INTRODUCTION
A “mommy makeover” describes simultaneous cosmetic surgery of the breasts and body in women who have had children. Often the breasts have been stretched and become saggy. Frequently there is a loss of breast volume. The tummy is stretched, producing loose skin, and often stretch marks. The abdominal rectus muscles are displaced to the sides, contributing to an unwelcome bulge. The breast and tummy procedures go well together, providing a more flattering profile from top to bottom. The torso often appears longer. Women often comment that they have a waist again.
PHOTOS OF PATIENTS WITH MOMMY MAKEOVERS
Breast Lift and implants, Mommy Makeover
R.I., Age 39
Height: 5’4″
Weight: 170.5 lbs
Right Breast Tissue Removed: 148 g
Left Breast Tissue Removed: 110 g
Implant Type: Mentor smooth, round, moderate-plus profile, saline-filled
Placement: Submuscular
Implant Size: 275 cc
Before, 3 months after
M.A., Age 41
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 170lbs
Implant Type: Allergan Natrelle smooth, round, midrange profile, saline-filled
Implant Size: Right Breast: 330 cc/Left Breast: 350 cc
Right Tissue Removed: 52 g
Left Tissue Removed: 50 g
Before, 1 year after
C.L., Age 42
Height: 5’5″
Weight: 145lbs
Right Breast Tissue Removed: 150 g
Left Breast Tissue Removed: 62 g
Implant Type: Natrelle smooth, round, saline-filled
Implant Size: 300 cc
Before, 1 month after
Breast Lift and Implants, Long-term Follow-up, Mommy Makeover, Abdominoplasty and Liposuction
L.S., Age 43
Height: 5’6″
Weight: 149lbs
Right Breast Tissue Removed: 58 g
Left Breast Tissue Removed: 84 g
Implant Type: Allergan Natrelle midrange profile, smooth, round, saline-filled.
Placement: Submuscular
Implant Size: 270 cc
Before, 7 months after, 3 years after
Mommy Makeover, Nipple Reduction
V.A., Age 43
Implant Type: Allergan Natrelle smooth, round, moderate profile, saline-filled
Before, 3 months after
FW. Age 55.
Breast reduction, abdominoplasty, and liposuction of abdomen, flanks and inner thighs, and buttock fat injection.
Before, 3 months.
Although the surgery may be done in stages, most women choose to have one operation and one recovery period. This operation may be done safely by board-certified plastic surgeons who are proficient in the operations performed individually and know how to be efficient with operating time and limit blood loss. Any advantage of a single operation is lost if the recovery is too difficult. I prefer total I.V. anesthesia, without paralysis. A rectus diastasis (spreading apart of the muscles) is almost always present and is repaired at the same time.
In my practice, I start with the breast surgery to maintain optimal sterility. This typically involves inserting implants, or doing a lift in combination with implants (“augmentation/mastopexy”). Some women elect to have just a lift, although this is less common. After the breast surgery, the body surgery is undertaken. Most women have liposuction in addition to the tummy tuck. Often buttock fat injection is done as well.
The recovery after a mommy makeover is not much more difficult that the recovery after a tummy tuck. The abdominoplasty is the more painful procedure and sets the pace of recovery. The breast surgery does add some additional discomfort of course, but it is usually well tolerated by patients. Women often remark after surgery that they are glad they did the procedures together rather than individually.
The complications after the combined surgery are the same as the complications after the individual procedures. These are discussed in the sections on Breast Lift and Abdominoplasty.
Postoperative care is the same as for the individual procedures.
Q: Is it safe to perform breast surgery at the same time as a tummy tuck?
A: Yes, these procedures may be performed safely together by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon who is proficient in the individual procedures and knows how to avoid excessive operating time.
Q: Do you repair the muscle (rectus diastasis)?
A: Yes. The muscle is almost always spread apart by pregnancy or weight gain. The muscle repair transforms the abdominal contour from flaccid to tight, and is one of the most valuable benefits of a tummy tuck.
Q: How long is the recovery?
A: The abdominoplasty sets the pace of the recovery (See the Abdominoplasty section for more information). Adding breast surgery does not tend to prolong the recovery time.
Q: When you do them together, which operation do you do first?
- The breast surgery is always done first to optimize sterility.
Q: How long does the surgery take?
A: The surgery usually takes between 3 and 5 hours, depending on patient size and how many areas are treated with liposuction. It is not unusual to combine a facial procedure, such as a submental lipectomy.