July 18, 2023

Is a Mommy Makeover Worth It?

We often get asked the question, “Is a Mommy Makeover worth it?” Our answer is invariably the same: a Mommy Makeover is one of the most emotionally rewarding plastic surgery procedures that a woman—whether or not she has kids or ever plans to have them—can undergo.

A Mommy Makeover is an opportunity for total body enhancement. Each surgical package is fully customized to the patient’s unique needs and aesthetic goals: whether it is to reclaim her pre-pregnancy body or target all of her “trouble areas” that are affecting her self-confidence.

Find out more about this liberating procedure below.

What Is Mommy Makeover Surgery?

A Mommy Makeover combines multiple cosmetic procedures within a single surgery. Most patients who choose this surgery have experienced significant bodily changes following pregnancy and breastfeeding, though any woman looking to enhance multiple areas of the body can benefit from this combination approach.

“I highly recommend this practice if you are thinking about any kind of plastic surgery. Dr Petrovsky performed lipo 360, tummy tuck, BBL, face/neck lift – I had everything completed in one surgery. I am so pleased with the results! Everything looks very natural. Everyone in the office & surgical staff are kind and helpful! Thank you Dr. P”

– Laura, 5-Star Google Review

What Procedures Are Included in a Mommy Makeover?

Given the customizable nature of the procedure, a Mommy Makeover has no set or standardized rules for what is included in it. However, women commonly choose 2 to 3 procedures from among the following list:

  • Breast Enhancement Procedures
    • Breast Lift : Corrects sagging and skin laxity and gives the breasts and nipples a more youthful positioning
    • Breast Reduction : Alleviates excess strain on the back and shoulders and makes the breasts more proportionate to the rest of the body
  • Body Procedures
    • Tummy Tuck : Repairs separated abdominal muscles and removes excess fat and skin for a trimmer, firmer midsection
    • Brazilian Butt Lift : Unwanted fat is transferred from a “donor site” (e.g., the thighs, abdomen, or hips) and is relocated to the buttocks for added volume and shape
  • Nonsurgical Procedures
    • ThermiVa® : Addresses vaginal laxity by tightening and toning the skin and muscles

Your board-certified plastic surgeon will work with you to determine which procedures will help you achieve your ideal results. Our treatment planner is also a great resource to learn more about nonsurigcal options you can include in your transformation:

  • Treatment planner model showing wrinkle area

    Wrinkles & Fine Lines

    Among the most common signs of aging, fine lines and wrinkles appear in multiple areas of the face from several causes. Whether your lines are due to lost collagen, environmental damage, or facial expressions repeated over time, we offer minimally invasive treatments to diminish their appearance.

    Treatment Options:

    Autologous fat injections
    BOTOX® Cosmetic CO2 Fractional Resurfacing Chemical Peels Dysport®
    JUVÉDERM® XC JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC
    RADIESSE®
    Restylane®
    Restylane Defyne™
    Restylane Refyne™
    Sculptra® Aesthetic
    Skin Care Products Hydrafacial®

  • Treatment planner model showing crows feat area

    Crow's Feet

    Do you notice thin lines outside the corners of your eyes when you squint or smile? Those are crow’s feet. Because the skin around the eyes is so thin, these lines are often the first signs of aging people notice, sometimes as early as their late 20s. Neuromodulators relax the muscles around your eyes to prevent the skin from bunching and wrinkling.

    Treatment Options:

    BOTOX® Cosmetic CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing Chemical Peels Dysport®
    Hydrafacial®

  • Treatment planner model showing worry line area

    Vertical Worry Lines

    Also called frown lines, glabellar lines, or “11s,” these vertical lines between your eyebrows appear with repeated frowning over time. By relaxing the underlying muscles, neuromodulator injections prevent you from frowning as intensely, allowing the skin to remain smooth and wrinkle-free.

    Treatment Options:

    BOTOX® Cosmetic Dysport®
    CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing JUVÉDERM® XC Hydrafacial®

  • Treatment planner model showing thin lip area

    Thin Lips

    Full, plump lips convey a healthy, youthful, and attractive appearance. Many people have thinner lips than they would like, whether as a result of aging or genetics. Injections of dermal fillers add volume and definition to the lips to create a unique, natural-looking result that harmonizes with your other features.

    Treatment Options:

    JUVÉDERM® XC JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC
    Restylane®
    Restylane Kysse™

  • Treatment planner model showing sun damage areas

    Sun Damage

    UV exposure is one of the most prevalent causes of premature aging. Even minimal daily exposure leads to rough texture, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation over time. The best treatments achieve 2 goals: correct existing damage and stimulate collagen production for ongoing rejuvenation of the face, neck, chest, and more.

    Treatment Options:

    CO2 Fractional Resurfacing Chemical Peels Microdermabrasion Skin Care Products Hydrafacial®

  • Treatment planner model showing loose skin areas

    Loose Skin

    As we age, decreased collagen and elastin lead to loose, sagging skin that doesn’t have as much elasticity or ability to “bounce back” as it once did. To treat this, we stimulate new collagen production by causing microinjuries or heating the tissues, encouraging the skin to heal and regenerate itself.

    Treatment Options:

    Candela Laser Skin Tightening
    CO2 Fractional Resurfacing Hydrafacial®

  • Treatment planner model showing age spots areas

    Age Spots

    Dark spots on the skin naturally occur as part of the aging process. Some are faint enough to fade with medical-grade skincare products, while others require deeper treatments such as lasers or peels to break up the pigmentation or remove the darker cells, revealing fresher, more even, and youthful skin.

    Treatment Options:

    CO2 Fractional Resurfacing Chemical Peels Microdermabrasion Hydrafacial® Skin Care Products

  • Treatment planner model showing loss of fat areas

    Loss of Fat

    Fat loss sounds like a good thing, but losing fat in certain areas of the face deflates a plump, youthful appearance. The cheeks and temples especially benefit from volume restoration through injections of dermal fillers or your own fat tissue harvested from elsewhere in your body.

    Treatment Options:

    Autologous fat injections
    JUVÉDERM® VOLUMA XC Restylane®
    Restylane Defyne™
    Restylane Lyft™
    Sculptra® Aesthetic

  • Treatment planner model showing decreased collagen areas

    Decreased Collagen

    As we age, we naturally lose collagen in our skin. This results in thinner, less elastic skin that sags and causes a deflated look over time. We offer treatments that address this issue at the source by stimulating new collagen production as well as correcting cosmetic issues to turn back the clock.

    Treatment Options:

    Candela Laser Skin Tightening
    CO2 Fractional Resurfacing Hydrafacial® Sculptra® Aesthetic

  • Treatment planner model showing cheek volume areas

    Cheek Volume

    Full, defined, and lifted cheeks help us look young and healthy. Unfortunately, depleted collagen and facial fat cause cheeks to flatten, fall, and even appear sunken over time. Injectable treatments replace that lost volume to restore plumper, rounder cheeks and a more vibrant, refreshed look.

    Treatment Options:

    Autologous fat injections
    JUVÉDERM® VOLUMA XC Restylane®
    Restylane Lyft™
    Sculptra® Aesthetic

  • Treatment planner model showing dull complexion areas

    Dull & Dry Complexion

    Dullness and dryness are often caused by sun damage, pollution, and natural imbalances in the skin. Get your best skin with medical-grade skincare products designed to hydrate and exfoliate and medical spa treatments that refresh and slough away dull or damaged cells.

    Treatment Options:

    Dermaplaning Chemical Peels Microdermabrasion Hydrafacial® Skincare Products

  • Treatment planner model showing marionette line areas

    Marionette Lines

    These lines run from the corners of the mouth down to the jawline, similar to the lines you see on a marionette. We treat them either by adding volume below the skin to fill in the lines or by resurfacing the skin to encourage collagen production and create a tauter, smoother skin.

    Treatment Options:

    CO2 Fractional Resurfacing JUVÉDERM® XC Restylane®
    RADIESSE®
    Hydrafacial®

  • Treatment planner model showing nasolabial folds areas

    Nasolabial Folds

    These deep-set folds run from the sides of the nose down to the corners of the mouth, creating an aged appearance. We typically treat these folds by injecting dermal fillers beneath the skin, filling in the sunken area and evening out the skin’s surface. Laser skin resurfacing may also help to treat less severe folds.

    Treatment Options:

    CO2 Fractional Resurfacing JUVÉDERM® XC Restylane® Hydrafacial®

  • Treatment planner model showing smoker's lines areas

    Smoker's Lines

    These thin vertical lines around the mouth are not always caused by smoking. Sometimes called kissing lines, they may also result from using drinking straws or simply from a natural loss of collagen over time. We treat them by filling them in with injectable dermal fillers.

    Treatment Options:

    CO2 Fractional Resurfacing Chemical Peels JUVÉDERM® XC RADIESSE®
    Restylane®
    Hydrafacial®

  • Treatment planner model showing acne areas

    Acne & Acne Scarring

    Acne is a common but frustrating skin concern, and the acne scars left behind are often especially difficult to treat. In addition to recommending medical-grade skincare products to treat acne and lighten scars, we perform peels and laser treatments to minimize pigmented, pitted, or raised acne scars for a clear and even glow.

    Treatment Options:

    CO2 Fractional Resurfacing Dermaplaning Chemical Peels Microdermabrasion Hydrafacial® Skin Care Products

  • Treatment planner model showing thin eyebrows and eyelashes

    Thin Eyebrows & Eyelashes

    Frame your eyes with sculpted, natural-looking brows and thick, dark eyelashes. Prescription eyelash growth treatments develop fuller, longer, and darker lashes with long-lasting results.

    Treatment Options:

    LATISSE® Eyelash Growth

How Much Does a Mommy Makeover Cost?

Since every Mommy Makeover is customized to the patient, cost estimates will always be variable. You will need to pay for each individual procedure; however, you will only need to pay the surgical fees (i.e., anesthesiology and facilities fees) once.

The exception to this rule is if your Mommy Makeover needs to be spread out over two different surgeries. If the list of desired procedures exceeds the six-hour window that patients can safely be under anesthesia, the patient may need to schedule a second procedure after they have had sufficient time to heal from their initial surgery.

Our related blog post provides a more detailed breakdown of the various Mommy Makeover costs that you can expect.

Mommy Makeover Recovery

The amount of downtime required following a Mommy Makeover procedure and the different movement restrictions will depend on which procedures you have undergone. Most patients will need at least 2 weeks away from work or school to recover.

Although any pain and discomfort are easily managed using over-the-counter medication, post-surgical swelling and bruising will take time to dissipate. In fact, it can take up to 6 months for your final results to develop as your body heals and your implants (if you have them) “drop and fluff” into a more natural positioning.

Patients with young children will need additional support during the first weeks of recovery. We advise these parents to have an active and well-prepared support system in place to help with looking after the children and performing any household activities that would cause undue strain.

Although the renewed body confidence and patient satisfaction are undeniable— 95% of Mommy Makeover patients on RealSelf give their procedure an unequivocal “Worth It” rating—there is an emotional toll that must also be considered.

For example, being unable to pick up your children due to weight and movement restrictions can be distressing for both mother and child—as can the feeling of being a “burden” on others. However, giving yourself permission to rest, heal, and be taken care of by others means that you will be back to your regular routines sooner rather than later.

How Long Do Mommy Makeover Results Last?

Most women can enjoy their Mommy Makeover results for 10 years or more, provided that they maintain a stable weight. Women who have had a breast augmentation with implants may choose to replace their implants after 10-15 years for quality control reasons or to reflect their new aesthetic preferences.

Although your body will continue to change and age, you will still look younger than if you had never undergone your procedure. The longevity of the results, paired with the liberating feeling of having the body of your youth (or the one you’ve always wanted!), makes the Mommy Makeover one of the most emotionally satisfying cosmetic procedures.

You can see the beautiful, personal results that this procedure can create in our Mommy Makeover before and after photo gallery. If you are ready to take the next step toward full body confidence, please request a consultation  or call us at  (770) 421-1242 .

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