Common Concerns Addressed by a Mommy Makeover
Patients at our La Jolla practice seek mommy makeover surgery when specific post-pregnancy changes have not responded to diet, exercise, or time.
Loose Abdominal Skin and Separated Muscles
Pregnancy stretches the abdominal skin and frequently separates the rectus abdominis muscles along the midline, a condition called diastasis recti. This separation can lead to a persistent bulge or protrusion that no amount of abdominal exercise can correct because the issue is structural. A tummy tuck repairs these separated muscles with internal sutures, while also removing excess skin and restoring a flatter, firmer abdomen.
Loss of Breast Volume and Shape
Breastfeeding and the hormonal shifts of pregnancy often leave the breasts deflated, drooping, or asymmetric. Depending on your goals, a breast augmentation can restore lost fullness, a breast lift can reposition and tighten sagging tissue and raise the nipple to a more youthful location, or the two can be combined for comprehensive improvement.
Stubborn Fat Deposits
Pregnancy-related weight gain often leaves behind fat deposits that resist even the most disciplined fitness routines. Common trouble spots include the flanks, hips, lower abdomen, arms, and thighs. Liposuction or Smartlipo can sculpt these areas and restore better proportions.
Changes to Breast Implants After Pregnancy
Women who had breast augmentation before pregnancy sometimes find that their implants look or feel different afterward. The surrounding tissue may have stretched, or the implant position may have shifted. A mommy makeover can include breast implant revision to address these changes.
“The physical demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding can leave lasting marks even on women who were in excellent shape beforehand,” notes Dr. Jeffrey Umansky. “A mommy makeover addresses these changes in a way that diet and exercise simply cannot.”
Am I a Candidate for a Mommy Makeover in San Diego?
Good candidates for mommy makeover surgery generally share the following characteristics:
- Are at or close to a healthy, stable weight, they can maintain
- Are in good overall health without conditions that could impair healing
- Do not use nicotine products or are willing to quit four weeks before and after the surgery
- Have realistic expectations about what the procedure can accomplish
Timing matters with a mommy makeover. Although these procedures won’t prevent you from having a successful pregnancy, a subsequent pregnancy can reverse the improvements achieved, particularly in the abdominal muscles and skin. This is why most surgeons recommend waiting until you are finished having children before undergoing mommy makeover surgery.
“I tell patients to wait at least six months after they stop breastfeeding before scheduling their mommy makeover,” explains Dr. William Umansky. “Your body needs time to stabilize, and your breast tissue needs to settle into its resting state so we can plan the most effective surgical approach.”
What Procedures Can Be Included in a Mommy Makeover?
Your mommy makeover at Umansky Plastic Surgery will be built around the procedures that best address your concerns.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Tummy tuck surgery is the cornerstone of most mommy makeovers. The procedure removes excess abdominal skin, eliminates fat from the lower belly, and repairs separated muscles to create a flatter, more toned midsection. Drs. Umansky frequently uses a drainless technique that simplifies recovery. Depending on the extent of correction needed, a full or mini tummy tuck may be recommended.
Breast Augmentation (Augmentation Mammaplasty)
For mothers who have lost breast volume, breast augmentation with implants can restore fullness and improve symmetry. Umansky Plastic Surgery offers saline, silicone, and “gummy bear” implant options from trusted manufacturers, including Allergan, Sientra, Mentor, and Motiva.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Breast lift surgery repositions sagging breast tissue and raises the nipple-areola complex to a more youthful position. This procedure is ideal for women whose breasts have dropped or lost their shape but who are satisfied with their overall size. Many patients combine a breast lift with augmentation for improved fullness and projection.
Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammaplasty)
Some women experience increased breast size after pregnancy, which can cause back pain, neck strain, and difficulty exercising. A breast reduction removes excess tissue and also lifts the breasts to create a more proportionate, comfortable breast size.
Liposuction (Lipoplasty)
Liposuction refines areas where stubborn fat persists despite a healthy lifestyle. It permanently targets and removes fat from nearly any area of the body, including the thighs, abdomen, hips, arms, and back, to create more slender contours. When performed alongside a tummy tuck, liposuction can sculpt the waist, flanks, and hips for more harmonious contours in these areas.
Additional Procedures
Your mommy makeover is not limited to the procedures listed above. Some patients also include vaginal rejuvenation to address changes caused by childbirth, or nonsurgical treatments like Botox and dermal fillers to refresh the face. Fat removed during liposuction can also be purified and transferred to the buttocks through a Brazilian butt lift for patients who desire added volume in that area. Your surgeon will discuss the right combination for your goals.
The Mommy Makeover Consultation Process
Your consultation at Umansky Plastic Surgery is where your surgical plan starts to take shape. Dr. William Umansky or Dr. Jeffrey Umansky will examine the areas that concern you, assess your skin quality and muscle tone, and discuss which combination of procedures would address your goals most effectively. Viewing before-and-after photos of previous patients can give you a clearer sense of what to expect.
You will also receive detailed information about costs, as mommy makeover pricing depends on which procedures are included. We offer financing options to help make your surgery more accessible.
What to Expect During Mommy Makeover Surgery
Mommy makeover surgery takes place at our accredited surgical facility in La Jolla under general anesthesia. Most mommy makeovers take about three to five hours, though more extensive combinations may require additional time.
Your plastic surgeon performs each component in a carefully sequenced order. After all corrections are complete, incisions are closed with layered sutures, compression garments are applied, and you are moved to a recovery area. Patients go home the same day with a responsible adult to assist them.
Mommy Makeover Recovery and Aftercare
Because a mommy makeover combines multiple procedures, recovery requires more patience than a single surgery would. Arrangements for help with childcare, household tasks, and driving for the first week are recommended.
The First Two Weeks
Plan to take one to two weeks away from work, depending on the procedures to be performed. Moderate soreness, swelling, and bruising are normal during the initial days and can be managed with prescribed pain medication. Walking short distances is encouraged starting the evening of your surgery to promote circulation. Avoid lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds during this phase, which means no picking up young children.
Compression Garments
Initially, you will wear a compression garment over your abdomen and a supportive surgical bra to minimize swelling and support your healing tissues. The duration of garment use will vary depending on how you are healing, but is usually for at least three to four weeks
Returning to Exercise and Full Activity
Light activities can resume after approximately two weeks. More vigorous exercise, including core workouts and heavy lifting, usually will require four to six weeks, depending on the exact procedures performed. Your surgeon will provide specific guidance based on the procedures undergone and your recovery progress.
“Recovery from a mommy makeover does take longer than recovery from a single procedure, but most patients feel the trade-off is worth it,” notes Dr. Jeffrey Umansky. “One recovery period instead of two or three separate ones means less total downtime overall.”
Mommy Makeover Results
You will see changes in your body shape immediately after surgery, though swelling will initially mask the full extent of your results. Over the following weeks, your new contours will become increasingly visible. Final results typically start to emerge around four to six months post-surgery, once residual swelling has resolved and the tissues have settled.
How Long Do Mommy Makeover Results Last?
The improvements achieved through a mommy makeover are designed to be long-lasting. Skin and fat removed during surgery are permanently gone, and repaired abdominal muscles remain intact with proper care. Maintaining a stable weight is the most important factor in preserving your results, as significant weight fluctuations can stretch the skin and expand remaining fat cells.
Why Choose Umansky Plastic Surgery for Your Mommy Makeover in San Diego?
A mommy makeover requires a surgeon skilled across multiple surgical disciplines. Dr. William Umansky and Dr. Jeffrey Umansky have each dedicated their careers to mastering these procedures and have performed thousands of these types of procedures. Their patients have recognized their caring natures by ranking them among America’s Most Compassionate Surgeons on Vitals MD.
Dr. William Umansky was selected by his physician peers as one of San Diego’s Physicians of Exceptional Excellence. Dr. Jeffrey Umansky completed a cosmetic and aesthetic fellowship with Harvard professors, bringing advanced training in body contouring and breast procedures to every mommy makeover he performs.
Our accredited surgical facility in La Jolla meets the highest safety standards, and our team provides support from consultation through your final follow-up. Patients consistently praise the warmth, attentiveness, and exceptional results they experience at Umansky Plastic Surgery.
For patients traveling from outside San Diego, our out-of-town patient services can help coordinate your visit.
