When is the Right Time for a Mommy Makeover?
Mommy Makeover is a term that has become popular in the last few years but is often misunderstood. Most patients think of it as a specific surgical procedure but it is not. Mommy Makeover simply refers to some type of surgery to the breasts and the abdomen to correct changes that occur after one or more pregnancies. Mommy Makeover is most commonly a Breast Augmentation and Tummy Tuck but could also include a Breast Lift or refer only to a Breast Lift plus Liposuction of the abdomen and waist, or any combination of the above.
While it is possible to have one or more pregnancies after a Mommy Makeover and for the pregnancies to be perfectly normal, we know the pregnancies are going to cause changes to the woman’s breasts and abdomen that may take away some of the benefits of the Mommy Makeover. For that reason it is recommended women be done with their pregnancies before undergoing any of the Mommy Makeover procedures they may desire.
Once the baby is born the tummy and breast tissues in a non-breast feeding mother will change for several months and most surgeons do not want to do any of the Mommy Makeover procedures for at least 6 months.
For a woman who wants to breast feed the new baby most surgeons will want to hold off on any breast surgery for at least 4 months after breast feeding has ceased.
The question sometimes arises regarding whether or not to do the Tummy Tuck early and then the Breast Surgery later if a woman wants to breast feed for some longer period. Of course it is okay to separate the surgeries but the popularity of the Mommy Makeover has a lot to do with its economy. It is considerable less expensive to bundle surgeries as opposed to doing one procedure now and another at a later date. It also means you will only need to plan time for one recovery period, instead of two, which is often important as mothers are very busy with young children and possibly their career.
If you’re interested in speaking with Dr. DeMars to understand the best timing for you, please contact us to set up a consultation at our office in Portland, Oregon!