Mommy Makeovers: When Only Surgery Will Do
Surgical mommy makeovers provide superior and longer-lasting results compared to non-surgical options, making them the ultimate choice for women seeking dramatic, comprehensive post-pregnancy body transformations.
A “mommy makeover” refers to a combination of cosmetic procedures designed to help women restore their pre-pregnancy bodies after childbirth. While originally mommy makeovers involved surgery, non-surgical options have emerged claiming to provide similar outcomes with less downtime. But can non-surgical treatments truly match the dramatic, lasting results of surgery? For many women, surgical mommy makeovers remain the gold standard.
What Is A Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is not a one-size-fits-all procedure. It comprises customized surgical techniques to target the areas most affected by pregnancy and childbearing, typically the breasts and abdomen. By combining procedures like tummy tucks, breast lifts, liposuction, and more, plastic surgeons can reshape a woman’s figure for a slimmer, more youthful appearance.
In contrast, a non-surgical mommy makeover relies on less invasive treatments like injectables, skin tightening, and fat reduction lasers. While these can provide mild improvements, they cannot comprehensively address concerns like loose skin or sagging breasts. For this reason, women seeking significant reconstruction often opt for surgery.
Why Consider A Mommy Makeover?
Pregnancy places immense stress on a woman’s body, often leaving behind excess skin, stubborn fat pockets, breast changes, and weakened abdominal muscles. For those unhappy with their postpartum figures, a mommy makeover offers dramatic renewal. Goals include:
- Tighter, firmer abdominal skin and muscles
- Removal of diet and exercise-resistant fat
- Perkier, more youthful breasts
- Smoother, more contoured silhouette
- Increased confidence and self-esteem
While non-surgical treatments may provide subtle improvements, for patients wanting truly transformative outcomes, surgical remodeling is typically required.
Can Non-Surgical Treatments Truly Replicate the Results of a Surgical Mommy Makeover?
Non-surgical mommy makeover treatments can provide mild to moderate improvements without incisions or downtime. However, they are limited in their ability to comprehensively address concerns like significant skin laxity or volume loss.
While non-surgical options may refresh and rejuvenate the appearance, a surgical mommy makeover is better equipped to dramatically reshape the body for those seeking substantial improvements.
Non-surgical skin tightening and body contouring treatments typically only affect the skin’s surface and the fat layer directly beneath it. But they cannot tighten weakened muscles or remove large amounts of excess skin, the way procedures like a tummy tuck can. Additionally, the results achieved by non-surgical treatments tend to be more subtle and temporary, requiring repeat treatments every few months.
For some women, non-surgical options offer a good starting point on the path to reclaiming their pre-baby bodies. But for substantial improvements in skin laxity or volume loss, surgical body contouring and lifting will be required. A board-certified plastic surgeon can provide an expert assessment on whether non-surgical, surgical, or combined treatment is ideal.
What Does a Surgical Mommy Makeover Entail?
During an initial consultation, your provider will listen to the patient’s aesthetic goals and assess all areas of concern. Here are the typical customized surgical plans that may incorporate:
Breast Procedures
- Breast augmentation with implants
- Breast lift to raise and contour sagging tissue
- Breast reduction to alleviate neck, back, and shoulder pain
- Nipple and areola reshaping for more aesthetic results
Abdominal Procedures
- Tummy tuck to remove loose skin and tighten abdominal muscles
- Liposuction to eliminate stubborn fat resistant to diet and exercise
- Pubic lift to address “saggy crotch” concerns
Complementary Procedures
- Thigh/arm lift to tighten loose skin
- Body lift to contour the hips, thighs, and buttocks
- Brazilian butt lift to enhance buttock shape
- Vaginal rejuvenation to improve laxity and dryness
- Botox to soften wrinkles and refresh the face
Your provider may recommend combining multiple procedures during one surgery to limit downtime and maximize results.
How Does a Non-Surgical Mommy Makeover Compare?
Rather than surgery, a non-surgical mommy makeover relies on treatments like:
- Botox/fillers to relax wrinkles and restore facial volume
- Non-invasive fat reduction like CoolSculpting to eliminate isolated fat bulges
- Skin-tightening devices such as ThermiTight to provide mild tightening
- Microneedling to reduce the appearance of stretch marks
- DiVa laser to improve vaginal tone and urinary incontinence
These non-surgical options can produce subtle improvements without incisions or extended downtime. However, they are generally unable to replicate the dramatic outcomes of surgery.
For example, non-invasive fat reduction will not remove excess skin or repair separated abdominal muscles like a tummy tuck. Mild skin tightening cannot replace the results of a surgical breast lift. For women desiring significant, comprehensive rejuvenation, non-surgical mommy makeovers often fall short.
What Are the Benefits of Surgical Over Non-Surgical Procedures?
While non-surgical treatments have a place in a mommy makeover, surgical options provide superior, longer-lasting outcomes. Benefits include:
- Dramatic Improvements: Surgery can comprehensively address all aesthetic concerns by physically removing excess skin, tightening muscles, and aggressively contouring fat. Non-surgical options rely on superficial treatments for mild improvements at best.
- Lasting Results: A surgical mommy makeover is designed to provide permanent, lifelong outcomes, unlike non-surgical treatments requiring repeat touch-ups. Years later, visible results will still be apparent.
- Customization: Surgical makeovers are tailored to the patient’s unique problem areas with customizable degrees of enhancement. Non-surgical treatments are more “one-size-fits-all.”
- Increased Confidence: The renewal provided by surgery can dramatically boost women’s body image and self-esteem. Non-surgical options may only lead to subtle changes in appearance.
- Value: Despite higher initial cost, surgical makeovers are a wise long-term investment. Non-surgical touch-ups can cost thousands over time while producing inferior results.
For women who accept nothing less than the most comprehensive mommy makeover possible, surgery is the smartest option.
Who Is the Ideal Candidate for a Surgical Mommy Makeover?
The best surgical candidates include women who:
- Struggle with severe postpartum aesthetic concerns like extreme loose skin
- Feel their appearance negatively impacts self-image and emotional wellbeing
- Failed to achieve goals with diet, exercise, or cosmetic treatments
- Do not intend to become pregnant again
- Have no major health conditions and are non-smokers
- Possess realistic expectations for surgery
- Are physically and mentally prepared for the recovery process
Thorough pre-operative consultations assess candidates’ suitability. Your provider will discuss expected outcomes, recovery, and risks to ensure surgery aligns with the patient’s goals.
What Can I Expect from a Surgical Mommy Makeover?
The process begins with in-depth consultations to formulate a customized surgical plan. Your healthcare provider will perform the approved procedures under general anesthesia, often combining multiple surgeries to maximize results.
Initial recovery takes 2-4 weeks with restricted activity and discomfort. Results become visible at 6 weeks as swelling dissipates. Over 3-6 months, results continue settling and scars will substantially fade.
Most patients describe surgically renewing their postpartum bodies as a genuinely life-changing, emotionally gratifying experience. The transformative improvements to their figure and self-confidence make the recovery worthwhile.
Are There Any Risks Associated with Surgical Mommy Makeovers?
Any surgery presents risks like bleeding, infection, skin loss, and poor wound healing. Specific risks include:
- Breast surgery: loss of sensation, inability to breastfeed, implant leakage
- Tummy tuck: blood clots, permanent scar placement
However, when properly executed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon, complications are minimized.
These low risks accompany potentially massive emotional rewards from surgery that non-invasive options cannot deliver. Nevertheless, risks must be balanced with personal lifestyle, goals, and health history during consultations.
How to Choose Between Non-Surgical and Surgical Mommy Makeovers?
Choosing between non-surgical and surgical mommy makeovers involves:
- Realistically assessing aesthetic concerns and goals
- Consulting with board-certified plastic surgeons
- Understanding limitations of non-surgical treatments
- Being prepared for surgical recovery
- Considering costs over time
- Evaluating emotional readiness for surgery
Women seeking mild improvements may find non-surgical treatments satisfactory. But those desiring dramatic, comprehensive renewal are best served by surgical mommy makeovers.
What if I’m Not Sure I’m Ready for a Full Surgical Mommy Makeover?
It’s understandable to have some hesitations about undergoing multiple invasive procedures at once. In these situations, it can be prudent to take a gradual approach, starting with non-surgical treatments and assessing if these adequately meet aesthetic goals. More extensive surgical procedures could then be considered at a later date if required.
The optimal combination of non-surgical and surgical procedures is unique to each patient. Some women are thrilled with the level of improvement achieved through non-invasive treatments alone. Others may feel ready to pursue surgery after realizing the limitations of these conservative options.
Consultations with board-certified plastic surgeons who specialize in mommy makeovers can provide invaluable guidance. They will perform a thorough assessment, explain surgical and non-surgical options, and develop a customized plan based on the patient’s needs and desires. This takes the guesswork out of deciding the ideal route.
Conclusion
For women who struggle to accept their post-pregnancy bodies, a customized surgical mommy makeover could provide lifelong transformation. Though recovery requires an investment, visible, emotional rewards persist for years. When performed skillfully by an exceptional surgeon, surgical mommy makeovers remain the gold standard in comprehensively restoring pre-baby figures.
