Pregnancy changes your body in ways you can feel long after your baby is born.
Even after healing, getting back into workouts, and focusing on healthier eating, many women still struggle to feel a familiar comfort in their bodies after having kids. That’s where a mommy makeover can help.
A mommy makeover is a combination of surgeries designed to restore the body to how it looked, and, often, how it felt, before pregnancy.
In recent years, mommy makeovers have become increasingly common, possibly because more women are having children later in life, which can make it harder for the body to return to its pre-pregnancy state naturally.
At our Milwaukee, Wisconsin clinic, Dr. Mark Bosbous works with each patient to figure out what that means for them, because every woman’s journey and goals are different.
So what does a mommy makeover include?
A mommy makeover usually addresses the areas most affected by pregnancy: the breasts, abdomen, waist, and sometimes the buttocks or genital area.
That might mean a breast lift to correct sagging, breast augmentation to restore lost volume, or even a breast reduction if pregnancy and breastfeeding left you with uncomfortable fullness.
For the midsection, it often includes a tummy tuck to tighten stretched skin and muscles, and liposuction to smooth out stubborn fat that won’t budge no matter what you do at the gym.
Some women also choose to include procedures like buttock reshaping or labiaplasty to feel more comfortable and confident in their own skin.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. The point of a mommy makeover is to put everything back in proportion, in a way that makes sense for your body and your life.
Who is a good candidate?
The best candidates are women who are healthy, at a stable weight, no longer breastfeeding, and don’t plan to have more children.
It’s not that you can’t get pregnant after these procedures, but pregnancy can undo much of the work, so it makes sense to wait until your family is complete.
Why do it all at once?
One of the biggest advantages of a mommy makeover is efficiency.
Instead of scheduling multiple surgeries and going through recovery over and over, you get one set of procedures, one recovery period, and one exposure to anesthesia.
Many patients also find it more cost-effective since fees for the operating room, anesthesia, and other surgical costs only need to be paid once.
Of course, combining procedures does make it a more involved surgery, which is why choosing a skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Bosbous is so important.
He prioritizes safety and creates surgical plans that make sense for each individual, making sure that the combined procedures are manageable and safe for your body. If necessary, he may recommend breaking the makeover into two separate surgeries to target different areas more safely.
What about risks?
Like any surgery, a mommy makeover comes with risks—things like infection, bleeding, or delayed healing.
These risks are similar to those of other major cosmetic procedures. The good news is that they can be minimized with careful planning, good overall health, and closely following post-operative instructions.
It’s also worth noting that because a mommy makeover combines multiple procedures into one session, it can carry a slightly higher risk than having each surgery separately, which is why proper screening and preparation are so important.
Recovery time varies depending on the combination of procedures, but most patients need at least two to three weeks of rest before they can resume normal activities, with full healing taking several months.
The bottom line
A mommy makeover isn’t about “bouncing back.” Pregnancy and breastfeeding can leave breasts looking deflated or uneven, abdominal muscles stretched apart, and skin looser than it was before.
This procedure is simply designed to make patients feel more comfortable in their skin again after one of the most transformative experiences of their lives.
Whether that means lifting and reshaping your breasts, smoothing and tightening your midsection, or a combination of procedures, Dr. Bosbous will help you build a plan that feels right for you.
If you’ve been thinking about a mommy makeover, scheduling a consultation is the best place to start.
At our Milwaukee clinic, Dr. Mark Bosbous takes the time to listen, answer your questions, and help you figure out how to reach your goals in a way that feels safe and personal.