After pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the demands of motherhood, your body changes in ways that diet and exercise can’t address. A mommy makeover can help. But deciding that you want surgery and determining that you’re ready for it are two different things.
When I meet with women considering a mommy makeover, I look at much more than loose abdominal skin or changes in the breasts. Your health, weight stability, family plans, lifestyle, and ability to recover all factor into whether this is the right time for surgery.
So, what qualifies you for a mommy makeover? Because a mommy makeover is customized to each patient, there isn’t a single checklist that applies perfectly to everyone. However, the following questions can help you determine whether you’re ready to take the next step.
Are You in Good Overall Health?
A mommy makeover typically combines two or more procedures into a single operation. At my Latham, NY, practice, that commonly means some combination of a tummy tuck, liposuction, breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction.
Combining procedures has significant advantages, including one operation and one recovery period. But it also makes being in good overall health particularly important.
In general, good candidates don’t have underlying medical conditions that could interfere with anesthesia, surgery, healing, or recovery. During your consultation, I’ll review your health history, medications, previous surgeries, and other factors that could affect your safety.
Smoking is another important consideration because nicotine restricts blood flow and can substantially interfere with healing. Patients need to follow my instructions regarding smoking and nicotine use before and after surgery.
What Weight Do I Need To Be To Get a Mommy Makeover?
There isn’t a specific weight that you should be before getting a mommy makeover. There’s no single number that portrays someone’s health. Neither weight, BMI, nor BFI are helpful when used in isolation.
It’s more important to be at or near a healthy, stable weight that you can realistically maintain. Ignore the ideal body weight charts, as they are completely unrealistic for most people. A mommy makeover is body contouring surgery, not weight-loss surgery. Tummy tuck surgery can remove excess skin, while liposuction can target localized fat, but neither is designed to substitute for weight loss.
If you’re actively losing a significant amount of weight, I will usually recommend waiting. Additional weight loss after surgery can create new skin laxity and change the contours achieved with surgery. Similarly, substantial weight gain can stretch the skin and compromise your results.
WARNING:
This feature contains nudity. Please click OK to confirm you are at least 18 years of age and are not offended by such material.
Are You Finished Having Children?
I recommend waiting until you’re finished having children before undergoing a mommy makeover. Pregnancy after a mommy makeover is possible, but it can stretch the abdominal skin and muscles again and change the size, volume, and shape of your breasts.
That doesn’t mean you need to wait until your children reach a certain age. What’s more important is that you’re no longer pregnant or breastfeeding and have given your body enough time to stabilize.
If you’re recently postpartum or nursing, waiting also allows breast volume, hormone levels, weight, and abdominal tissues to settle so I can more accurately evaluate what surgery can accomplish.
Are You a Good Mommy Makeover Candidate?
Use Our Checklist
Should I Get a Mommy Makeover or Just a Tummy Tuck?
The answer depends on what bothers you. If your concerns are limited to loose abdominal skin, stretched abdominal muscles, or a lower abdominal bulge, a tummy tuck may be all you need. There is no reason to add procedures simply because you’ve had children.
If you’re also bothered by deflated or sagging breasts, lost breast volume, or stubborn areas of fat around your waist or other areas, combining procedures may make more sense. You can learn more about what a mommy makeover can consist of and why the combination is different for every patient.
Can You Realistically Plan for Recovery?
A mommy makeover recovery requires you to temporarily step away from many everyday responsibilities. You’ll need someone to drive you home after surgery and help during the early stages of recovery. If you have young children, you’ll need dependable assistance because lifting and strenuous activity will be restricted.
Most patients need at least a couple of weeks away from work, depending on their procedures and the physical demands of their job. Healing continues well beyond that initial period, and you’ll gradually return to exercise and unrestricted activity. My post about the mommy makeover recovery timeline and tips can help you start thinking through those practical details.
Are You Doing This for Yourself?
Your motivation for getting a mommy makeover is as important as your physical readiness.
Motherhood can create changes that exercise simply cannot reverse, including separated abdominal muscles, stretched skin, and changes in breast volume and position. Choosing surgery to address those concerns isn’t “taking the easy way out.” I’ve written before about why women shouldn’t feel shamed for choosing a mommy makeover.
At the same time, surgery should be your decision, not something you’re doing to meet someone else’s expectations. The best candidates have realistic goals and understand that a mommy makeover can improve specific physical concerns, not create perfection.
Start the Conversation
Before creating a surgical plan, I look at the complete picture: your health, anatomy, weight stability, goals, family plans, and ability to recover safely.
During your consultation at my Latham, NY, practice, we’ll talk through each of these factors. You can request a consultation using the online form or by calling us at (518) 660-8641.
Leave a Reply