Here's How to Choose the Right Time for Your Mommy Makeover

You marvel at your family and the joy they bring to you (on most days!). What you’re not as thrilled with are the effects that pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding have had on certain parts of your body.

You’re definitely not alone if you consider that there are around 3.5 million births in the United States each year. Some of these mothers have decided to reclaim their bodies in the aftermath of family building through a mommy makeover, which can include some of the top cosmetic procedures in the US, such as breast lifts, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, and liposuction.

As a leading plastic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Zelken has worked with many mothers to help them get back to a body that doesn’t serve as a constant reminder of what it went through to bring kids into the world.

So, if you’re contemplating a mommy makeover, here are some points to consider when it comes to timing.

What is a mommy makeover?

Let’s briefly review what we mean by mommy makeover, as they can differ greatly from one woman to the next. A mommy makeover is designed to undo some of the effects of childbearing with procedures like:

• Breast lift
• Liposuction (we offer BodyTite® radiofrequency-assisted lipo)
• Breast augmentation
• Tummy tuck
• Labiaplasty
• Thigh lift and tightening

We even do smaller procedures, such as tackling a double chin that developed during pregnancy, thanks to weight gain and fluid retention.

Are your mommy (pregnancy) days done?

The first box you need to check is that you’re sure your family building is behind you. The fastest way to undo work like a breast lift or a tummy tuck is to become pregnant again, which will likely put you right back where you started.

For example, during a tummy tuck, we trim away loose skin and pull together separated abdominal muscles. If you get pregnant again after we do that, your skin will stretch back out, and your muscles will likely separate again.

Are you within your target weight range?

After you’ve had your last child, you should get to within your target weight range before undergoing a mommy makeover. Just like pregnancy, weight fluctuations can wreak havoc on any work we do.

Are you in good health?

For any plastic surgery, it’s important that you’re in good health, which means you have no pre-existing conditions (or habits like smoking) that might affect your ability to heal well.

Can you carve out time for your mommy makeover?

Since mommy makeovers often include multiple procedures, we try to combine wherever we can to minimize recovery and healing time. Even so, we may need to spread them out, so you want to be sure that you have the time and patience needed to dedicate to the mommy makeover process.

The best way to figure out the timing of your mommy makeover and which procedures would work for your goals is to come sit down with Dr. Zelken for a consultation. To set that in motion, call Jonathan Zelken, MD, in Newport Beach, California, at (949) 432-4730 or request an appointment using our online booking tool.