Mommy Makeover

The cause of the greatest deformation that a woman can experience throughout her life is pregnancy and childbirth. Hormonal and physical changes in this process are most evident in the abdomen, breasts, waist, hips, inner thighs and vagina.

Mommy Makeover is one of the most popular combined plastic surgery procedures designed to solve problems such as weight gain, breast and breast skin sagging, especially after pregnancy and breastfeeding.

" Mommy Makeover " is an expression that encompasses the combination of body shaping procedures tailored to the needs and complaints of the patient, in order to improve body deformation that begins and continues after pregnancy. Each procedure is planned and determined by the surgeon for each patient in line with the needs of that patient. However, the main procedures of Mommy Makeover usually start with the breast and tummy shaping procedures. Other procedures to improve body proportion can be included if necessary.

Although the procedure is called Mommy Makeover and is mostly preferred by women, who are uncomfortable with their body after pregnancy, pregnancy is not the only factor for performing these procedures. All bodies undergo significant weight loss or changes in the body similar to pregnancy due to aging.

The changes in the body that occur after pregnancy usually include shrinking, enlargement or sagging of the breasts, stretch marks, sagging of the skin on the abdomen, and the enlargement of the abdominal wall due to the separation of the abdominal muscles. Most of these changes are unfortunately permanent, and they persist despite maintaining a healthy diet and exercise program. Mommy Makeover  can be of great help at this point!

What are Mommy Makeover procedures?

Breast Aesthetics (augmentation, reduction, lift)

Tummy tuck/Abdominoplasty

Liposuction

Genital Aesthetics

Breast Aesthetics After Maternity

Breast lift: After the breastfeeding period, breasts generally decrease in volume compared to their volume before pregnancy. As a result, stretch marks may occur in the breast skin. Sagging may occur on the breast due to the excess skin. In this type of Maternity Breast Aesthetics, it is necessary to do perform breast augmentation and lift simultaneously. Sometimes the breast has to be reduced and lifted. These procedures can be easily performed 5-6 months after the end of the breastfeeding period.

Breast Augmentation and Lift: In breasts that have lost their volume, lifting can be performed by removing only the breast skin. However, the result is not satisfactory due to the loss of breast tissue, that is, the lack of sufficient tissue. In these cases, it is necessary to use a silicone prosthesis to give the breast volume and to lift it.

Breast Reduction and Lift: When the breast tissue is sufficient, only one reduction/lifting procedure provides a sufficient and satisfactory result. The scars of these procedures may only be around the nipple, or there may be scars extending to the breast fold below.

Performing breast surgery with an appropriate technique makes it possible to breastfeed in case the patient gives birth again. In breast reduction procedures, the milk channels under the nipple are not cut, which protects the breastfeeding functions.

Tummy Tuck After Maternity

After childbirth, there is excess skin, sagging of fat, stiffness on the abdominal wall, and loosening and separation of the muscles that prevent the internal organs from dishing out in the abdomen. However, the first condition of having a flat and tight stomach is tight abdominal muscles. The most important point in tummy tuck surgery is to tighten the abdominal muscles sufficiently. In tummy tuck procedures, all the sagging skin with stretch marks, and the fat tissue under the belly button are removed. The muscle tissue in the mid-abdominal area and the abdominal wall is tightened. In this procedure, the appearance of the saggy abdomen is dramatically improved, and the individual gains a flat abdominal contour.

During the procedure, after the loose abdominal skin and fatty layer are removed, the excess skin and fat tissue are cut and removed. The loosened abdominal muscles are brought close to each other with stitches. If there is a hernia, it is repaired. Thus, a thinner waist and a tighter abdominal wall are obtained. A new belly button is made. Women, who have given birth, should wait at least 3 months for tummy tuck surgery. Since it is not appropriate to perform a procedure during the breastfeeding period, this minimal period can be extended to minimum 1 year.

Abdominal stretching should not be performed simultaneously with the cesarean section. The uterus is normally the size of a pear and reaches the size of a basketball during pregnancy. It takes at least 45 days for the uterus to go back to normal and reach its prenatal size. Before the uterus and other intra-abdominal organs reach their normal sizes, and before the hormonal balance returns to normal, performing a tummy tuck is similar to dressing a pregnant woman in a 3 size smaller dress; therefore, the result will naturally be a failure.

The patient, who is hospitalized for one night after the abdominoplasty, is expected to stand up and walk on the same day. After about 1-2 weeks, the patient can return to a light-paced business or school life. Exercises and brisk walking can be started after 1 month. Greater results will be obtained if the abdominal muscles are strengthened with exercises and weight gain is prevented by diet within six weeks after the procedure.

Mommy Makeover Liposuction

Certain areas of the body, such as the abdomen, waist, hips, inner and outer thighs (upper leg), inner and outer knees, are areas of fat accumulation, which are resistant to diet and exercise, especially after maternity. The fats in these areas are the last to be eliminated. Excessive exercise to remove excess fat will not yield results, and may also disrupt the overall metabolism.
The procedures for removing these diet and sports-resistant fat deposits from the body by entering with a negative pressure vacuum are called “Liposuction”. These procedures are definitely not slimming procedures; they are contour correcting procedures. At the same time, it is not only removing fat from the body but also giving shape to the body by carving it like a sculptor. It is a very common procedure in the maternity period, especially in combination with tummy tuck procedures. Liposuction cn also be easily performed after reaching the desired weight after maternity (minimum 3 months to 1 year).

Genital Aesthetics After Maternity

With vaginal tightening procedures, it is possible to make a very important contribution to sexual life by correcting the deformations that occur in the vagina as a result of normal delivery. Aesthetic correction of the anatomical structures in the vulva, that is, the removal of sagging and excesses in the large and small lips is also very satisfactory.

In addition, the area above the vulva and under the abdominal fold, which we call “mons pubis”, can be reduced by liposuction, shaped or suspended by liposculpture, large vaginal lips can be shaped and plumped with fat transfer or other fillers, which are all common procedures. For these procedures, individuals must wait for the first 6 months after maternity.

Risks

Serious risks are rare, and the post-operative satisfaction rate is high in procedures involving body shaping.

Yet, all surgical procedures have a certain degree of risk. Some of the possible complications of all surgical procedures include:

- Reaction to anesthesia

- Hematoma or seroma (accumulation of blood or fluid under the skin, which requires removal)

- Infection and bleeding

- Changes in skin sensation

- Scarring

- Allergic reactions

- Damage to lower layers

- Unsatisfactory results that may require additional procedures

- Blood clots in the legs or lungs

Process

- Following all the instructions given by your surgeon is very important for the healthy progress of your healing process (such as post-operative bandage, drain, incision care, medication/cream use, etc.).

- Recovery period will vary depending on the patient and the scope of your surgical procedure.

- The duration of stay in the hospital is 2 days unless there is a medical necessity.

- After being discharged, you will have post-surgical follow-ups on the days to be determined by the surgeon. Your drains will be removed after the follow-up of your surgeon, or if necessary, the removal may be delayed until the next follow-up.

- It may take an average of one week to return to your daily routine, depending on the combination surgeries performed.

- During this period, you will have a feeling of tightness, pain, bruises and edema in the incision area.

- You may need to be accompanied by a relative for a few days as you may feel tired and sensitive due to your surgery.

- Do not drive during the first 10 days.

- Edema can last six months or longer

- The outcomes of the procedure will reveal immediately; however, the final outcome cannot be evaluated until edema is completely eliminated. This can take from six months to a year in this procedure.

- Heavy exercise and heavy lifting, including infants/children, should be avoided for a minimum of three weeks after the procedure.

- Smoking reduces circulation, delays wound healing and significantly increases the likelihood of serious complications; therefore, you should discontinue smoking at least four weeks before and four weeks after your procedure.