What is a Mommy Makeover?

Motherhood is a profoundly rewarding experience, but it can bring about bodily changes that diet and exercise alone can't fully reverse. A "mommy makeover," performed by Austin plastic surgeon Dr. Rocco Piazza, is a tailored combination of cosmetic procedures. It's designed to address the physical impacts of pregnancy and childbirth on a woman's body, focusing on areas like the abdomen and breasts.

Body Surgery

The video features Dr. Rocco Piazza as he elaborates on the different considerations in abdominal surgery: post-pregnancy, weight loss, and male aesthetic concerns. These surgical procedures aim to naturally reverse the changes that have taken place in the abdomen.

Dr. Piazza examining a female patient's abdominal area
Woman smiling

Your Mommy Makeover Procedure

A mommy makeover combines various procedures based on your specific concerns and cosmetic goals. Dr. Piazza’s expertise is in body contouring surgery, especially tummy tuck procedures. This is one of the primary reasons so many choose him for their mommy makeovers. 

Every mommy makeover begins with a one-on-one consultation, during which Dr. Piazza listens carefully as you describe your ideal body. He also performs a physical examination to help him develop a surgical approach that safely and effectively addresses each of your needs. 

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Mommy Makeover Procedure Options

Liposuction

Dr. Piazza often combines liposuction with mommy makeover procedures to sculpt optimal results. Liposuction removes pockets of unwanted fat and can contour your flanks, thighs, or midsection to ensure a smooth and even appearance.

Breast Enhancement

Having children changes the shape and size of most women’s breasts. Many women want to restore their breasts to their pre-pregnancy appearance, which may require breast augmentation, a breast lift, breast reduction, or a combination of breast enhancement procedures.

Breast Augmentation

Getting breast implants can restore volume to breasts that appear deflated after having children. Some women just want their breasts to look like they did prior to getting pregnant, but others want to increase their natural size. Dr. Piazza can help you choose the implants best suited to your goals.

Breast Lift

Breasts often sag after pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you’re happy with the size of your breasts but want them to look more perky, a breast lift can help. The incision used for breast lift surgery depends on the degree of sagging. Dr. Piazza may recommend combining a breast lift with implants to restore the shape or size of your breasts.

Breast Reduction

Overly large breasts can cause physical and emotional strain. Neck and shoulder pain can make it difficult to lift younger children, and you may be self-conscious about the size of your breasts in work or social situations. A breast reduction can be a very satisfying part of a mommy makeover.

Tummy Tuck

The physical toll pregnancy takes on the abdomen can rarely be corrected without surgery. A tummy tuck addresses excess skin, stretch marks, and, if necessary, abdominal muscles weakened and separated during pregnancy. Even those who are active and in good overall shape can benefit from a tummy tuck. Exercise and eating healthy can’t tighten loose skin or repair abdominal muscles.

Recovery

Recovery following mommy makeover surgery is highly dependent on the specifics of your surgery. In general, expect to spend between 10 and 14 days resting at home. Light activity, such as walking, is important early on to reduce the risk of complications, but mommy makeover patients should enlist extra help for chores and childcare. 

Discomfort is manageable with prescribed medications, and many transition to over-the-counter pain relievers after several days. Most patients wear compression garments to help minimize swelling. Prior to surgery, Dr. Piazza outlines your specific recovery timeline to ensure you’re prepared for a smooth and uneventful healing process.

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Mommy MakeoverBefore & Afters

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Your Mommy Makeover Results

An overwhelming majority of mommy makeover patients are delighted with their results. In the weeks and months following surgery, swelling and bruising diminishes, giving way to a smooth, tight abdomen and lifted, shapelier breasts.

Although Mommy Makeover results won’t last forever, they can be well-maintained for years by living a healthy lifestyle. Eating nourishing, healthy foods, and getting regular exercise can go a long way toward a beautiful figure that lasts.

Closely following Dr. Piazza’s recovery instructions enhances your results. To learn more about the details of this exciting option for postpartum body contouring, check out Dr. Piazza’s blog post that explains the trend and important things to consider before surgery.

Delivering an Exceptional Anesthesia Experience for Our Patients

At The Piazza Center, our patients come first. We have listened to our patients and in an effort to reduce the uncertainty with the anesthesia experience, The Piazza Center has developed a collaborative relationship with Dr. Cady to deliver an exceptional anesthesia experience for patients like you. Learn more about Dr. Cady, D.O., and The Piazza Center’s approach to taking the fear and stress out of anesthesia.

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By far the best anesthesia experience I've ever had. Thank you!

- Piazza Center Patient

Mommy Makeover FAQ

Should I lose weight prior to getting a mommy makeover?

Can I get pregnant after a mommy makeover?

What are the advantages of combining surgeries into one operation?

Can I just have skin removal instead of a tummy tuck?

Is the surgery worth it?

Do I really have to wear a compression garment during recovery?

How many sizes do you lose with a mommy makeover?

How long will my results last?

Should I lose weight prior to getting a mommy makeover?

For optimal safety and to maximize the life of your results, you should be at or close to your goal weight before having body contouring surgery.

Can I get pregnant after a mommy makeover?

It’s completely safe to become pregnant after mommy makeover surgery, but I recommend avoiding it if possible. The physical changes brought on during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding can permanently alter your surgical results, and you may require additional surgery. I discuss the timing and each patient’s unique background during the tummy tuck consultation to ensure it’s the right procedure for you at the right time. If you’re not sure whether you’d like to have more children in the future, you may still have options for body contouring or breast enhancement. Be sure to share your plans with me during your consultation. We’ll work together to develop a reasonable timeline to help you achieve your goals.

What are the advantages of combining surgeries into one operation?

There are several benefits of performing multiple surgeries at once. Today, this type of combined procedure is very safe. I take care to ensure that mommy makeovers don’t run excessively long or increase the odds of complications. Reduced overall cost is another reason some patients combine procedures. While the initial upfront cost may be greater than for a single surgery, certain fees, such as an operating room fee or anesthesiology fee, need to be paid only once. Similarly, patients appreciate having to go through only one recovery period, though it may be slightly longer. Although there are several reasons some people prefer to combine their surgeries, this approach isn’t ideal for everyone. During your consultation, I ask you many questions about your lifestyle and health history. Depending on your specific circumstances, a staged approach may be safer or more convenient.

Can I just have skin removal instead of a tummy tuck?

Most moms who have excess skin and stretch marks on their tummies also have a condition called diastasis recti. This is a condition in which the abdominal muscles-which separate to accommodate the growing baby-don’t return to their original form. During a tummy tuck, Dr. Piazza sutures the muscles back together, which shrinks the waist and flattens the abdomen. If you were only to remove the skin without muscle repair, you’d likely be unhappy with the result.

Is the surgery worth it?

A mommy makeover’s comprehensive improvements to the appearance of the breasts and body make it worth a few weeks of recovery time for most patients.

Do I really have to wear a compression garment during recovery?

Yes. Compression garments minimize swelling and encourage smooth contours as you heal. Following Dr. Piazza’s post-op instructions closely is important to minimize complications and achieve the best possible results.

How many sizes do you lose with a mommy makeover?

While weight loss isn’t significant for most patients, many lose 2 to 3 clothing sizes after a mommy makeover because a tummy tuck removes excess abdominal skin and repairs bulging abdominal muscles.

How long will my results last?

Results are long-lasting when patients maintain a stable weight and do not become pregnant. The aging process continues, so some patients have subsequent surgery years later to tighten skin and remove fat pockets.

Mommy Makeover at a Glance

Procedures Involved

  • Breast and Body Surgery to Correct Post-Pregnancy Changes
  • Breast Augmentation +/- Short Scar Mastopexy (Lift) Surgery & Recovery
  • Abdominoplasty & Waistline Liposculpting Surgery & Recovery

Goal

Improve the appearance of the breast, tummy, and waistline after weight loss, weight gain and/or pregnancy. The procedure enhances the shape and volume of the breast with or without an implant, repairs muscle separation (rectus diastasis), tightens the tummy skin, and removes diet-resistant areas of fat along the side of the waistline (flanks) to restore balance in the body.

Procedure

A Mommy Makeover is a highly customized procedure designed to meet your desired results. This varies based on the changes the breast and body have undergone with pregnancy. If a breast implant is chosen to restore volume to the breasts, then an augmentation is performed. 

If a breast lift (mastopexy) is needed, then a short-scar lift is performed to tighten the breast skin. This can be done with or without a breast implant. The tummy and waistline are approached by repairing muscle separation, removing loose skin, and liposculpting the lateral waistline (flanks) to return the tummy anatomy to its pre-pregnancy state.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia.

Procedure length

The procedure takes between 4 – 6 hours.

After Procedure

There will be small white steri-strips on the breast incisions and on the tummy incision. The patient will usually be placed in a soft bra if a breast lift is performed. Foam compression pads are placed on the liposculpted areas. An abdominal compression binder is used on the waistline in order to prevent swelling and bruising.

One or two small drains may be used in the tummy area. Dr. Piazza does not want his patients applying ice to the breasts or tummy, and he encourages his patients to shower once the foam compression has been removed (typically Day #4). If there is no foam compression, patients may shower the first or second day after surgery.

Recovery

During the first few days after these combined procedures, you will experience some breast discomfort and pressure in the treated areas. Most discomfort can be controlled with medications that focus on pain and on tummy muscle or chest tightness. Activity is important early after surgery, and Dr. Piazza wants all patients to be walking around their home 8 to 10 times daily starting the following day after surgery.

A walker is often used to provide postural support for the first week. Most patients will return to work 2 weeks after these procedures and are back to full activities without restrictions after 6 weeks. If bruising should occur around the breast in the areas where the lift or liposculpting was performed, it usually resolves in 2 weeks. Rarely does any bruising occur in the tummy area.

Timeline

  1. Surgery
  2. Day 4: Foam compression removal
  3. Day 6 to 7: Steri-Strip removal
  4. Day 6 to 10: Drain Removal
  5. Day 7 to 10: Return to work/social life
  6. 6 weeks: 80% healed
  7. 3-6 months: 100% healed

Cocktails & Curiosity 2023

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