Ana Rita's makeover on Dois às 10
What is Mommy Makeover®?
Mommy Makeover ® is an American term that centres on the plastic surgery needs that women have after becoming mothers, specifically targeting two specific areas of the body: the chest and the abdomen.
Often, after giving birth, women's bodies undergo certain changes that bother them. In the breasts, as a result of weight gain, volume and breastfeeding, there can be a significant increase in breast volume that doesn't decrease with weight recovery, excess skin that gives the breasts a saggy look or atrophy of the mammary gland. In the abdomen, what bothers most is sagging and excess skin, sometimes stretch marks, a bulging appearance to the abdomen, and changes to the shape of the navel.
Characteristics of ideal candidates for a Mommy Makeover®?
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Chest sagging, lacking volume or larger than desired;
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Excess skin and fat in the abdomen and abdominal diastasis;
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Changes in the genital area;
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Stable weight;
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Having been a mum for at least 6 months;
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Not having breastfed for at least 6 months;
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Do not consider future pregnancies so as not to compromise the result;
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Good general health;
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Non-smokers;
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Realistic expectations.
What results can I expect
After a Mommy Makeover®?
Full, natural breasts
With a breast augmentation, mastopexy or breast reduction, you'll achieve a full, rounded chest in proportion to the rest of your body.
A flat, firm abdomen
With a lipoadmoniplasty, you'll achieve a flat abdomen, without sagging and with a toned appearance. You can also get rid of some stretch marks on your lower abdomen.
Improved self-esteem and quality of life
The Mommy Makeover® has a very positive impact on a woman's life, namely on her quality of life, her self-esteem and the way she relates to her body.
Procedure
from Mommy Makeover®
Your Mommy Makeover® appointment
Counselling
The first step of your Mommy M consultationakeover®, is a careful assessment of your body, state of health and lifestyle. This will allow us to design a personalised plan for you.
Simulation with Vectra 3D
Vectra 3D allows you to create simulations of the results of surgeries such as liposuction, abdominoplasty, breast augmentation, mastopexy, breast reduction, etc.
Detailed explanation
During the Mommy Makeover appointment®, You will be given a treatment plan and the risks of surgery, pre- and post-operative care and the results you can expect will also be explained.
Budget
After the medical consultation, you will be given an exact quote for your surgery, according to the combination of procedures.
Scars
Any surgical procedure involves scars and the Mommy Makeover® is no exception. The scars depend on the initial state of the body and the procedures carried out, and the plastic surgeon will do his best to make the scars as small as possible. However, as the months go by, the scars become more final and clearer. Good scarring will also depend on your post-operative care and the patient's own genetics.
- Breast Augmentation: inframammary or periareolar scar;
- Mastopexy: periareolar, vertical or inverted T scar;
- Breast reduction: vertical scar or inverted T;
- Abdominoplasty: the scar is on the bikini line and can be larger or smaller depending on the amount of skin to be removed;
- Liposuction: the scars are not too small, just a few millimetres, enough for the very fine cannulas to be inserted. Whenever possible, they are performed in hidden areas or in the natural folds of the body.
Type of Anaesthesia
The Mommy Makeover® is usually performed with sedation and local or epidural anaesthesia. The type of anaesthesia is defined according to the combination of procedures to be performed. Sedation is administered intravenously by the anaesthetist so that the patient falls asleep and doesn't notice anything during the surgery. Then, once the patient is asleep, local anaesthetics are administered to the areas to be treated. The anaesthetist will be present throughout the surgery for the patient's comfort and safety.
What are the procedures most common
There is no fixed rule establishing the combination of procedures that the Mommy Makeover® includes. Everything will depend on the initial state of the woman's body and the desired results, but it does include surgeries aimed at the parts of the body that have undergone the most marked changes with pregnancy. The most common surgeries are:
Breast Augmentation
After pregnancy and breastfeeding, there is often a decrease in breast volume - the breast takes on an empty, shrivelled appearance. The volume decreases as a result of the milk “drying up”, but also because of weight loss after pregnancy. Breast augmentation is therefore performed on women who want to restore or increase the volume of their breasts, improve their contour and projection and give them a more harmonious shape with the rest of their body. If there is a slight sag, a periareolar breast augmentation can be performed, in which the little excess skin around the areola is removed.
Mastopexy
Mastopexy is surgery to improve the appearance of sagging breasts (breast ptosis). Also known as a breast lift, mastopexy consists of lifting the breasts because they are sagging or drooping as a result of pregnancy, breastfeeding and weight changes. It can be performed with or without breast implants depending on the initial size of the breast and the woman's desire to increase its size or not.
Breast reduction
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, there is an increase in breast volume not only due to the rise in milk, but also due to the fat that the woman may have accumulated over the 9 months. If a woman has gained a lot of weight during pregnancy and is unable to lose all the weight, her breasts may not return to their original size, causing discomfort and dissatisfaction. In these cases, a reduction mammoplasty can be performed to reduce the size of the breasts. Most women who have a breast reduction have sagging breasts and enlarged areolas, so a breast lift and remodelling of the areolas are also part of the procedure.
Liposuction
Removing accumulated fat deposits in specific areas to improve body contour is the aim of liposuction. However, it is important that the skin in the area has good elasticity and allows adequate retraction to avoid sagging. Liposuction can be combined with a tummy tuck or performed on its own in various areas of the body, such as the abdomen, flanks, back, thighs, “bra cups”, “jowls”, “Venus flytrap”, etc.
Abdominoplasty
Apart from the breasts, the abdomen is naturally the part of the body most affected by motherhood. For this reason, the aim of abdominoplasty is to eliminate excess skin, reduce excess abdominal fat and correct the rectus muscles that have become separated and weakened. Abdominoplasty can be performed without liposuction, but this isn't the case most of the time - most women who have this procedure have accumulated fat and therefore have a lipoabdominoplasty.
Colporraphy
The aim of this surgery is to “tighten” the vaginal canal after the relaxation caused by vaginal childbirth. In other words, the aim is to return the muscles of the vaginal wall to their normal functions and benefit the couple's quality of life and intimacy.
Labioplasty
The hormonal changes inherent in pregnancy are responsible for causing hypertrophy of the vaginal lips in some women, which is characterised by excess skin and sagging in the labia minora. This problem causes physical and emotional embarrassment for women due to the prominence of the labia and can be corrected with labioplasty.
Other procedures
Always with the aim of improving body contour, there are other procedures that can be associated, such as increasing the volume of the buttocks with fat that has already been liposuctioned. It's a process that reuses the body's own fat to achieve a natural and long-lasting result, with a very low rate of complications, since it's autologous fat.
3D simulation from Mommy Makeover®
At your Mommy Makeover® appointment, photographs and body measurements will be taken and entered into Vectra 3D to create a three-dimensional image of the result you can achieve with procedures such as liposuction, abdominoplasty, breast augmentation and mastopexy, among others. Vectra is an innovative system that allows you to manage expectations and helps you make more informed decisions.
MOMMY's surgery
MAKEOVER® step-by-step
Marking the standing patient
The markings are made with the patient standing so that we can correctly visualise the areas to be treated.
Sedation
The sedative is administered intravenously by the anaesthetist who will be present throughout the surgery.
Disinfection and placement of surgical drapes
The areas to be treated are cleaned and disinfected to reduce the risk of infection. Operating drapes are placed to isolate the area to be treated from the external environment.
Local anaesthesia
The local or epidural anaesthetic is injected while the patient is asleep. The anaesthetic will keep you pain-free throughout the surgery.
Incisions
Incisions are made in the abdomen and breast according to previously planned techniques.
Closing the incisions
The incisions are closed by planes using absorbable thread. The result and symmetry are checked.
Surgical glue
The glue is applied to the scars so that they are isolated from the outside environment. The glue does not require dressings and gradually falls off after 15 days.
Recovery
Before being taken to the recovery room, the patient is fitted with a bra and girdle which must be worn for 30 to 45 days. The patient is woken up by the anaesthetist and then transported to the recovery room where she remains for 24 to 48 hours under observation until she is discharged.
Preparation for the Mommy Makeover®
Before surgery
- Do not take aspirin or other anticoagulant medicines as they can increase the risk of bleeding and interfere with the anaesthetic. You should inform the medical team of any medication you take or medical condition you suffer from.
- Don't smoke two weeks before and while healing is taking place, as nicotine consumption hinders healing.
- If you become ill or unwell in the days leading up to the surgery, you should inform the medical team immediately.
- Read the documentation you were given before the surgery carefully, as there may be some doubts.
- If you have young children, organise your routines in advance and you'll need help at home, especially during the first two weeks.
- Do you have any questions about the Mommy Makeover© surgery, pre- or post-surgery? Don't wait until the last day and ask all your questions in advance.
On the day of surgery
- The day before, you should eat light meals that don't cause indigestion. You should fast for 8 hours - do not eat or drink any liquid, including water.
- Bathe with the disinfectant gel the day before and the day of surgery.
- No accessories and no make-up or nail polish.
- Bring comfortable clothes to wear when you are discharged - preferably with buttons or zips.
- You will not be able to go home alone or drive. If you don't have someone to pick you up from the clinic or help you at home during the first few days, you must inform us before the day of the operation.
Post-surgery
- The recovery period depends on the extent of the procedures and the number of surgeries performed, but generally varies between 1 and 3 weeks.
- Rest mainly during the first week and gradually return to your routine. You shouldn't make any physical effort for four weeks, so family help at home is extremely important.
- Eat a balanced, healthy diet and keep well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
- Follow all the instructions given by the medical team in terms of taking medication and/or other care such as lymphatic drainage and wearing a compression garment.
Benefits of carrying out a Mommy Makeover®
Since a Mommy Makeover® involves more than surgery, there are several advantages associated with this concept:
- Several surgeries in a single operation;
- A single anaesthetic;
- Just a recovery period;
- Decrease in economic burdens;
- More “dramatic” body transformation;
- Better body contouring;
- Smoother, flatter abdomen;
- Neckline effect;
- Possibility of eliminating some stretch marks;
- Improved self-esteem and quality of life.
A woman's words
for women
“The fact that we are women and that we both have children means that we can identify with some of our patients' complaints. We can better understand what's bothering them and the impact these bodily changes have on their lives. We know that the goal of those who seek these interventions is to improve their body's appearance and self-esteem, but we encourage all women to invest in their physical and emotional well-being. Surgery is often the starting point for a healthier, more balanced life. Engaging in physical activity, eating a balanced diet and taking care of your body all contribute to maintaining long-term results and the emotional balance that is so important for our day-to-day lives.”.
Medical Specialists
About
Dr Alice Varanda Pereira / Plastic Surgery
DOCTORS' ASSOCIATION: registration no. 47051, specialist in Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and Subspecialist in Aesthetic and Cosmetic Medicine.
Licensed by Lisbon Medical School, It was at this institution that she took her Master's degree in Human Sexuality and is currently working on her PhD.
She has been a member of the faculty's teaching staff since 2008, as Assistant Professor at the Institute of Anatomy. It is in this unit that she produces most of her research projects, essentially in the area of surgical anatomy, and she is also the supervisor of master's theses.
About
Dr Mariana da Rocha Martins/ Plastic Surgery
DOCTORS' ASSOCIATION: registration no. 55124, specialising in Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
He graduated from Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Porto and completed his speciality in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the University Hospital Centre Lisboa Central - St Joseph's Hospital.
During his specific training in Plastic Surgery, he worked at internationally renowned institutions such as the Kaplan Institute (Barcelona), in La Clinic (Montreux) and Great Ormond Street Hospital (London).
About
Dr Marta Gouveia Duarte/ Plastic Surgery
DOCTORS' ASSOCIATION: registration no. 57817, specialising in Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Graduated in Medicine from School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, where she completed her Master's thesis in Human Ageing.
He completed his speciality in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central - Hospital de São José.
He collaborates in various research projects in NOVA Medical School.
About
Dr Sara Carvalho / Plastic Surgery
DOCTORS' ASSOCIATION: registration no. 60781, specialising in Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Licensed by Lisbon Medical School. He completed his speciality in Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery at the Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central - Hospital de São José.
She has taken various courses in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the breast and aesthetic surgery of the face.
She is currently a member of the clinical staff of the Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery service at the Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, where she excels in the areas of Breast Reconstruction, Body Contouring and Post-Bariatric Surgery, Paediatric Plastic Surgery, Trauma and Burn Surgery. She works as a hospital assistant, is a training supervisor and is responsible for Safe Surgery at the institution.
About
Dr Filipa Oliveira/ Plastic Surgery
DOCTORS' ASSOCIATION: registration no. 59147, specialising in Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Graduated in Medicine from Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, where she completed her master's thesis on paediatric scars.
She holds a doctorate in medicine from the University of Münster in Germany.
After completing her speciality, she became a Senior Graduate Assistant (Oberärztin) at the Fachklinik Hornheide and the University of Münster. She is currently collaborating on various research projects at the University of Münster, where she is supervising doctoral students. She is also a regular correspondent for scientific and leisure magazines in Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions about
Mommy Makeover®
Is it safe to carry out several procedures at the same time?
Yes, as well as being safe, it's also more convenient as it only involves a recovery period. However, to ensure the patient's safety, surgery should not take longer than 6 hours. It is also important that the combination of procedures does not compromise the patient's comfort and mobility.
How much does a Mommy Makeover® cost (in Lisbon or Porto)?
The price of a Mommy Makeover®, whether carried out in Lisbon or Porto, depends on the initial state of the body and the combination of procedures. After the diagnostic consultation, you will be presented with a treatment plan and the exact cost of the surgery.
Which procedure is best for me, liposuction or abdominoplasty?
Liposuction is indicated to treat localised fat. If, in addition to fat, you have sagging, excess skin and diastasis of the rectus abdominis, liposuction will not be enough to achieve a flat, firm abdomen. In this case, an abdominoplasty or lipoabdominoplasty will be necessary.
How long should I wait after becoming a mum to have the surgery?
Women must wait the necessary time for their bodies to recover. This varies from woman to woman, but is on average between 6 and 12 months. It is also important that you are no longer breastfeeding.
Are the results definitive?
The Mommy Makeover® does not guarantee lifelong results because the body is not immune to changes resulting from the natural ageing process, weight fluctuations and future pregnancies. To achieve long-lasting results, it is important to follow a healthy lifestyle - eating a balanced diet and taking regular exercise.
Can I be a mum again?
Ideally, these procedures should be carried out when no further pregnancies are being considered, not because there is any incompatibility with another pregnancy, but so that the body doesn't undergo the same changes and the results of the surgery aren't compromised.
Will the scars disappear?
The scars are permanent, but over time they become thinner and lighter in colour. The final appearance of the scars varies and is usually determined by each patient's genetic characteristics and post-operative care. The final result is expected after 12/18.
Will I need drains?
The use of drains is extremely important as they help to eliminate the fluids that accumulate after surgery. They are placed whenever necessary and are usually removed after 24/48 hours.
How painful is the recovery?
Recovery from breast surgery and liposuction is usually well tolerated. When it comes to abdominoplasty, discomfort varies and may require complete rest for the first two days. Prescribed painkillers will contribute to a more comfortable recovery.
When can I resume physical activity?
You shouldn't do any physical activity or exertion for the first month, but you can gradually return to exertion. All the precautions taken during this phase should be followed, as they not only contribute to a speedy recovery, but also to better results.
Are the results visible immediately after surgery?
The result is usually visible immediately after surgery. However, you will be swollen and bruised for some time, which can distort the result. The final result is usually visible after 6 to 12 months.
What are the recommended precautions before a Mommy Makeover?
Before a Mommy Makeover, it is essential to follow a series of preoperative precautions. This includes stopping taking certain medications or supplements that could increase the risk of complications. In addition, you will be prescribed medical examinations to assess your general health. It's important to maintain a stable weight, as recent significant changes in weight can jeopardise the results of the surgery. It is also essential to be mentally prepared for the surgery and to have realistic expectations of the outcome. During your initial medical consultation, you will receive all the specific guidelines according to your case.
Can I go back to breastfeeding after a Mommy Makeover?
The Mommy Makeover can affect the ability to breastfeed in the future, as it combines breast surgery with abdominal surgery in one operation. However, many women are able to breastfeed after surgery, depending on the extent of the procedures and the techniques used. During the pre-operative consultation, your doctor will discuss with you the possibilities and implications of surgery for breastfeeding, so that you can make an informed decision.
How long after Mommy Makeover surgery is it safe to get pregnant again?
There is no specific time frame, as the ability to get pregnant after a Mommy Makeover can vary from person to person. However, it is generally recommended to wait at least a year after surgery to allow for a full recovery before getting pregnant again. After this period, the body will have had time to recover and stabilise, minimising the risks associated with a subsequent pregnancy.
What specific post-operative care can help optimise results and recovery?
After a Mommy Makeover, post-operative care is essential to optimise recovery and the final result. This includes wearing compression garments to reduce swelling and keep the incisions in place, such as the post-surgical bra and compression girdle, as well as following the guidelines to avoid intense physical exertion. In addition, maintaining a balanced diet and adequate hydration is important to promote a healthy recovery. It's also crucial to follow your doctor's instructions for proper incision care and attend follow-up appointments to monitor healing and the progress of results after combined surgery. With proper post-operative care, the likelihood of achieving better results increases significantly.
Are there financing options or payment plans available to pay for a Mommy Makeover?
Having financing options to help patients manage the cost of surgery is often a crucial factor when choosing a plastic surgeon and the clinic where the Mommy Makeover is performed. At LMR, we have payment facilities to make it easier to pay for this surgery. Patients should be aware of the payment policies and requirements associated with these options at their initial consultation so that they can make informed decisions about financing their Mommy Makeover. For more information on payment facilities, please contact us via the contact form or by email - geral@lmrcirurgiaplastica.pt.
