A mommy makeover is a combined procedure that addresses postpartum aesthetic concerns, whether they include saggy skin, deflated breasts, or excess fat.
Mommy makeover surgery is highly customizable and Dr. Tantillo will curate a surgical plan based on your individual goals and preferences. Combining procedures, such as a tummy tuck, breast lift, liposuction, or BBL into one surgery, can improve several aspects of your physique while minimizing downtime.
Of course, there are some instances when it would be safer to have the operations done separately. However most women that see Dr. Tantillo enjoy the benefit of a single recovery period.
What can Mommy Makeovers include?
A mommy makeover is not one-size-fits-all. The type of cosmetic surgery you may desire depends upon your specific cosmetic issues and goals. During your mommy makeover consultation Boston plastic surgeon, Dr. Micahel Tantillo, will listen to what you hope to accomplish and make personalized recommendations as he designs your mommy makeover plan.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation refers to enhancing the size of small or deflated breasts, which are common issues women experience in the aftermath of pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Breast implants are the most popular method of breast enhancement. Dr. Tantillo offers saline implants, round silicone implants, and gummy bear implants.
Over-the-muscle implants provide the most cleavage and lift. He may recommend below-the-muscle implants for patients lacking adequate natural breast tissue. The muscle provides coverage to conceal the edge of the implant.
Breast Lift
Sagging breasts and nipples often occur due to aging, pregnancy, or nursing. If your breasts have begun to sag, lost upper pole volume, and/or you have downward-pointing nipples, Dr. Tantillo can raise your breasts and apex to a more youthful position with a breast lift. He specializes in various breast lift techniques to ensure the best aesthetic result with the least scarring.
You can have a breast lift with or without implants. Adding implants is a great way to enhance cleavage and increase the size of small breasts to complement your breast lift results.
Breast Reduction
While some women want to go bigger, others feel their breasts are too large or heavy. An overly large bust can limit physical activity such as exercise and caring for your newborn. Dr. Tantillo can perform breast reduction surgery to remove the excess breast tissue, resulting in a smaller bust and more proportional figure.
Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)
At Clareo Plastic Surgery, Dr. Tantillo offers Brazilian butt lift to help women achieve a fuller, younger backside. The surgery involves two steps. First, he harvests fat from areas such as the abdomen, hips, or thighs through liposuction for a slimmer physique. After extracting and purifying the fat cells, he strategically injects the fat into the buttocks to add roundness.
Tummy Tuck
Pregnancy stretches your abdominal skin its limit. After giving birth, you may have lax skin that hangs in a displeasing manner. Pregnancy can also cause abdominal muscle separation in which the distance between the rectus abdominis muscle widens. As a body contouring specialist, Dr. Tantillo routinely performs postpartum tummy tucks. Your tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) may include liposuction, and/or abdominal muscle repair, depending on your needs.
Liposuction
Many women struggle with fat deposits after gaining weight from pregnancy. Liposuction extracts the fat cells from areas such as the abdomen, hips, flanks, arms, neck, chin, and thighs for a slim, toned physique. Dr. Tantillo can perform liposuction as a standalone procedure or as an add-on during your mommy makeover.
Recovery, Aftercare, and Self-Care
The downtime after a mommy makeover depends on the specific combination of procedures.
Hospital Stay
While some patients return home the same day after a mommy makeover, others spend a night in the hospital. Bring whatever you need to feel comfortable (think slippers and warm socks), but leave any jewelry and valuables at home.
Enlist a Caregiver
Most patients feel tired and sore after having surgery. You’ll need a ride home. While you should feel well enough to walk by the time evening rolls around, getting out of bed, bending, going upstairs, and lifting young children may require assistance. Ideally, you will have help from a friend or family member for a week or two after your mommy makeover procedure.
Plan Time Off to Recover
Expect to take some time off work, exercise, household, and childcare duties. The length of downtime varies based on the extent of your surgery. Most of our mommy makeover patients resume office work and light aerobics at two to three weeks post-op. You should avoid strenuous workouts and heavy lifting for up to six weeks. Generally speaking, a full recovery from a typical mommy makeover takes anywhere from four to eight weeks.
Get Mentally Prepared
Right after your surgery, it is normal to feel extremely sore, tired, and cranky. Some patients feel nauseous or confused after anesthesia. All this, combined with the fact that you may have limited mobility, can feel overwhelming. You might even regret your decision to have surgery!
At the same time, you’ll feel excited to see your results. However, the results take time to become apparent. You will likely have significant swelling and some bruising. Nearly 80 percent of the swelling subsides in the first two months. Bruising usually resolves in two to three weeks.
Dealing with all this at once can cause feelings of regret to pile on. You may have moments when you feel selfish or vain for having elective surgery, but try to take it in stride. In a few days to weeks, you will start feeling more like yourself again.
Knowing what to expect is half the battle. Before your surgery, take time to de-stress and get mentally prepared. Remember that post-operative discomfort usually peaks 24 to 72 hours after coming out of surgery and then tapers off. You will also have prescribed medication to ensure you feel comfortable.
Schedule a Mommy Makeover today!
It’s not vain to consider cosmetic surgery as a mum. To learn about your options, get answers to all your questions, and find out the cost of a mommy makeover, call our plastic surgery practice, Clareo Plastic Surgery at (617) 221-4816.
