Mom Makeover: Your Guide to Post-Pregnancy Plastic Surgery

Liposuction, breast augmentations, tummy tucks, and breast lifts ranked among the most-performed cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States in 2024, and together they form the core of what's commonly called a mommy makeover. But getting surgery is not something you want to take lightly. Choosing the right combination of treatments and the right surgeon makes all the difference in the type of results you get in the end.

Continue reading to get answers to the top questions women ask before booking a mommy makeover consultation, including which procedures fit your goals, who makes a good candidate, what recovery looks like, and how to choose one of the leading women’s plastic surgeons in Bloomfield Hills for minimally invasive techniques and natural-looking results.

What Procedures Can be Included in a Mommy Makeover?

The term mommy makeover is shorthand for a combination of cosmetic procedures done in a single operation. The mix is built around your specific concerns, though most plans include: 

• A tummy tuck to remove loose belly skin and tighten the abdominal muscles that separated during pregnancy
• Breast surgery to lift, reduce, or add volume to breasts that have changed shape after nursing
• Liposuction that can target stubborn fat in places like the hips, flanks, or upper back that won't budge with exercise

Some women also choose to add labiaplasty, arm contouring, or non-surgical treatments like Botox, depending on what they want addressed. 

The biggest benefit to getting a mommy makeover is that you can address multiple cosmetic issues within a single surgery and a single recovery period, which means going under anesthesia once and taking time off work once instead of stringing surgeries out over several years.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?

Most surgeons agree on a few markers for being a strong candidate for post-pregnancy plastic surgery. You should: 

• Be in good general health and ideally be finished having children
• Have a relatively stable weight, which reduces the chance of undoing the work
• Wait at least six months after giving birth, and longer if you're still breastfeeding

None of these rules is about discouraging you. They're about timing the surgery so the results actually last.

Mommy Makeover Recovery Time: What to Expect Week by Week

Recovery after a mommy makeover is the part most women worry about, and rightfully so. Planning for how long you will need help around the house, or can’t pick up your toddler, is something that needs to be prepared for well in advance. Here’s what you can expect week by week: 

• The first week is the hardest, with swelling, bruising, and discomfort managed by prescribed pain medication, especially if you had a tummy tuck. You'll likely sleep propped up on pillows for several days, walk hunched over for a few days, and need something else to handle tasks around the house. 
• Plan on two to three weeks before you feel ready to return to a desk job, and roughly six weeks before you can lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk or work out again. 

Even after six weeks, you're still healing on the inside. Swelling can linger for weeks or months, and your final results may not be noticeable until close to a year after surgery as scars soften and tissues settle. Things you can do to prepare for surgery recovery include: 

• Setting up childcare ahead of time
• Stocking the freezer with easy meals and snacks
• Accept that you will not bounce back the way social media makes it look

What Are the Risks of Getting a Mommy Makeover?

Every surgery carries risk, and combining procedures into one operation adds a small amount on top of what each surgery would carry alone. The most common complications include:

• Infection at the surgical incision site
• Bleeding
• Scarring
• Anesthesia complications
• Asymmetry between the two sides after a breast augmentation

Anesthesia itself comes with rare but serious risks, especially for women with underlying health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Scarring is to be expected because the surgeon has to make incisions to remove and reshape tissue, but choosing a highly skilled plastic surgeon who places those incisions in concealed areas whenever possible helps. When this is done, the lines fade over time from red to pale silver over the first year or two. You can help your scars heal flatter by not smoking, staying out of direct sun, using silicone sheets or gel once the wounds close, and following your aftercare instructions exactly. 

Where to Find One of the Best Plastic Surgeons in Bloomfield Hills for a Mommy Makeover

Choosing your plastic surgeon matters more than choosing the procedures. You need a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and who performs mommy makeovers regularly. At Stella Plastic Surgery, mommy makeovers are one of many surgical procedures we excel at. We understand that surgery is a huge commitment, which is why we’re dedicated to making sure you understand everything before your procedure day, and feel 100% comfortable with your surgeon and your treatment plan. 

As a board-certified plastic surgeon who trained at the University of Michigan, Tufts University School of Medicine, UC Irvine for her plastic surgery residency, and UCSF for an advanced fellowship in microvascular surgery, Dr. Maristella Evangelista is known as one of the best plastic surgeons for women’s procedures in Bloomfield Hills. Dr. Evangelista leads our expert team with three specific goals in mind: A patient-centered approach to care, precision accuracy, and personalized treatments. 

Ready to start feeling like yourself again with help from one of the best mommy makeover surgeons in Bloomfield Hills?