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Mommy Makeover

On average, most women gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. This weight is stored as fatty tissue in the breasts, abdomen, flanks (love handles), hips, lower back, buttocks, and thighs. The breasts also grow due to weight gain and to prepare for nursing.

Many new moms do lose the excess weight – eventually. Unfortunately, the weight loss is not proportional to the amount of fatty tissue in a given area. That means for some, more weight may be lost from the breasts or buttocks than the abdomen and waist. A Mommy Makeover can help you regain your pre-baby figure and help you look and feel your best again.

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What is a Mommy Makeover?

A Mommy Makeover is a series of plastic surgery procedures that can be combined into one treatment plan to address multiple aesthetic concerns at once. Dr. John Ayala, our board-certified plastic surgeon, understands that attempting to restore your pre-pregnancy figure in the midst of starting a family can be difficult. At our practice, he offers a Mommy Makeover to help patients restore their pre-baby contours and undo the physical changes caused by pregnancy.

What Can a Mommy Makeover Improve?

Personalized for each person based on her specific concerns and the results envisioned, a customized Mommy Makeover typically involves a combination of breast and body surgeries. In general, this combination treatment plan can dramatically improve several key issues that develop during or after pregnancy, such as:

  • Stretched, weakened, or separated muscles in the abdomen
  • Buildup of stubborn fatty tissue
  • Loose, excess skin along the hips and abdomen
  • Loss of shape and volume in the breasts
  • Breast skin laxity and the development of pendulousness (drooping)

Improvements in the appearance of stretch marks are also possible after surgery. While not the primary goal of a Mommy Makeover, removing excess skin from the lower abdomen can also adjunctively reduce the appearance of stretch marks in that region. Some women may also opt to complement their surgical procedures with non-surgical med spa treatments to improve skin tone and texture.

Who is a Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?

Although this procedure is referred to as a “Mommy Makeover,” a combination treatment plan can be tailored towards any patient who wishes to address multiple aesthetic concerns simultaneously. In many cases, the options typically included in a Mommy Makeover can also benefit individuals who have just undergone massive weight loss or bariatric surgery. Those considering a Mommy Makeover should be:

  • Healthy enough to undergo surgery, with no life-threatening illnesses or uncontrolled medical conditions
  • Interested in more than one cosmetic surgery
  • A non-smoker, or willing to stop smoking before and after the procedure
  • Finished having children, with no future plans for pregnancy

After a consultation, Dr. Ayala will be able to confirm whether a Mommy Makeover is the best option to attain your desired look. In general, the most successful results are typically achieved when patients are at or near their ideal weight.

Patient Results

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View Mommy Makeover Gallery

What are My Mommy Makeover Treatment Options?

A Mommy Makeover can include any or all of the following breast and body contouring procedures, depending on your wishes and needs. Based on the most optimal treatment options to address your concerns, Dr. Ayala can determine whether your Mommy Makeover should take place in one surgery or over the course of multiple procedures.

  • Breast Augmentation

    After pregnancy and breastfeeding, the breasts often lose shape and appear flat or “deflated.” With breast augmentation, Dr. Ayala can place silicone or saline implants to improve the fullness, volume, and symmetry of the breasts.

  • Breast Lift

    Increased breast ptosis, or breast sag, is also a common effect of pregnancy—particularly if women also experience diminished volume and stretched breast skin. Breast lift surgery is designed to reshape the breasts, lift them to a more rejuvenated positioning, and restore younger-looking breast contours. Implants can also be placed at the same time as a breast lift if desired to achieve a firmer, fuller, and more youthful look overall.

  • Tummy Tuck

    Perhaps the most dramatic transformation caused by pregnancy is the development of a protruding or hanging abdomen due to stretched abdominal skin and musculature. This usually cannot be resolved with dieting and exercise alone, as no amount of weight loss can naturally repair the skin and muscles. A tummy tuck can be a highly effective procedure to tighten lax tissue and reshape the abdomen, resulting in a flatter, smoother, and slimmer body contour.

  • Buttock Lift

    A more voluptuous and shapely buttock contour can be achieved with buttock augmentation—a procedure designed to combat a flat or sagging look caused by weight fluctuation during pregnancy. Dr. Ayala can create a plumper, rounder aesthetic through use of injectable fillers or fat transfer techniques, depending on your goals and preferences.

  • Liposuction

    Liposuction is one of the most popular treatment options included in a Mommy Makeover. This suction-based fat removal technique can smooth bulges of excess fat in the upper arms, thighs, hips, waist, and abdomen, among virtually any other region of the body. Best of all, liposuction does not require extensive incisions or recovery time to reshape the body contours.

  • Facial Injectables

    Injectables like BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers can be a powerful complement to a Mommy Makeover. These non-surgical treatments are ideal for addressing signs of facial aging that surgery alone cannot correct. BOTOX® Cosmetic can soften expression lines on the forehead, between the brows, and around the eyes, while fillers like JUVÉDERM® and Restylane® restore volume to areas like the cheeks, lips, and nasolabial folds. Many women choose to include injectables in their Mommy Makeover to look and feel more refreshed as they proceed with motherhood.

  • Skin Treatments

    Skin rejuvenation treatments like RF microneedling, laser skin resurfacing, and/or chemical peels can be in-office components of a Mommy Makeover to rejuvenate your complexion and improve tone and texture. These non-invasive procedures can target concerns like sun damage, fine lines, enlarged pores, acne scars, and uneven pigmentation. Because they require little to no recovery time, these treatments can provide a noticeable boost in skin radiance. They are often perfect for enhancing overall results and helping patients look as refreshed on the outside as they feel on the inside.

What is Recovery From a Mommy Makeover Like?

Each patient’s recovery period will vary depending on which procedures were included in their Mommy Makeover. Most individuals require one to two weeks of downtime, during which time additional childcare assistance can be very helpful in allowing patients ample time to rest and heal from surgery. Less invasive procedures, such as liposuction, usually require a shorter recovery period when compared to a tummy tuck or breast surgery.

After any surgery, reactions like swelling, bruising, tenderness, and/or soreness are to be expected. Fortunately, discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications. Exercise, lifting anything heavier than five pounds, and strenuous activity should be avoided for at least four to six weeks. Dr. Ayala will fully inform you of what you can expect during the healing process at the time of your consultation.

Mommy Makeover Recovery Tips

A Mommy Makeover usually involves extensive surgery and knowing what to expect during the recovery period can go a long way in making the healing process as smooth as possible. Dr. Ayala will give you detailed post-op instructions regarding incision care, activity restrictions, and your anticipated recovery timeline. A few recovery tips that can make the healing period easier include:

  • Arranging for help around the house from a friend or loved one since there will be limits on how much weight you can lift, the types of chores you can perform, etc.
  • Meal-prepping for the week of surgery with high-protein, nutrient-rich foods
  • Getting assistance with child supervision, pick-ups and drop-offs, etc.
  • Recovering in a recliner or an adjustable bed, particularly if you received a tummy tuck

Ensuring you receive plenty of rest after your procedure(s) is key to promoting a healthy recovery period. We also advise light ambulation whenever you feel strong enough to take walks and perform non-strenuous daily activities.

How Long Do Mommy Makeover Results Last?

A Mommy Makeover is designed to reshape your breast and body contours for a lifetime, as long as patients maintain a stable weight. There are certain factors that may alter your results, such as pregnancy after a Mommy Makeover, breastfeeding, bariatric surgery, and major weight fluctuations. In order to preserve the full integrity of the final outcome, we recommend postponing a Mommy Makeover until your family is complete and you’re near your ideal weight. It’s important to remember that nothing will stop the natural aging process. The effects of aging will continue, but those who undergo a Mommy Makeover are generally always able to look younger and more refreshed than individuals of the same age who did not receive surgery. Non-surgical med spa treatments are also available for patients who want to “touch up” the results of their procedures.

How Much Does a Mommy Makeover Cost?

Mommy Makeover costs are personalized according to each person’s unique treatment plan, but typically range from $20,000 to $30,000. Since the procedures included in a Mommy Makeover vary from patient to patient, there is no universal quote that can be extended to all patients. In general, the cost of a Mommy Makeover is influenced by:

  • The surgical procedure(s) chosen
  • Whether breast implants are being utilized
  • The complexity of your treatment plan
  • The techniques used during surgery
  • The lab, anesthesia, hospital facility, and surgeon’s fees

A personalized quote will be provided during your consultation and Dr. Ayala will go over the specific details of your treatment plan. At Ayala Plastic Surgery, many patients find that plastic surgery financing can make the costs of a Mommy Makeover more affordable. Please don’t hesitate to contact our practice if you have any questions about the cost of a Mommy Makeover in San Antonio.

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Complements to a Mommy Makeover

While a Mommy Makeover is primarily focused on rejuvenating the breasts and body, there are options to enhance your transformation with additional procedures designed to address other areas of concern, such as:

  • Arm Lift: An arm lift (brachioplasty) is a popular addition to a Mommy Makeover for women who struggle with sagging skin and/or excess fat in the upper arms. Often a result of fat buildup, weight changes, or natural aging, loose skin in this area can be resistant to diet and exercise. Arm lift surgery removes the excess tissue, tightens the underlying structure, and reshapes the arms for a smoother, more contoured silhouette.
  • Fat Injections: Facial fat transfer injections offer a natural and long-lasting way to rejuvenate the face using your body’s own tissue. This technique involves harvesting a small amount of fat — typically from the abdomen, flanks, or thighs — and strategically injecting it into areas of the face that have lost volume, such as the cheeks, temples, or under-eye hollows.

These complementary treatments can help achieve more harmonious results, improving a broader variety of issues than the aesthetic concerns concentrated in the breasts and midsection.

Dr. Ayala performs a Mommy Makeover according to your unique concerns and individual needs to help ensure your treatment plan is completely personalized to achieve your goals. Don’t hesitate to contact our San Antonio office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ayala, or to learn more about the procedure.

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