A mommy makeover is a powerful, transformative set of procedures that can restore your appearance, confidence, and quality of life after giving birth. However, the myriad of benefits provided by this plastic surgery mainstay come with a downside, which is recovery time. Women often need up to six weeks of healing after their surgery. In this blog, Dr. Kevin Rose and his team at The Rose Clinic in Utah explore factors that can influence downtime and the importance of setting realistic expectations for your postoperative journey. Optimizing your family support system, scheduling a helper for everyday chores and tasks, and following your individualized aftercare plan can all help to maximize your chances of a seamless and expedited recovery process.
What Is a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is a series of procedures designed to restore a woman’s figure after pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing. The surgery can provide profound improvements in the physique that boost confidence and restore the patient’s ability to wear all her favorite clothing, swimwear, and lingerie. In other words, a mommy makeover can “bring sexy back!”
The biggest benefits of undergoing multiple body contouring options in a single session are the consolidated risks, recovery time, and costs. A single six-week healing timeline is more manageable than undergoing numerous procedures on their own and having to heal after each one, which could potentially take a year or more! Common procedures included in a customized mommy makeover are as follows:
- Breast Surgery – The breasts may transform in a number of different ways after childbirth, and breast surgery can restore a balanced, proportionate upper body profile. Your surgeon can perform breast augmentation to increase youthful volume, a breast lift to combat sagging skin and downward-facing nipples, or breast reduction to correct oversized, pendulous breasts that cause fatigue, discomfort, and self-consciousness.
- Liposuction – Liposuction is a gold-standard cosmetic procedure to rid the body of stubborn, unwanted fat that does not easily respond to dieting and exercise. It can target pockets of fat in the hips, thighs, belly, waist, buttocks, and upper arms.
- Abdominoplasty – Better known as a tummy tuck, abdominoplasty can correct the common post-pregnancy condition of diastasis recti in which the belly muscles become weakened and separated. The surgery also removes excess drooping skin in the midsection and repositions the belly button in a more appealing location.
- Labiaplasty – Labiaplasty is performed to rejuvenate the appearance of stretched-out labial lips, restoring the patient’s comfort, appearance, and confidence. Oversized labia can lead to irritation, chafing, and pain during normal everyday activities and can also cause women to feel embarrassed about their appearance in the bedroom.
Overview of Recovery After a Mommy Makeover
While most patients will experience a recovery period of around six weeks after surgery, variables such as the number of procedures performed, overall health, age, and lifestyle can impact the nature of the healing process. During the first two weeks, symptoms like swelling, bruising, and soreness peak and patients need to turn their attention to getting proper rest, managing their pain with prescription medications, and wearing their compression garments to reduce swelling. Attending all follow-up sessions is critical, as this allows your surgeon to respond to any concerns and catch any potential complications before they become a problem.
A Realistic Timeline for Healing After a Mommy Makeover
Healing after your mommy makeover occurs in different phases, and understanding what each one entails can help you to better mentally prepare for what lies ahead. Below, we have divided recovery into the short-term acute recovery stage and the longer-term healing process that involves a gradual return to normal activities.
- Immediate Healing Phase – During your first postoperative week, swelling, bruising, and discomfort will be at their maximum. You will take oral pain medications prescribed by your surgeon to help alleviate soreness and tenderness all over the body. You should focus on resting and avoiding strenuous activities or heavy lifting, although you are permitted to take short, gentle walks to boost your circulation and mood. You will need to delegate childcare and pet care tasks to others. Most patients take several weeks off from work. You should wear your compression garments as directed and attend all scheduled follow-up sessions.
- Longer-Term Healing Phase – Within 4-6 weeks, you will begin resuming your normal routine, including diving back into exercise while continuing to follow your surgeon’s instructions. Swelling and bruising will continue to dissipate. During this time, it is crucial to monitor any potential complications. Look for unusual swelling, redness, or pain. Keep attending your follow-up visits and staying in close contact with your surgical team. Stay vigilant in terms of following a healthy diet, getting plenty of rest, and drinking enough fluids and water for optimal hydration.
Key Tips for Maximizing Your Recovery Process
Each of the following 5 guidelines is essential for ensuring a seamless healing journey:
- Prepare Your Home Environment in Advance – One of the best ways to support a successful recovery process is to equip your home ahead of time with everything you need to be comfortable and secure. This means stocking up on extra pillows, filling prescriptions early, gathering your favorite books, movies, and magazines, scheduling a helper to assist with chores, and making sure you have all the water, supplements, and snacks you need available in the house.
- Attend All Follow-Up Visits – While you may be sore and just want to stay home, your follow-up appointments are a non-negotiable aspect of your treatment plan. They allow your doctor to remove sutures and drains, monitor your incisions, and catch any potential complications like infection or fluid buildup early. Maintaining communication with your surgical team is mandatory after a complex surgery like a mommy makeover. You will have questions and concerns that arise, and knowing you can get prompt answers increases your peace of mind and well-being as you heal.
- Limit Physical Activity – While it can be tempting to try to rush the recovery process, it is important to take your time and safeguard your investment by avoiding re-introducing exercise too soon. While you can start walking around right away after surgery, you will need to wait the full 4-6 weeks before returning to your workouts. After all, once you heal, your body is going to look so fabulous that you will be glad you took the time you needed to properly rest and recuperate.
- Get Support – A mommy makeover is a significant surgery that requires significant healing. Receiving support from your friends and family can make the healing process much easier and more rewarding. From driving you home after your procedure to assisting you with basic chores like childcare, cooking, and pet care, your home team can make a world of difference. Don’t be afraid to ask for the help you really need. As the “mom,” you may be used to providing support to everyone else, but in this case, you will need to learn how to receive it.
- Maintain a Healthy Diet – After surgery, your goal should be to optimize your overall health with nutritious eating. Avoid dieting or junk food binging. Stick with fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats like nuts, seeds, and avocados. Steer clear of alcohol, caffeine, sugar, carbs, and processed foods, as they can increase inflammation. Get plenty of fiber and opt for smaller portions, which put less stress on the metabolic system, freeing up your energy for tissue repair.
Conclusion
Recovering after a mommy makeover requires commitment, patience, and excellent preparation. Following your surgeon’s postoperative instructions is vital and can help you enjoy more realistic expectations during each phase of healing.
In the first few weeks, limiting physical activity, taking pain medications, and wearing compression garments are all indispensable. Factors such as your age, health, lifestyle, and procedures chosen will all impact your individual recovery process. Undergoing a detailed consultation process with your provider can provide you with the education and information you need to make the most of your procedure and its aftermath. For best results, follow key guidelines after surgery, like preparing your home environment ahead of time, attending all follow-up visits, limiting strenuous activity, enlisting the help and support of friends and family members, and sticking to a nutritious diet. With these tips in mind, your healing journey will be successful, rapid, and stress-free.
Want to Learn More About a Mommy Makeover in Utah? Contact Dr. Kevin Rose Today to Book a Private Consultation!
Dr. Rose and his team are standing by to meet with you, answer all your questions, and curate a customized mommy makeover treatment plan that accomplishes your unique aesthetic vision for a more youthful, sculpted physique. Whether you are looking to address only a few concerns like volume loss in the breasts and stubborn fat or you seek a head-to-toe transformation, Dr. Rose can personalize his approach to your needs and help you feel like your most attractive, confident self again. Call today to get started!