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What Is a Mommy Makeover?

A mommy makeover is a series of plastic surgeries designed to restore your pre-baby figure after having one or more children. Many mothers struggle with loose, sagging skin, stubborn fat deposits and breast changes, and diet and exercise do little to curb these body concerns. Dr. Melinda Lacerna at LA Plastic Surgery & Dermatology in Sarasota specializes in mommy makeovers and bringing "sexy back" to her patients. This post-pregnancy plastic surgery combines a breast surgery (such as breast augmentation with or without a breast lift) with an abdominal contouring procedure, such as liposuction and a mini- or full abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Some patients may choose to have other procedures performed, such as the Brazilian butt lift, to improve the proportions of the female body after pregnancy. Dr. Lacerna is a double board-certified plastic surgeon who takes special care to listen to her patients' hopes for their bodies and customizes your mommy makeover to your anatomy and goals.

Mommy Makeover Plastic Surgery Options

The mommy makeover typically addresses the breasts and abdomen but may also involve adding volume to the buttocks or removing fat from the flanks or thighs. Your options include (but are not limited to):

Breast Augmentation: Pregnancy and breastfeeding may leave your breasts droopy with a "deflated" appearance. Breast augmentation with saline or silicone breast implants can restore volume and be combined with a breast lift to address sagging. Some women may wish for a breast reduction and lift instead.

Liposuction: Many women find it difficult to lose weight in specific areas after childbearing. You may have stubborn fat in your abdomen and "love handles." Liposuction can eliminate those unwanted fat cells.

Abdominoplasty: Your stomach muscles and skin stretch during pregnancy. Your skin may lose elasticity and your abdominal muscles can separate (diastasis recti), making it impossible to "snap back" during postpartum. A mini or full tummy tuck removes the loose, sagging skin and tightens stretched abdominal muscles. Abdominoplasty can even get rid of stretch marks in the lower abdomen. The mini tummy tuck is typically best for women with a "pooch" in the lower abdomen but little to no concern with their upper abdomen, while the traditional procedure focuses on the entire tummy.

Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL): Pregnancy can impact your entire body, including your backside. The Brazilian butt lift (BBL) adds volume and projection to the buttocks using your fat cells. Unwanted fat from another area of your body is removed via liposuction, processed and re-introduced into the buttocks.

Mommy Makeover Benefits

Women make countless sacrifices for their children, starting with their figure. A mommy makeover offers many benefits, the first of which is the convenience of multiple surgeries at one time. By combining your breast and body procedures, you reduce your risk of anesthesia complications from additional surgeries and drastically cut back your recovery time. You will save money by avoiding multiple anesthesia costs, surgical facility expenses and surgeon's fees with a combination procedure. You may experience a boost in self-confidence and enjoy showing off your figure in clothing you would never have chosen before your mommy makeover. Some women may feel more comfortable in their skin and like they recognize their bodies again. You can enjoy long-lasting mommy makeover results, but future pregnancies can impact your outcome. Other perks of a mommy makeover include youthful breasts, a firmer tummy, a contoured figure and fewer stretch marks.

What to Expect During Mommy Makeover Recovery

The mommy makeover is typically performed as an outpatient procedure. You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least the first 24 hours, but you will need help caring for small children for a few weeks. The initial recovery period is around two weeks, when soreness, bruising and swelling start to dissipate. Avoid intense exercise and lifting anything heavy, including infants and toddlers, until Dr. Lacerna clears you, often after about six weeks. You may notice some of your results right away, but your new figure and bust may take six months or longer to heal fully. Make sure you follow Dr. Lacerna's pre- and post-op instructions and reach out to LA Plastic Surgery & Dermatology with any concerns or questions during your recovery.

a Mommy Makeover Right for You?

Pregnancy often stretches the abdominal muscle (called rectus abdominis), producing a bulge on the upper and lower abdomen (called diastasis recti) which can NOT be corrected by working out or losing weight. In addition, pregnancy may produce stretch marks on the stomach (permanent scarring in the skin), and currently, there are no truly effective treatments for stretch marks except to remove them during a tummy tuck. Dr. Lacerna will recreate how your breasts and abdomen looked before your pregnancy. In general, candidates for a mommy makeover are non-smokers who are in good overall health and have no plans to have more children. You will need to wait until your body and breasts have healed after pregnancy and breastfeeding before having the procedure. Dr. Lacerna will evaluate your medical history and discuss how to restore your pre-pregnancy body.

Double Board Certified – Dr. Melinda Lacerna

Double Board Certified – Dr. Brian Kimbrell

Have a question? Call today (941) 954-4500

Dr. Melinda Lacerna is the founder and owner of LA Plastic Surgery, The Skin Plasma Center, LA Skin Med Spa, and Elite Aesthetic Surgery Center. She has positioned herself as a leading expert, notably authoring significant works such as the “Non-surgical Facial Rejuvenation and Skin Resurfacing” chapter in the 9th edition of Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery.