No doubt, being a mother is extremely rewarding and satisfying. But pregnancy and breastfeeding do bring about several changes to a mother’s body, such as droopy, deflated breasts and loose, sagging bellies. That’s why some consider having a Mummy Makeover to restore their figure, but they often wonder when the best time is to get one.
WHAT IS A MUMMY MAKEOVER?
A Mummy Makeover is a combination of body sculpting procedures designed to revitalize a mother’s body. In some cases, it enhances the figure to an even better physique than they have always struggled to achieve. The combination of treatments generally consists of tightening the abdomen with an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and restoring the youthful perk of the breasts with a breast lift and breast augmentation to achieve a fuller and firmer breast shape.
There are many more treatment procedures for a Mummy Makeover. Click here to find out.
While there are many guidelines available to help mothers determine their ideal timing for a Mummy Makeover, I will always urge mothers to wait at least 4 to 6 months after giving birth. It is to encourage mummies to spend the needed quality time with their newborn, as well as to give both mum and baby enough time to bond, recover, and stabilize. If after the recovery period, they still are unhappy with their body, and exercise and diet aren’t helping, a Mummy Makeover can help rejuvenate their bodies.
There are still some simple guidelines to help mummies understand the rationale behind specific timings for a Mummy Makeover:
1. BODY WEIGHT
One of the most important factors to consider before having a Mummy Makeover is stabilizing the mother’s body weight. As plastic surgery is not a weight-loss procedure, mummies should wait until they have reached their ideal weight before having a Mummy Makeover (usually about 4-6 months). A healthy diet and an exercise routine is the best solution to initiate weight loss. After achieving their ideal weight, mummies should ensure their weight goal is stabilized. It’s an indication of recovery from the stresses of pregnancy and childbirth.
While exercise and dieting will help with weight loss, a mother’s body will be bound to carry a few excess areas of loose skin and post-pregnancy weight. That is when I will step in with abdominoplasty and/or liposuction to restore the pre-pregnancy body. If there is a presence of diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles), I can also fix that during the abdominoplasty procedure.
**INSURANCE COVERAGE
The cost incurred from the treatment of diastasis recti may be eligible for insurance claims. Insurance criteria for approval for surgery vary from insurance company to insurance company. Contact your insurance company for specific details, criteria, and eligibility requirements for insurance claims.
2. BREASTFEEDING
The next factor to consider before a Mummy Makeover is to wait until the cessation of breastfeeding for at least 6 months. This is particularly important for breast procedures such as breast augmentation with implants or with fat grafting and breast lift.
As the breasts undergo significant changes with pregnancy and breastfeeding, resulting in breast enlargement, waiting until the mother has finished breastfeeding will allow the breasts to stabilize in shape and size. This makes a much more accurate assessment during the consultation.
After plastic surgery on the breast, the mother will still be able to breastfeed if she has more children in the future. The ability to breastfeed depends on the type of incision used during the surgery. Hence, I urge patients to discuss their wish to breastfeed with their plastic surgeons before the procedure. Note that additional pregnancies may further change the breast surgery results and reduce their fullness.
3. FUTURE PREGNANCIES
Most of the procedures in the Mummy Makeover, except for abdominoplasty, can be done even with future pregnancies planned. Liposuction, breast procedures, facial rejuvenation, and even vaginal rejuvenation are great to help maintain mummies’ figures, even after giving birth later on. Such procedures do not have many restrictions and have proven to boost self-confidence.
On the other hand, I will encourage mothers considering abdominoplasty to wait until they are done with having children. The main reason is to ensure that the mother’s physique does not change with future pregnancies so that the results of the Mummy Makeover are permanent. As an abdominoplasty involves removing excess, loose, and stretched-out abdominal skin and fat in the belly, being pregnant again (especially with twins) might partially affect the results, although to a smaller extent.
That said, even if a woman does get pregnant after the abdominoplasty procedure, it will not affect the pregnancy process and the breastfeeding process.
Additionally, a woman should also wait until they have childcare and support available before proceeding with a Mummy Makeover, as the recovery does take a while. It is not the right time as it will be inconvenient for these mums if they have to take care of the baby with some restrictions.
If you are a mother who meets all of the above criteria and is interested in having a Mummy Makeover, I can assure you that it will be one of the most rewarding surgeries you will ever do. My patients emerge more confident and with better self-esteem. Their overall happiness soars!
To learn more about Mummy Makeovers, do contact us at:
Dr Marco Faria-Correa Plastic Surgery
Tel: +65 64648075
E-mail: enquiry@drmarco.com
Web: www.drmarco.com
Disclaimer: The information contained in this post is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your plastic surgeon or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment. Always speak to your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a procedure.
