A mommy makeover is a catchy name for a combination of cosmetic procedures for women, but what does it mean? And what operations are included?
What’s In a Name?
First of all, the name “mommy makeover” is misleading. It’s true that many women who have had children opt for a mommy makeover to undo some of the stretching and sagging effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding. But a mommy makeover can deliver those same improvements to women who have never had children — who have gone through weight changes, for example, or simply lost skin resilience as a result of the aging process.
So a “mommy makeover” is suitable for any woman who would like to tone, trim, or otherwise rejuvenate her body in ways that are beyond what healthy eating and exercise habits can accomplish.
What’s Included in a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is the shorthand name for any combination of cosmetic procedures used to rejuvenate a woman’s body. The combination that’s right for you will be different from the combination that’s right for someone else. Further, every cosmetic procedure included in a mommy makeover is customized to your unique anatomy and your goals for body improvement.
Procedures that are often included in a mommy makeover include:
- Tummy tuck — surgery to smooth, flatten, and firm your midsection. In a tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, excess skin and stubborn pockets of fat are removed to get rid of belly wrinkles, folds, and bulges. The procedure may also include tightening and reconnecting abdominal muscles that have stretched and separated in pregnancy. This not only strengthens and flattens your abdomen but pulls in your waist for younger-looking curves.
- Liposuction — minimally invasive surgery to remove pockets of fat that remain even after adopting healthy eating and exercise habits. Liposuction uses a thin tube, called a canula, to break up and suction out areas of excess fat. This sculpts the treated areas for more attractive contours and permanently eliminates fat cells from your body. Liposuction can be used on the thighs, hips, abdomen, buttocks, upper arms, or chin.
- Breast surgery — which might include a breast lift, breast augmentation, or breast reduction, to correct sagging, reshape your breasts, and adjust their size to be in better harmony with your other features. Breast surgery restores a younger look after changes from pregnancy and breastfeeding, weight gain and loss, or aging. It can also give you the round, firm, shapely breasts you have always wanted but never had.
- Labiaplasty — surgery to correct changes to the labia as a result of swelling in the late stages of pregnancy. After having children, some women find that the labia minora hangs outside of the labia majora, which can cause discomfort. Labiaplasty is a relatively simple procedure, often using local anesthesia, to trim or shorten the labia.
These procedures are listed as possible elements of a mommy makeover, not requirements. Your mommy makeover might include just one or two of them, perhaps combined with another procedure such as facial rejuvenation or non-surgical skin tightening or body contouring.
With so many effective non-invasive cosmetic procedures now available, it’s even possible to have a completely non-surgical mommy makeover. This might combine Botox or dermal filler injections to eliminate facial wrinkles, microneedling to restore skin resilience, CoolSculpting to trim body fat without surgery, or Geneveve treatments for vaginal rejuvenation.
Whatever combination you decide on with your cosmetic surgeon, the goal of a mommy makeover is to restore a younger-looking, fresher, firmer, and more balanced body — to make you look and feel your best.
Consult on Your Customized Mommy Makeover in Nashville
Dr. Mary Gingrass and Dr. Melinda Haws at the Plastic Surgery Center of Nashville are board-certified plastic surgeons with extensive experience in all types of cosmetic surgery. Contact us online or call us at 615-467-6777 to schedule a consultation and learn how a customized mommy makeover can make you look great and feel proud of your body.