a tummy tuck, but that the results may be compromised.

But can abdominoplasty reduce the appearance of scarring from C-sections or a hysterectomy? According to respected Dallas plastic surgeon, Dr. Fred Hackney, the answer is yes. One of his patients, who had gone through four Cesarean sections and a hysterectomy, was left with puckered, uneven skin and noticeable scars. This didn’t affect the outcome of her Mommy Makeover. “The scarring doesn’t even come into play at all. It’s minimal compared to what I had before the abdominoplasty. It’s changed the way I feel about me.”

BREAST SURGERY

A breast lift, augmentation, or reduction is a key component of the Mommy Makeover, depending on your individual needs. During a breast lift procedure, the nipples may be raised or resized through an areola reduction. Known as mastopexy, this surgery lifts the breasts back to their pre-baby position without changing their size or fullness. Ideal candidates are mothers with pendulous breasts, enlarged areolas and downward-pointing nipples. However, simply raising the breasts isn’t the solution for everyone.

For many women, pregnancy and breastfeeding cause breast tissue to deflate as hormones decline. To restore lost volume and achieve pre-pregnancy firmness, breast augmentation with saline or silicone implants is recommended. For those with naturally smaller breasts, implants placed beneath the chest muscle often provide the best results, offering more coverage and a more natural shape. On the other hand, some women find their breasts have increased in size after pregnancy and breastfeeding, leaving them with discomfort or back pain. In these cases, breast reduction surgery can alleviate these symptoms while still enhancing the shape and position of the breasts. Combining a reduction with a lift or augmentation can help achieve a balanced, proportionate look.

If you have good skin elasticity and minimal drooping, breast implants alone without a lift may provide amazing results, while a breast reduction can offer relief and a more flattering silhouette for those dealing with overly large breasts. Dr. Preminger tailors each Mommy Makeover to the unique needs of her patients, helping them reclaim their confidence and comfort.

LIPOSUCTION

Body contouring is an integral part of postpartum plastic surgery, and stubborn pockets of fat are no match for liposuction – a minimally invasive procedure that contours the waist and targeted areas, giving added definition. The procedure removes excess fat cells from problem post-pregnancy areas, including the thighs, waist, buttocks and love handles. Though liposuction is permanent, results do require maintenance with a healthy diet and exercise.

"The average new mom is not living a celebrity lifestyle with a personal trainer and chef. In real life, the weight can be very hard to lose and the overall changes in the body, can be difficult to accept. The good news? A 'mommy makeover' really helps women reclaim their pre-baby body."
B. Aviva Preminger, MD

Many women may wonder how they’ll finance their post-pregnancy plastic surgery. “Figuring out the cost of a Mommy Makeover before your consultation can be a bit tricky because there are different combinations of procedures for everyone,” says David B. Reath, MD – a prominent Knoxville plastic surgeon.

This trio of cosmetic surgery procedures is probably more affordable than you might think considering the long-lasting results. And as with any medical procedure, cheaper is never better. Private consultations, in which your particular goals are addressed, will give patients an idea on the total cost of Mommy Makeover procedures, including anesthesia, surgery and ancillary fees. Dr. Preminger also provides flexible financing options for her Manhattan and fly-in patients.

Risks of Mommy Makeover surgery

Reclaiming their sexy, pre-baby body is a dream for countless mothers. But do the risks of multiple surgeries outweigh the benefits?

Reversing the wear and tear of childbirth and motherhood is no simple task, and as with any surgical procedure, there is some risk of complications. As Texas plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Bogdan reminds patients, “[Tummy tuck] is a major surgery, so there are the standard risks of bleeding and infection. There’s also the risk for clots, so it’s important to walk around after surgery.”

Selective patient screening is paramount as are realistic expectations. Mommy Makeovers are not for drastic weight loss, and patients must be in good health.  Moreover, not all plastic surgeons are created equal. You must be confident about the expertise of your chosen doctor and surgical team.

Mommy makeover specials in NYC

Dr. Preminger believes that moms deserve to feel sexy and confident about their bodies at any age. She and her compassionate staff are dedicated to giving mothers one of the best results possible and a renewed sense of self. If you are considering a Mommy Makeover, Dr. Preminger will suggest a complement of procedures to meet your aesthetic goals that fit within your price range. For more information about pricing specials, please contact our office for a consultation.

Find one of the best mommy makeover surgeons in NYC

Even as a proud parent, plenty of mothers aren’t embracing their post-baby bodies. But it is possible to look your best even after pregnancy! To learn more about a Mommy Makeover with Dr. B. Aviva Preminger and discuss your concerns, we invite you to call (212) 706-1900 or contact us online to schedule a private consultation.

Video Transcription:

[Dr. Preminger] A mommy makeover actually can encompass a lot of different procedures. It means different things to different people. The point of it is basically, to restore the changes that have happened from breastfeeding and childbirth. As far as the breasts are concerned, breastfeeding and pregnancy can cause the breast to become deflated and sad. And so what happens is the breasts just lose volume and they start to droop. And there’s just no other way to give back that volume, other than lifting the breasts and often putting an implant in. Often it’s some combination of the two. So some women just need the volume restored and that’s enough. Other women need volume restored and a lift. Other women still have volume, it’s just all in the wrong place and is sitting too far down on the chest. So with all of these different procedures, we can restore or sometimes even improve upon what was there in the beginning.

As far as the belly is concerned, it usually involves a tummy tuck. And one of the things that happens to accommodate a pregnancy is that a woman’s abdominal muscles actually separate and that’s how the abdominal wall stretches for pregnancy basically, to accommodate a baby growing inside of you. So one of the things we do with a tummy tuck is we actually sew those muscles back together again to tighten the waist and restore the integrity of the abdominal wall– which is fantastic! And then different women have different amounts of extra skin and fat on the abdominal wall. So that’s where a tummy tuck comes in. And so with a tummy tuck, I actually remove all of that fat. And patients always ask me, “Well, will it come back again?” And the truth is that the odds are it won’t. We like to consider this an investment in yourself. So once you’re done having your kids and you go ahead with this sort of a thing, this is an investment in you. And in giving you back what you had before and sometimes even improving upon it actually.

So in this case, this patient actually had a couple of different complaints. So one of them was that she lost fullness in her breasts and the breasts were drooping somewhat. She also was really unhappy with the appearance of her belly. And in particular what she wanted was a waist. And in truth, she said she never really had one to begin with. Which is common and that only worsens with pregnancy. So one of the things that we did was put in breast implants, which really gave her back a lot of fullness to the breasts and gave her more fullness than she ever had before, which is really what she wanted. And for that I used an infra-areolar incision, which is an incision within the pigmented part of the nipple complex. And you really can’t see the scars at all. They’ve healed up so well. And the implants were placed below the muscle and then as far as the belly was concerned she actually had a full tummy tuck. Where I removed all of the excess skin and fat, I tightened her abdominal muscles and was really able to give her a waistline with a combination of that and liposuction of her belly and her waistline.

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Located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, Dr. B. Aviva Preminger’s boutique practice is dedicated to serving every patient’s aesthetic plastic surgery needs.

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