Can I Get A Mommy Makeover After A C-Section?

With the growing celebrity trend of flaunting a perfect body just weeks after giving birth, moms everywhere are feeling the pressure. After having a baby, many women struggle to lose weight and get back in shape due to breastfeeding, having less time to exercise, lack of sleep, and other new lifestyle limitations. This leads many women to begin looking for alternatives to help them restore their pre-pregnancy bodies, the most popular of which is cosmetic surgery.

At Austin-Weston, The Center for Cosmetic Surgery, we understand the toll that physical changes after pregnancy and childbirth can take on a woman, and we are proud to offer a variety of solutions. One of our most popular procedures for helping patients achieve an ideal contour is the mommy makeover. To help better determine if and when this surgery may be right for you, it is important to first familiarize yourself with some of the basics about a mommy makeover.

What is a mommy makeover?

Rather than a single procedure, a mommy makeover is actually a combination of several different surgeries. Each mommy makeover is tailored to the specific patient and designed to meet her individual needs and goals. During your initial consultation at Austin-Weston, The Center for Cosmetic Surgery, one of our experienced plastic surgeons will thoroughly evaluate your case, discuss your concerns, explain your options at length, answer your questions in detail, and recommend a plan of action that best fits your situation.

Some of the most common procedures that make up a mommy makeover include:

Breast augmentation: After pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, many women experience a loss in breast volume. Through the use of breast implants or fat transfer, patients are able to restore lost volume and achieve a more feminine contour.

Breast lift: Age alone can lead to sagging breasts, and combined with the effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding, having deflated breasts is one of the most common complaints by patients seeking a mommy makeover. The breast lift technique, which is often combined with breast augmentation, helps give patients a perkier and more youthful look by removing excess skin and repositioning the breast.

Tummy tuck: Formally known as abdominoplasty, the tummy tuck is one of the most sought-after procedures by women in Northern Virginia, whether they have had children or not. Tummy tuck can address and correct loose, sagging, excess skin on the abdomen, resulting in a smoothly contoured mid-section. In many cases, the surgeon will also perform liposuction during a tummy tuck, further enhancing the outcome.

Is the mommy makeover after a C-section safe?

For patients considering a mommy makeover procedure after a C-section, concerns about safety often arise, particularly when a tummy tuck may be involved. Fortunately, even a tummy tuck can be perfectly safe for most women following childbirth via C-section, but it is important to time the surgery appropriately.

How soon after a C-section can I get a mommy makeover?

Though the journey to getting your pre-baby body back can seem like an eternity, it is important not to rush into cosmetic surgery. After giving birth, the body continues to undergo drastic changes for many months. The uterus will shrink to its original size, hormones will begin to balance out, and the weight gained throughout pregnancy will usually start to disappear. It is crucial that patients allow their bodies to fully heal after pregnancy and childbirth before considering a mommy makeover. For patients who had a C-section performed during childbirth, they must remember that their body has just been through a major surgery and needs proper time to heal before going under the knife again.

In general, patients considering a mommy makeover should have reached their goal weight, within about 10 pounds, and have maintained that weight for at least 6 months prior to surgery. It is also strongly recommended that patients be certain they are done having children before undergoing mommy makeover or any of its associated procedures. Future weight fluctuations, pregnancy, and breastfeeding can compromise the results of the surgery and lead to the need for a second or subsequent procedure.

What results can I expect after a mommy makeover?

With the many different procedures that can be included as part of a mommy makeover, the talented surgeons at Austin-Weston, The Center for Cosmetic Surgery are able to address a wide variety of complaints. Overall, the mommy makeover aims to give women a more aesthetically pleasing contour.

What is the recovery like after a mommy makeover?

The recovery period following a mommy makeover can vary from patient to patient, depending on which procedures are performed, but in general patients can expect some mild pain or discomfort for the first several days and weeks. This is usually accompanied by swelling and bruising in the areas that were treated. For patients that have undergone breast augmentation and/or breast lift as part of their mommy makeover, they will need to wear special undergarments for the first 3-6 weeks. Likewise, tummy tuck and liposuction patients will be instructed to wear compression garments to aid the healing process. Your surgeon will give you a complete set of postoperative care guidelines and restrictions, and it is essential that you follow these strictly.

While you may notice initial changes almost immediately, the full results of your mommy makeover won't be visible for several months.

How do I get started?

If you are interested in learning more about how a mommy makeover after a C-section can help you achieve your goals, boost your confidence, and change your life, call our convenient Northern Virginia office to schedule your consultation today.