What is a mummy makeover?
Many women after pregnancies find that despite their best efforts, parts of their bodies are damaged by the stretching, engorgement and deflation that pregnancy can cause. If these women find that their body doesn’t return to an acceptable state a year or more after their last pregnancy, mummy makeover surgery may assist.
A mummy makeover helps reverse some of the effects motherhood can have on a woman’s body. Repair of this damage in one operation with several procedures done at the same time has become possible due to better anaesthetic and surgical techniques.
Mummy makeover surgery can include:
- Tummy tuck
- Breast augmentation
- Breast lift
- Breast reduction
- Liposuction
- Labiaplasty
- Brazilian butt lift
Non-surgical treatments including Botox and dermal fillers may also be used. Mummy Makeover surgery is an all-inclusive, custom-designed cosmetic improvement that can cater to your unique individual needs.
Mummy Makeover surgery can restore the youthful look of your breasts, bring back your pre-pregnancy figure, and reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles on your face.
Who is mummy makeover surgery for?
Women who are most suitable for mummy makeover surgery are fit, of an appropriate weight and in good health. Because more than one procedure is performed during a mummy makeover, the surgery is often long. It is very important that you have realistic expectations about the results of mummy makeover surgery.
Mummy makeover surgery may be appropriate for you if you want to:
- Boost your self-esteem and self-confidence
- Reduce the signs of age, stress, and fatigue in your face
- Have larger and more shapelier breasts
- Restore the volume of your breasts after pregnancy and breast feeding
- Have a flatter and tighter abdomen
- Improve your body proportion
- Look better in tight fitting, revealing clothes and swimwear.
Is a mummy makeover right for me?
A mummy makeover can help reverse some of the effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding on a woman’s body by restoring lift and volume to the breasts and flattening the stomach. It isn’t a replacement for a healthy diet or regular exercise and is not a weight loss solution.
Weight loss is best achieved through diet and exercise. Mummy makeover surgery should be the final step in your weight loss journey. Before having surgery, many Cosmetic Surgeon’s recommend that you reach and maintain your ideal weight for at least 3 months.
Like all cosmetic surgery, a mummy makeover cannot change external problems in your life. It will not stop life changing events like relationship breakdowns or divorce from happening. However, when you feel better about yourself, you may find positive changes do occur.
What are the benefits of having mummy makeover surgery?
Women who have had mummy makeover surgery report physical, psychological and emotional benefits. They also report improved self-confidence and self-esteem. After pregnancy and giving birth, many women can experience psychological effects about their body that include:
- Loss of sexual drive
- Feelings of embarrassment, especially when in front of their partner and undressing
- Depression and lack of motivation
- Relationship problems
- Social withdrawal
- Loss of confidence
- Lack of desire to maintain appearance
A good diet and exercise may not be enough to get rid of the excess, sagging skin and loosened abdominal muscles after your pregnancy. However, maintaining a good diet and regular exercise to achieve your ideal weight is important. This can make your mummy makeover surgery recovery a lot easier.
It’s vital to note that mummy makeover surgery should not be relied upon to improve your self-esteem and confidence. However, women who have had mummy makeover surgery have reported positive side effects including:
- Less embarrassment about their bodies
- Decreased frustration about being able to fit into their clothes
- Improved confidence at being able to wear the clothes they really want to wear.
What is the best way to prepare for a mummy makeover?
Your recovery after mummy makeover surgery will include extensive downtime. It’s very important that you prepare to rest and take it easy. During the few weeks of recovery, you’ll need help with childcare including bathing, getting your child into the car and highchairs.
Before the day of your mummy makeover surgery, assemble everything you may need during recovery. A few things you may want to have include:
- Compression garments,
- Pain medications,
- A stool softener, and
- Healthy, simple foods.
It’s a good idea to have someone stay with you for the first few days to help with your personal, medical, childcare and household needs.
What are the specific risks and complications of mummy makeover surgery?
Mummy makeover surgery has inherent risks that should be discussed in advance with your Cosmetic Surgeon. These risks and complications include:
- Infection,
- Bleeding,
- Hematoma,
- Scarring,
- Capsular contraction,
- Implant rupture,
- Reaction to anaesthesia,
- Fluid forming under the skin forming a seroma.
Should I wait until I’ve had all my children before I have a mummy makeover?
For the best results, many doctors will recommend that women wait to have a mummy makeover until after they’ve had all their children. In instances where women have a mummy makeover and get pregnant again, some of the benefits of the mummy makeover surgery are reversed.
What happens during mummy makeover surgery?
Most mummy makeovers combine tummy tuck operations, breast operations and even additional areas of liposuction together in one operation. The operations can be a tummy tuck, body lift, breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, and liposuction. Occasionally thigh or arm reductions are also performed.
Mummy makeover tummy tuck
When diet and exercise don’t give you the results that you want, a surgical procedure like a tummy tuck may be your best option.
Tummy tuck surgery (also called abdominoplasty) permanently removes any loose skin and restores firmness to the stomach. An incision is made at the pubic bone (your scar, once healed, will be concealed by bathing suits and underwear) through which your plastic surgeon will tighten up the muscles.
During the procedure, small pockets of fat can be removed using liposuction.
Depending on the extent of your post-pregnancy concerns, there are a variety of tummy tuck procedures to consider including:
- Standard abdominoplasty
- Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty
- Mini abdominoplasty
- Lower body lift or belt lipectomy
- Endoscopic abdominoplasty
Mummy makeover – breast enhancement
Many women find that their breasts lose tissue or sag after pregnancy and breast-feeding. This happens because the breast tissue is affected by hormonal changes. Breasts can be augmented with implants and/or a breast lift. This will restore the size and shape of the breasts and make them fuller.
Types of Breast Enhancements
A breast lift can help sagging breasts or breasts that have lost volume. If you’re content with the size of your breasts but want them to sit a little higher, a breast lift may be the best surgical solution. A breast lift reduces the excess skin and remodels the breast tissue so it assumes a higher position.
In some cases though, a breast lift may not be the best solution. Breast lift surgery can leave behind more scarring than breast augmentation does. If scarring is going to be of concern, having breast implants may be a better option for you.
Breast implants can be inserted either behind the breast tissue, or partially or completely under the chest muscles. Incisions are made to keep scars as inconspicuous as possible, usually under the breast, around the lower part of the areola, or in the armpit.
When breast implants are inserted during the breast reconstruction process, tissue expanders are used to stretch healthy skin in order to provide coverage for a breast implant. Breast implants are manufactured in a variety of shapes, sizes, and with either smooth or textured surfaces. The method of implant selection and size, along with surgical approach for inserting and positioning breast implants will depend on your preferences, your anatomy and your surgeon's recommendation. The shape and size of your breasts prior to surgery will influence both the recommended treatment and the final results.
Mummy makeover – stretch mark removal
Why do stretch marks appear?
During pregnancy, weight gain and weight loss, your skin can be stretched more rapidly than it would normally. This rapid stretching causes the collagen to break down and weaken.
While stretch marks can appear almost anywhere on the body, during pregnancy they usually develop on the breasts, thighs, stomach, hips and butt during.
How to treat stretch marks
Laser skin resurfacing can help reduce stretch marks but will not eliminate them. If your stretch marks are below your belly button, your Cosmetic Surgeon will be able to cut them out. If they are above your belly button, they can be repositioned further down your abdomen.
Who should consider mummy makeover surgery?
Women who consider getting mummy makeover surgery want to restore the look of their pre-pregnancy bodies. Before you have mummy makeover surgery, it is generally recommended that you let your body heal for 3 to 6 months after delivery. It is also recommended that you have stopped breastfeeding.
It is important to note that while the tummy tuck will leave you with a flatter, tighter stomach and may remove some stretch marks, you won’t lose weight.
Your stomach should remain flatter and firmer for years, unless you have a significant weight change or become pregnant again. While breast implants last a long time, it’s important to monitor the status of your implants on a regular basis.
Who should not consider mummy makeover surgery?
If you haven’t finished having children, it may be best to delay mummy makeover surgery until you have. No Cosmetic Surgeon can guarantee the results of mummy makeover surgery will be retained with additional pregnancies
What is recovery like after mummy makeover surgery?
It is important to note that the time it takes to recover from mummy makeover surgery will vary greatly among individuals. Your recovery time will depend on the extent of your surgeries and your physical health. Some people can return to non-strenuous work within two to three weeks of surgery. In many cases, normal activities can be resumed after several weeks.
Your surgeon will give you post operative instructions that will include:
- How to take care of your drains,
- The type of compression garments you will need to wear,
- Pain medication, and
- The types of activities you need to avoid.
While most of the swelling will be gone after several weeks, it may take a few months before all swelling subsides. Once the swelling has subsided you will be able to see the final result of your mummy makeover surgery.
The best way to choose a mummy makeover Surgeon
It’s important to consider your options carefully and have realistic expectations about the mummy makeover results. While this surgery is usually safe and effective, complications can occur. Knowing about the risks and complications of mummy makeover surgery is vital. We suggest you make a shortlist and consult with a few Cosmetic Surgeons. You can find the best Australian Mummy Makeover surgeons here.
Key facts
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Good mummy makeover candidates are close to a maintainable weight for their body and lifestyle.
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Mummy makeovers are getting more popular and for the right person, they are quite safe. If you are overweight, unfit, or have other medical conditions, it may not be safe for you to have a mummy makeover.
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If you smoke, you’ll need to stop smoking for at least six weeks before and after surgery, as tobacco smoking and nicotine impair healing.
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When it is medically safe to do so, mummy makeover surgery that combines procedures may make sense financially and for your recovery.
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Mummy makeovers are popular with women who have loose or droopy skin around the stomach that hasn’t responded to diet or exercise.
Important to know
So you can make an informed decision, your elected surgeon will discuss the possible risks associated with a mummy makeover. Although the majority of patients do not experience these complications, it's important to understand how they can be managed in the event that they occur.
