Mommy Makeover Surgery Dos and Don’ts
Posted May 04, 2016 in Practice News
Having children and being a mother is a blessing. Watching your children learn and grow every day is an almost magical experience. However, having children can permanently alter your body in ways that aren’t flattering. Belly fat, wider hips, sagging skin, and flattened breasts are all hazards of childbearing and breast feeding. If you are a mother who struggles with your self-image, remember that it’s very common for a woman to love her children and family while feeling uncomfortable with her post-baby body.
The good news is that there is a solution for women who want to recreate their pre-baby bodies: the mommy makeover. Mommy makeovers are customized with multiple plastic surgery procedures that target the trouble areas of women who are done having babies. Mommy makeovers often include a tummy tuck and liposuction to achieve a contoured shape and narrow waistline, and a breast lift or breast augmentation to return the breasts to their full and perky state. While this may sound extreme, according to a survey from RealSelf, 98% of mommy makeover patients say that they feel happier overall after surgery.
Because mommy makeovers entail multiple surgical procedures, the importance of proper planning cannot be understated. Follow these dos and don’ts to prepare for your mommy makeover procedure:
Before Mommy Makeover Surgery
DO talk to your partner and children about your decision to have a mommy makeover. Allow them to ask questions and give them honest replies to show that you’re making an informed decision. Having the buy-in and support of your family will make it easier to go through with the surgery.
DON’T try to hide your mommy makeover from your partner or children. You will need their help and cooperation during the recovery period, which may last as long as three weeks. Besides, how could you keep your amazing results secret from them?
DO quit smoking before your mommy makeover. Nicotine can impair the healing process and cause premature aging.
DO fill your prescriptions before your surgery. This includes pain pills that you will take while you recover, and normal prescriptions that you take on a regular basis. You may also want to inquire about a stool softener, as anesthesia can cause constipation. Talk to your pharmacists to ensure that all of your regular prescriptions can be taken with pain pills.
DO ask for time off of work well in advance. Most women recommend taking three weeks off, if possible. Follow the treatment plan created for you by your plastic surgeon in order to better understand how much recuperation time you will need.
DO cross as much off of your to-do list as possible before your surgery. Do your house cleaning, grocery shopping, and bill paying before your surgery so that you can enjoy a stress-free recovery.
DO schedule childcare for the recovery period. Whether you depend on your spouse, parents, nanny, or a daycare provider for childcare, ensure that there’s someone to watch your children for the first week or two of your recovery period.
DON’T forget that you will also need someone to watch you the first couple of days of your recovery. You will be under the influence of anesthesia and pain medications the first couple of days, so make sure someone’s there to help you use the restroom, walk, eat, and take your pain medication.
DO prepare a recovery station. Decide where you would like to recover after your mommy makeover surgery and set up the space with sheets, pillows, blankets, books, and medical supplies like gauze and compression garments.
After Mommy Makeover Surgery
DO take it easy. After spending a couple of days in bed, you will naturally want to get up and help around the house. Resist this urge! Bedrest is necessary for your health and safety. Follow your surgeon’s recovery instructions carefully and don’t be afraid to ask your family for help.
DON’T return to your normal activities without your plastic surgeon’s approval. Although you may start feeling like yourself a few days after surgery, your body still hasn’t recovered enough to resume normal activities. Follow your surgeon’s recovery plan and talk to your plastic surgeon if you feel that you are recovering “ahead of deadline.”
DO be prepared for pain during the recovery period. Meet pain head-on with a pain treatment plan and someone who can remind you when to take your pain meds. Compression garments can also be worn to reduce pain and swelling.
DO call your surgeon with questions and concerns. If you have any questions or encounter any surprises during the recovery period, don’t hesitate to reach out to your plastic surgeon. They will be able to help you understand what’s normal, and what’s not.
DON’T be surprised by your mixed emotions during the recovery period. Recovering from a major surgery can have an impact on your mind as well as your body. Keep in mind that it’s perfectly normal to cry, feel elated, goofy, or even angry after surgery. Some of these feelings are symptoms of being on or withdrawing from anesthesia and pain medications.
DON’T get frustrated waiting for results. Your body will most likely be swollen, scarred, and bruised during the recovery period. It will take months to see the full results of your mommy makeover surgery, and years for the scars to heal completely. The transformation may be slow, but before and after pictures are a great way to gauge your full results!
DO go to all of your post-operative appointments. It’s important that you meet with your plastic surgeon in order to ensure that you are healing properly. These appointments are necessary for preventing infection and troubleshooting anything that would impair your recovery and results.
Mommy makeover surgery is a big commitment, but with careful planning it can bring you one step closer to “having it all”: awesome kids and a desirable body.
As a mother of four, Dr. Talbott fully understands the changes women’s bodies undergo during pregnancy. She also knows that while you may be a mommy, you are still your own person! Contact Talbott Plastic Surgery Center to schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. Talbott today!
