Mommy Makeover

The mommy makeover is a curated collection of body procedures that reshape the body after pregnancy. While the new adventure of motherhood presents women with exciting new responsibilities, these bodily changes present their own set of challenges to overcome. Mommy makeovers are entirely customizable to the individual patient but typically involve breast enhancement, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) or mini tummy tuck, and liposuction.

Dr. Daniel Markmann has achieved a reputation for successful cosmetic procedures in the Baltimore area. He skillfully combines personalized patient care with the newest medical technologies to give patients results they are happy with while maximizing their comfort.

If your confidence and happiness would benefit from a mommy makeover, schedule a consultation at Metamorphosis Plastic Surgery to plan your new look. If you have any further questions, please call our Ellicott City office at (410) 465-3600.

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About the Mommy Makeover

As body contouring has gained popularity in the United States and worldwide, surgeons increasingly offer various combination procedures. ⁽¹⁾ One of the most common of these is the mommy makeover. During pregnancy, countless changes occur in the mother’s body. The most noticeable is significant weight gain. While part of this weight is that of the growing fetus, the body will also retain water and fat more strictly to ensure proper nutrition for the baby. ⁽²⁾ The metabolism and heart rate also increase, which causes the appetite to heighten to above-normal levels. ⁽²⁾ Pregnancy will also cause breasts to grow significantly, and childbirth may significantly alter the appearance of the abdomen, which may cause sagging and abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti).

Motherhood is an exciting new adventure, but entering a new chapter with a different body can be difficult. Creating life and bringing it into the world is a remarkable accomplishment. You should celebrate and reward your achievement, and one of the best ways to do so is by rejuvenating your look and sculpting your body to its best appearance through a mommy makeover.

Benefits of a Mommy Makeover?

Mommy makeovers have exploded in popularity due to their extensive cosmetic and functional benefits. Patients can experience:

Candidates

Mommy makeovers are not reserved exclusively for mothers. If your life and body would benefit from the involved procedures, you can receive the surgery. Mothers are generally recommended to delay procedures for at least 6 months after childbirth. This allows you to heal and pursue body improvement through exercise, dieting, and lifestyle shifts before opting for a surgical procedure. ⁽³⁾ Makeovers should also not be performed on women who plan to have more children, as this may negatively affect aesthetic results.

Personal Consultation

When you meet with Dr. Markmann, you will explain your motivations and goals for pursuing a mommy makeover. Based on this information, he will create a detailed treatment plan specific to your case to ensure the best possible outcomes. During planning, Dr. Markmann and his team will also review your medical history for any preexisting conditions or potential complications.

Preparation

Once your mommy makeover is scheduled, you will receive essential preoperative instructions, including:

Procedure

Mommy makeovers incorporate different procedures that each have different steps to achieve success.

Liposuction

Liposuction is the process of sculpting a patient’s body to its desired image with the use of medical suction. Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, but rather it is a way to remove fat pockets to improve the appearance of a patient who is at, or at least near their goal weight. Also known as suction-assisted lipectomy, liposuction is normally focused on the abdomen in mommy makeovers, but targeting the waist, love handles, flanks, bra rolls, neck, chin, thighs, and buttocks is also common. ⁽⁴⁾ Dr. Markmann will make tiny incisions into the target sites and inject a tumescent solution of lidocaine and saline to numb the area, reduce bleeding, and swell the fat for easier removal. Once the cannula is inserted, he will remove the fatty tissue and sculpt your body to your desired look.

Tummy Tuck

Tummy tucks, or abdominoplasties, remove excess abdominal skin and repair musculature, where necessary. The stretching of the skin that occurs during pregnancy may cause it to lose its elasticity, preventing it from snapping back to its original shape. Dr. Markmann will make a hip-to-hip incision below the belly button, normally around the underwear/bikini line, and remove the sagging skin. Once removed, the two skin edges will be sutured together to heal. ⁽⁵⁾

For less extensive abdominal contouring, Dr. Markmann also offers the mini tummy tuck which concentrates on the lower portion of the abdomen, has a smaller incision, and does not usually involve muscle repair.

Breast Enhancement

The breast procedures normally involved in a mommy makeover are either breast reductions, augmentations, breast lifts (mastopexy), or combination procedures. On average, breasts grow at least one cup size during pregnancy, but many women will even see a two- or three-cup size increase. ⁽⁶⁾ This added mass may create back pain and trouble fitting into clothing. During a breast reduction, tissue is removed and the nipple is altered to return a woman’s breasts close to their original appearance. ⁽⁷⁾

Changes in pregnancy may result in shapes that a woman is not happy with, and constructing their ideal chest is an exciting way to increase confidence after pregnancy. If liposuction was incorporated in the mommy makeover, this fat may be used as the implant medium (fat transfer breast augmentation), but standard silicone or saline implants may be used too. ⁽⁸⁾

Recovery

Post-operative recovery following a mommy makeover varies based on the extent of the surgery. Initial recovery typically includes:

While individual recovery time frames vary, patience and adherence to post-surgical instructions are crucial for achieving the most effective results. You can expect to see significant improvements within three to six months as swelling subsides and final results become apparent.

Results

Once your mommy makeover results become evident, you will see a tighter, toned waistline and a smoother silhouette. Scars from incisions will fade significantly over time, becoming less noticeable.

Many women express renewed confidence, allowing them to embrace their post-pregnancy bodies fully. As long as you practice a healthy lifestyle, the gains achieved through your mommy makeover can last, providing sustained beauty and satisfaction.

Additional Procedures to Consider

Mommy Makeovers are all about creating your ideal body shape with a custom treatment plan. Dr. Markmann offers dozens of other procedures for the face, body, butt, breasts, and more that can be incorporated into your plans. Recently, a common addition to mommy makeovers is the Brazilian Butt Lift. This procedure incorporates liposuction and fat transfer to create larger, firmer buttocks with a desirable appearance. It also accentuates the hips to resemble a coveted hourglass silhouette. Many women also receive facial injections to rejuvenate their appearance.

Many women also undergo Vaginal Rejuvenation. This often includes Labiaplasty which is shortening of the inner lips (labia minora), Vaginal tightening and fat grafting to the labia majora which often deflate with aging and pregnancy.

Cost of Mommy Makeovers in Baltimore, MD

Mommy makeovers are custom-created to each patient’s specifications, so there is no one set cost. Dr. Markmann will give you a cost estimate following your consultation based on what procedures will be incorporated into your treatment plan. If you have any other questions about the mommy makeover, feel free to call our office at (410) 465-3600 and speak with one of our specialists.

References

1. Flores González EA, Pérez Chávez F, Ramírez Guerrero OR, Gracida Mancilla NI, Vázquez Apodaca RA. A New Surgical Approach to Body Contouring. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2021;9(5):e3540. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000003540
2. Pascual ZN, Langaker MD. Physiology, Pregnancy. PubMed. Published May 16, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559304/
3. The “mommy makeover” package. AMA Journal of Ethics. 2010;12(5):363-366. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2010.12.5.ccas1-1005
4. Bartow MJ, Raggio BS. Liposuction. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563135/
5. Regan JP, Casaubon JT. Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck). PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431058/
6. Breast Changes During Pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association. Published April 27, 2020. https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/changes-in-your-body/breast-changes-during-pregnancy/
7. Sachs D, Szymanski KD. Breast Reduction. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441974/
8. Fardo D, Sequeira Campos M, Pensler JM. Breast Augmentation. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482206/