Real Talk: So You Want to Get A Mommy Makeover?

When the people from The Center for Plastic Surgery reached out about writing a mommy makeover post, I distinctly remember thinking, “OMG!!! FINALLY!”

Finally someone was going to make all of my blogging super star dreams come true and give me a tummy tuck and a boob job to review!

When I came to my senses and realized that actually wasn’t going to happen, I did a lot of soul searching about whether or not that was even something I’d want to happen.

Would I want to go under the knife for an entirely elective surgery? What if there were complications? What if I died?! Do I want my kids to grow up to marry a chick famous for a sex tape and be egotistical jerks who write rap songs about their beloved mother who passed away while getting a boob job?!

Well, when you break down like that, no, not really.

But, to give you some insight about where my initial excitement came from, here’s the truth: I’ve spent a lot of time feeling unhappy with my current body composition. I can make you a list if you want, but when it comes right down to it, more than anything, I’m frustrated. I work out three times a week, I watch what I eat, and the results I get in the midsection area are negligible (truth: my medical doctor informed me I can work out until I’m dead and it won’t budge). Plus, I’ve nursed three babies for about 4 years total, and my back hordes fat like a pregnant piglet.

So I can’t lie and say that getting some cosmetic procedures to fix some of my more aggressive problem areas hasn’t crossed my mind. I’m just not in a place where I need that enough to make it happen. The investment in time, money fear, pain, and judgment from others who don’t think I should feel how I feel (note to judgers: women with body insecurities don’t need you to tell them they shouldn’t have body insecurities; they already know that and they want it to go away, but you shaming them over their shame is counterproductive.) make it something I can’t see in my personal future at this time.

But for others, I get it. I know the struggle and I feel you. I’m not here to judge you for wanting something different, I’m not here to tell you how you should feel about your body, I’m just here to give you some information.

Free of charge.

Because I love you.

Today’s real talk is being brought to you by Dr. Rao and The Center for Plastic Surgery. He is a surgeon with a ton of street cred and experience in helping people achieve the results they want with their bodies. But they aren’t just into the slicing and dicing thing, they do a whole host of procedures, from Botox to laser peels and general facials, to help women (and men) feel good and look good. And he’s got all of the answers for this month’s Real Talk.

Real Talk: Everything You Really Need to Know Before You Get A Mommy Makeover

Ok doc, first things first, what exactly is a “mommy makeover”?

A “mommy makeover” is a customized set of procedures and treatments that specifically target concerns that many mothers have. These typically include post-pregnancy sagging of the breasts or stomach, deposits of fat that won’t respond to diet or exercise, loss of volume in the breasts, and changes in the skin. But it isn’t just cosmetic—did you know that pregnancy can result in a permanent separation of the abdominal muscles? This not only makes tightening the area up through exercise difficult, it can also lead to pain. Weakened or separated abdominal muscles can only be corrected surgically through tummy tuck surgery.

Ahh, so basically exactly all of the things I have! No wonder I want one. Only, sadly, it’s not in my budget. Let’s get that out of the way right up front, how much cash are we talking here?

They can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $22,000. The financial investment will vary based on which procedures are needed or chosen.

Sigh. Like I thought, not in my budget. But, what if I could get only one thing instead of a whole host of things. What would you recommend? Like, what is usually the most beneficial?

The most beneficial procedures in a mommy makeover are typically breast lift, with or without augmentation, and tummy tuck surgery. This is because the breasts and abdomen are the most affected during pregnancy. After pregnancy and breastfeeding, most mothers’ breasts return to their natural size, but the impact of the size fluctuation has remained. Breast sagging or loss of breast volume can be easily corrected. The same goes for the abdomen. Even when you’ve reached your pre-baby weight, droopy or excess tummy skin can be impossible to get rid of without surgery.

And the results are significant?

You can check out the before and after photos here: Plastic surgery before and after photos.

And how much pain are we talking about? I don’t really dig pain.

Well, it is surgery and some pain is to be expected. Discomfort typically peaks within 2 – 4 days, but most patients are up off of the couch or bed in just a day or two for very light activity. Generally, an oral pain medication is prescribed to help manage discomfort. Also, to repeat, this depends largely on which procedures are chosen, how severe the concerns are that need to be addressed, and, of course, the personal pain threshold of the unique patient. For instance, a mother of twins undergoing a tummy tuck will likely experience more discomfort than another mother just having a breast lift with augmentation.

So, it hurts then. Uncool. What about the risk involved? Everyone knows about Kanye’s mama…

Surgery of any kind is risky and comes with the possibility of wound healing problems, hematoma, and infection. But when performed by a qualified, board certified plastic surgeon, the mommy makeover procedures are very safe and the complication rate is low—even when multiple procedures are performed at the same time. It’s important that a patient is in general good health and at a stable body weight to avoid unnecessary complications with the surgery itself or subsequent recovery period. There are certain factors that increase risk, such as smoking, health conditions like diabetes, and obesity, but being honest with your surgeon about your health history, lifestyle habits, and any medications or supplements you take can help ensure a safe, successful outcome.

And for those of us who can’t manage the whole makeover thing but still want to change some things about our appearances, what other procedures or treatments are out there for us?

CoolSculpting is a great option for reducing excess fat on the abdomen and thighs without surgery, needles, or downtime. Results are permanent and appear gradually over the course of 90 days. I’ve even had the treatment myself and am definitely happy with the results! Unfortunately, a big issue moms have is with lax skin and sagging. Simply removing fat in the area will not help this and, in fact, can make the skin appear even looser. ThermiTight is a minimally invasive skin tightening procedure that can provide great results with combined with fat reduction. Of course, these treatments will not provide as noticeable an improvement as their surgical counterparts.

If you still have questions feel free to reach out to me and I will shake Dr. Rao down for some more answers. Or you can reach out to them directly via their site: The Centers for Plastic Surgery

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post brought to you on behalf of Dr. Rao and The Centers for Plastic Surgery. All saggy lady bits and opinions are my own.