Mommy Makeover®: get ready for surgery

Mommy makeover ®: 10 questions to bear in mind!

The Mommy Makeover® consists of a series of procedures that are carried out in a single intervention and which aim to restore a woman's body to the changes that occur during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Women who wish to have this surgery should consider some important aspects so that they are better informed and can go ahead with it in an informed and conscious manner.

aumento mamário e amamentação

What changes occur in a woman's body?

The changes that occur in a woman's body are caused by various factors, such as the natural ageing process, significant weight fluctuations and pregnancy/breastfeeding.

But it's when a woman has children that these changes become more visible, especially as they occur in a very short space of time. These changes can be serious and, in some cases, can be very disturbing on a psychological level, to the point of damaging a woman's self-esteem.

The most common changes are:

Breast: significant increase in breast volume, atrophy of the mammary gland, sagging and loss of volume;
Abdomen: sagging, excess fat and/or skin, bulging appearance, changes in the shape of the navel and diastasis of the rectus abdominis;
Fat accumulation in other areas of the body, such as the flanks, back, and thighs, among others;
Changes can also occur in the intimate area, such as increased flaccidity and widening of the vaginal canal, and decreased sensitivity of the vaginal walls.

recuperação pós-parto

The Mommy Makeover® concept

Mommy Makeover® - a registered LMR trademark - is a concept used to describe the set of surgical techniques aimed at restoring body harmony after motherhood, targeting the areas of the body that underwent the greatest changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

This surgery usually combines a breast procedure such as breast augmentation, reduction or mastopexy (with or without breast implants), with a body contouring procedure - liposuction, abdominoplasty or lipoabdominoplasty - and, in some cases, intimate surgery such as labioplasty or colporrhaphy. It can also be associated, for example, with increasing the volume of the buttocks with liposuction.

The main results are a fuller, lifted, and rounder chest, a flatter and firmer abdomen, elimination of stretch marks and rejuvenation of the intimate area, to improve a woman's self-esteem and quality of life.

Benefits

With Mommy Makeover®, several procedures are combined in the same surgical procedure, which brings several benefits to the patient:

only one recovery period;
one anaesthetic;
reduction in economic costs;
a more impressive overall result.

The 10 questions to bear in mind:

1- HAS THE BODY RECOVERED FROM PREGNANCY?

To have a Mommy Makeover®, a woman should wait between 6 and 12 months after giving birth to have the surgery, so that she has fully recovered, and her weight has stabilised. This way, you'll achieve better results.

2- BREASTFEEDING

One of the conditions of this surgery is that you can't breastfeed. Once you have stopped breastfeeding, you must wait a few months before having the operation - it is recommended that you wait at least 6 months.

3 - CAN I BECOME A MUM AGAIN?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions. Ideally, the Mommy Makeover® should be carried out when you're not planning to have any more pregnancies. If you want to be a mum again, it's advisable to wait.

Not because there is any incompatibility with another pregnancy, but so that your body doesn't go through the changes that are common in pregnancy/breastfeeding and which can jeopardise the results of the surgery.

However, if you do decide to become pregnant again, it is advisable to wait at least a year after the surgery to allow for a full recovery.

4- RECOVERY

The recovery period varies from woman to woman and according to the procedures performed. In any case, the average recovery time is between one and three weeks.

During the first week, the woman must rest. After this period, day-to-day activities should be gradually resumed. During the first month, there should be no major exertion or physical activity.

Normal activities will be restricted for a while, so family support is essential.

Taking painkillers, as prescribed by the surgeon, will allow for a more comfortable recovery.

It's also important to follow other post-operative care guidelines to the letter, such as wearing compression garments and a post-surgical bra, lymphatic drainage and maintaining a balanced diet.

5 - MOTIVATIONS FOR SURGERY

The motivations for the Mommy Makeover can be both physical and psychological. In addition to practical preparation, it is essential to be emotionally ready for this important physical change. A woman should choose to make this transformation in her image out of a personal desire to feel good about herself and not because of pressure or external judgements.

In addition, she should think of the surgery as a procedure that will improve her body and, consequently, her self-image, and not want to look like someone else or be "perfect". Although there are opportunities for improvement, each body is different, and each case is different.

6 - REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

You must talk to your plastic surgeon and explain your expectations of the Mommy Makeover®. Often, they may not correspond to reality, and you should bear this in mind before the surgery.

You should be aware that the results of the surgery depend on the initial state of your body and that they vary from person to person.

At LMR, during the assessment consultation, you will be given a detailed explanation of what to expect and a 3D simulation of the possible outcome is made, which helps you to have realistic expectations of the procedure and the result you can achieve.

7 - SCARS

Any surgical procedure involves a scar, no matter how small, and the procedures involved in the Mommy Makeover® are no exception.

It is true that the plastic surgeon will do everything possible to minimise surgical scars and that they fade over time, becoming thinner and less visible.

However, the healing process also depends on the patient's genetic characteristics and post-operative care, so it's important to follow all the doctor's recommendations to the letter.

The final appearance of the scars is achieved after 12 to 18 months.

8 - RESULTS

The results may be visible immediately after surgery, but it's after a month, when the initial swelling subsides, that they start to become more noticeable. The final result is expected after 4 to 6 months.

The level of satisfaction among women who undergo the Mommy Makeover® is extremely high and has been proven to have a strong impact on their self-esteem and quality of life.

9 - MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Plastic surgery aims to improve the appearance of the body, but it is not a slimming method and is no substitute for a balanced diet and physical exercise.

Moreover, the results are not permanent, as the human body changes with ageing and sharp weight fluctuations. Therefore, to get the best results and maintain them in the long term, you should invest in taking care of yourself and adopting a healthy lifestyle.

10 – FIND THE RIGHT PLASTIC SURGEON

Choosing the right plastic surgeon to carry out the Mommy Makeover® is crucial. Not only because they must have experience in performing this type of surgery, but also because they must understand and consider the woman's goals and motivations for resorting to this body change after motherhood.

Of course, the plastic surgeon must be qualified and certified as a plastic surgery professional. Look for a specialist who is a member of the Society of Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and is registered with the Portuguese Medical Association, who will advise and support you in the best possible way.

At LMR you'll find a team of plastic surgeons specialising in Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, with years of experience in this type of intervention, who are ready to welcome you, advise you and help you achieve the improvements you want.

Cirurgiãs plásticas

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Important note:

In case this article presents before and after photos please consider them merely demonstrative and may not serve as a reference for your particular case. These images are only to show possible results for one or several surgical procedures. The images we use are of patients who have consented to their use. Any images do not represent a guarantee of results.

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Sobre a Médica Especialista
Dr. Luísa Magalhães Ramos / Plastic Surgery

PORTUGUESE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, Nr. 42810

Graduated by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, she specialized in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, at Hospital de São José, in Lisbon.

Throughout her training, she subspecialized in aesthetic plastic surgery, having worked in world-renowned clinics.

Currently, she is mainly dedicated to face and breast aesthetic plastic surgery and to intimate female surgery.