Mommy Makeover

A mommy makeover combines the procedures most commonly needed to address physical changes from pregnancy and breastfeeding, typically some combination of breast augmentation or breast lift to restore volume and position, and a tummy tuck to address abdominal skin laxity and separated abdominal muscles, known as diastasis recti, sometimes with liposuction added to refine the waist and flanks. These three areas change in fairly predictable ways during and after pregnancy: breast tissue volume and position shift as milk production starts and then stops, abdominal skin stretches beyond what it can fully retract on its own once a baby is no longer stretching it, and the abdominal muscles can separate in a way that neither diet nor exercise reliably reverses, since the issue is structural rather than related to muscle tone. Combining the relevant procedures into a single surgery means one recovery period and one set of anesthesia and surgical risks, rather than staging the same procedures separately over a year or more, which is the main reason most patients choose this approach over individual, spaced-out surgeries.

Dr. Bellamy evaluates each patient's skin laxity, degree of muscle separation, and breast tissue and skin changes individually to determine which specific combination of procedures actually addresses what changed for that patient, rather than defaulting to a standard package regardless of anatomy. Not every patient needs all three components: some have significant abdominal changes but little change in breast volume, and the reverse is also common, particularly for patients who breastfed for a shorter period. The cases below show a range of post-op stages, from a few weeks out, when swelling is still prominent, especially through the abdomen, to further along in recovery once the abdominal and breast changes have settled into their longer-term shape. Comparing an early case to a settled one isn't a fair comparison of outcomes, since they're simply at different points in a recovery process that, for the abdominal component especially, can take several months to fully resolve. For background on the individual procedures most often combined in this approach, the tummy tuck page covers the abdominal component in more detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What procedures are included in a mommy makeover?
It varies by patient, but commonly combines breast augmentation or breast lift with a tummy tuck, and sometimes liposuction of the waist or flanks. Which procedures are included depends on what specifically changed after pregnancy and breastfeeding for that patient.

How long is recovery from a mommy makeover?
Because it combines multiple procedures performed in a single surgery, initial recovery generally takes longer than any single procedure alone. Most patients need 1 to 2 weeks away from work and are limited to light activity for several weeks after that, with most restrictions lifted by around 6 weeks. Full settling continues for several months beyond that.

Is a mommy makeover only for women who have had children?
It's most commonly chosen after pregnancy and breastfeeding, since those are the changes it's specifically designed to address, but the same combination of procedures can suit anyone with similar concerns from weight change, aging, or other causes.

How is it decided which procedures I need?
This is assessed individually, looking at skin laxity, the extent of any abdominal muscle separation, breast volume and position changes, and the patient's overall goals, during an in-person consultation.