Mommy Makeover Chicago
At our practice in Chicago, mommy makeover surgery is very common A mommy makeover is a broad term used to describe plastic surgery procedures designed to improve the aesthetics and appearance of a woman’s body after having children, while also boosting one’s confidence. After children, many mothers yearn for the bodies they had pre-pregnancy, and mommy makeover procedures are a great way to achieve those goals. The constellation of procedures referred to as a mommy makeover includes facial rejuvenation, a breast lift with or without breast implants, liposuction, tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift, and vaginal rejuvenation.
Based on your aesthetic goals and anatomy, a mommy makeover procedure will be tailored to your specific needs based on what was most affected by your pregnancy. After an evaluation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, a treatment plan will be determined. Depending upon which procedures are recommended, they can be performed together in one surgery or staged into several different surgeries. Your treatment options can include the following:
Breast Surgery
During and after pregnancy, breasts can become deflated and sag. A breast lift with implants is a great option to restore the size and shape of a woman’s breast to pre-pregnancy aesthetics. A saline or gel implant is placed underneath the breast during the breast augmentation procedure and a simultaneous mastopexy or breast lift is performed to lift the nipples and breast to a more youthful position on your chest. Alternatively, a woman’s breast can increase in size after pregnancy causing neck and back pain. In this situation, a breast reduction procedure may be your best option to relieve the neck and back pain associated with large breasts.
Tummy Tuck
During pregnancy, the abdominal skin and muscles can become stretched and loose, resulting in lax abdominal muscles and excess abdominal skin and fat. Stretch marks of the abdominal skin can also occur during pregnancy. A tummy tuck with liposuction is a procedure plastic surgeons perform to tighten the abdominal muscles and remove unwanted skin and fat. The goal of a tummy tuck is a smoother, flatter, well-defined abdomen and, in some cases, to restore weakened muscles in the abdomen.
Facial Rejuvenation
As we age, our skin of the face deflates and sags resulting in the signs of aging. Weight fluctuation during pregnancy can exacerbate the aging process. Most women in their 20’s and 30’s are good candidates for non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures such as dermal fillers, botox, laser treatments, and skincare regimens. Some women in their 40’s and 50’s can be good candidates for non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures but also surgical procedures such as a facelift, neck lift, facial fat grafting, brow lift, and eyelid lift. Refer to our individual procedure pages for more information on these surgical facial rejuvenation procedures.
Vaginal Rejuvenation
After pregnancy, the vagina can change drastically in appearance and function. Specific aesthetic considerations can be addressed by your plastic surgeon, such as the size of the vaginal canal and the size/shape of the labia majora and labia minora. Labiaplasty, for example, is a popular procedure that is performed in order to decrease the size and improve the shape of the labial minora. Be sure to speak with your plastic surgeon to determine if one or more of the procedures associated with a mommy makeover are right for you.
AM I A CANDIDATE FOR A MOMMY MAKEOVER?
If you are planning on having more children in the future, then it is strongly recommended that you wait to start your mommy makeover transformation. Also, if you are planning on losing more weight in the future, it is best to postpone any body contouring procedures until you are at a stable and comfortable weight. The soonest we recommend starting on your mommy makeover journey is 6 months after you have stopped breast feeding.
If your breasts have deflated and have started sagging or you are bothered by excess fat and skin of the abdomen, you may be a candidate for a tummy tuck and breast lift. If you feel that your face and eyes look tired, you may be a candidate for non-surgical or surgical facial rejuvenation procedures. If you are interested in improving the aesthetics of your vagina after pregnancy, you may be a good candidate for a vaginal rejuvenation procedure. To be considered for any of these procedures, you should be physically healthy, a non-smoker, and not have any medical conditions that may affect the healing or recovery process.
If you are a woman considering a tummy tuck, you should be advised that future pregnancies can affect the results of the procedure and may require future corrective surgery. Patients should also reach their target weight before undergoing a tummy tuck, as major fluctuations in weight can have a negative impact on the results.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR CONSULTATION
If you believe that a mommy makeover is the right course of treatment for you, schedule a consultation with the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago to speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic surgery of the face, breast, and body.
During your consultation, you and your plastic surgeon will review your medical history to ensure that you are a good candidate for a mommy makeover. Be prepared to discuss any previous surgeries you have undergone, any preexisting medical conditions you may have, and known allergies.
Your plastic surgeon will perform an evaluation and suggest treatment options that are right for you and your body type. They will discuss all aspects of the procedure with you, including recovery, potential risks, and cost, and answer any questions you may have.
HOW IS A MOMMY MAKEOVER PERFORMED?
The details of each procedure depend on which specific surgeries of a mommy makeover you are having. In some cases, a few procedures can be combined during one surgical session. In general though, on the day of surgery, a general anesthetic will be administered to ensure your comfort during the procedure. If undergoing a tummy tuck, liposuction is usually performed before the incisions are made to remove excess fat. The length and orientation of the incision will be based on the degree of complexity; the incision is usually made at the lower aspect of the abdomen, just above the pubic hairline.
Next, the abdominal skin is lifted. Excess fat is removed, and any weakened or separated muscles in the abdomen can be repaired. The underlying tissue is reshaped if necessary. Then the abdominal skin is contoured to the new shape of the abdomen and any excess skin is removed. Finally, the incisions are closed with sutures. A drain may need to be placed to remove excess fluid.
If undergoing a breast lift with implants, breast implants are placed either underneath the pectoralis muscle and breast tissue or breast tissue alone and the nipple is lifted up higher on the chest. The goal is to elevate the breast and nipple to be centered behind the implant.
Other procedures such as facelift, neck lift, eyelid lift, facial fat grafting, brow lift, arm lift, thigh lift, and vaginal rejuvenation can also be performed at the same time or in stages. Refer to each individual procedure page to learn more.
RECOVERY AFTER A MOMMY MAKEOVER
Bruising and swelling in the surgical areas are normal after mommy makeover surgeries. Though results will be visible immediately following the procedure, the full results will be apparent once swelling and bruising have completely subsided, which may take six to eight weeks after the procedure.
Your plastic surgeon will prescribe pain medication and specific instructions to care for the surgical site. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully to mitigate any potential risks associated with a mommy makeover.
You should avoid any strenuous physical activity until your plastic surgeon clears you to return to your normal level of activity.
POTENTIAL RISKS ASSOCIATION WITH A MOMMY MAKEOVER
Though complications from a mommy makeover are infrequent, there are potential risks with any surgical procedure. The risks generally associated with a mommy makeover include:
- Bleeding
- Fluid Accumulation
- Infection
- Scarring
- Hematoma (blood clot)
- Changes in skin sensation
- Skin discoloration
- Asymmetry
The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago takes every possible measure to mitigate potential complications by using the safest and most innovative techniques available. You can further reduce risk by carefully following all instructions from your plastic surgeon.
WHAT DOES A MOMMY MAKEOVER COST?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the national average cost for a tummy tuck in the United States is approximately $5,800 and for a breast lift is approximately $4,816. However, this figure may fluctuate based on your location, the surgeon performing the procedure, and the extent of your aesthetic goals. When additional procedures associated with a mommy makeover are performed, the cost can also change. Be sure to speak with your plastic surgeon about all associated costs during your consultation. Most health insurance providers will not cover the costs related to a mommy makeover.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
Dr. Patel is considered by his patients as a top mommy makeover surgeon in Chicago. If you believe you may be an ideal candidate for a mommy makeover, or if you have any questions about the procedure, please contact the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. We will review your medical history to ensure that you are a good candidate for a mommy makeover, and we will be happy to discuss any and all aspects of the process with you.
All surgical procedures by the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago are performed at top hospitals in Chicago and CMS or AAAASF-certified surgical centers for safety.
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A facial feminization case that highlights how subtle changes can have a major impact on the balance and proportions of the face. Do the post-operative images appear softer, less angular, more refined, and more heart-shaped rather than square-shaped? Can you tell what surgeries were performed? Hint: look closely at the forehead/orbital rims, nose, chin, jawline, and neck. Posted with permission.
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Post-operative results on a patient in her 50’s who wanted improvement in the contour of her neck and jawline. She felt like her neck showed her age and she wanted to appear as she did in her late 30’s. The patient underwent a lower facelift and neck lift. In the post-operative photos, you can see a nice and natural neck contour and improvement in the jawline (jowls were treated). Pay attention to the volume redistribution, now her volume is in a more youthful position at the level of the cheek bones. Her appearance changed from sad and tired to looking as though she is ready to take on the world. Posted with permission.
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6 month follow-up on a patient who underwent a breast reduction and lift for neck and back pain. For this surgery, we reduce the size of the breast and lift the breast and nipple to a more aesthetic position on the chest. These surgeries are some of the most rewarding surgeries plastic surgeons perform due to the impact they have on neck/back pain and improvement in mobility, exercise, and activities of daily living. The scars continue to fade with time and by 1 year, they blend in with the surrounding skin color. Posted with permission.
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Early follow-up (3 months) on a patient with thicker skin, who underwent a primary rhinoplasty. The patient’s goals were to reduce the dorsal hump, refine and lift the tip, but not change her nose significantly. In the post-operative photos you can see a natural result with improvement in the dorsal profile and tip aesthetics. Over the next 8-12 months, the tip will continue to improve in terms of swelling, refinement, and detail. Posted with permission.
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A combined primary rhinoplasty and otoplasty or ear pinning. For the rhinoplasty, the goals of the surgery were to improve the deviation, remove the dorsal hump, and refine the tip. The patient had deviation to the right which was straightened. The dorsal hump was removed to create a nice profile. For the tip, the tip was de-projected, de-rotated and refined. In other words, the tip was brought back closer to the face, rotated downwards, and it was made smaller. Happy for this patient and the improvements we were able to achieve for her. Posted with permission.
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This young patient wanted to feel more confident about the appearance of her ears and to be able to wear her hair up without feeling self-conscious about the asymmetries of her ears. The patient underwent a unilateral otoplasty of the left ear. The patient now proudly wears her hair up and is living her best life. Posted with permission.
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This is a massive weight loss patient who lost over 100 lbs and was bothered by the loose skin of her arms. The patient underwent an arm lift to remove the excess skin and to define the arms. In the post-operative photos you can see significant improvement in the contour and definition of her arms that now fit her new body. Posted with permission.
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Challenging tertiary revision rhinoplasty. Patient has thick skin, significant deviation, a dorsal hump, a plunging and under-projected/under-rotated tip, wide nose etc….how much better does her nose look? Does it look straighter, narrower, refined, and is the tip more rotated and projected? Posted with permission.
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