Mommy Makeover

A mommy makeover is a combination of procedures designed to help restore the appearance of a woman’s body after pregnancy, focusing on breasts and abdomen. During pregnancy, a woman’s body can undergo substantial changes in both weight and hormone levels, leading to stubborn fat deposits and excess skin, as well as sagging breasts.

A mommy makeover can help improve your overall body proportions and curves, all in one procedure. A mommy makeover can include a combination of many different procedures to help restore your breasts (breast lift, breast augmentation with or without lift, breast reduction) and abdomen (mini tummy tuck, standard or extended abdominoplasty). In addition, liposuction can be added to these procedures to remove the fat that you can’t get rid of with weight loss. Dr. Dolen will evaluate you in person and will discuss your options.

Utku Dolen, MD, is a plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgeon here at Northwestern Plastic Surgery in Algonquin, Illinois. Providing only the highest quality care, he is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery®.

To schedule your mommy makeover consultation with Dr. Dolen, please contact our Algonquin location at (847) 854-3522 or visit our office!

About Mommy Makeovers

A “mommy makeover” is a name referring to a combination of cosmetic procedures designed to help restore the shape and appearance of a woman’s postpartum body. During pregnancy, the body goes through many changes both physically and hormonally, which can lead to sagging skin, excess fat deposits, and deflated breasts. ⁽¹⁾

At Northwestern Plastic Surgery, each component of the treatment is tailored to target specific concerns experienced by each patient. We primarily perform our mommy makeovers using a combination of the tummy tuck procedure and a breast lift, with or without implants, to help patients restore their body and their confidence.

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, involves the removal of excess skin and tightening of the abdominal muscles to create a firmer and more toned appearance. Pregnancy often stretches the abdominal muscles and skin, resulting in loose skin around the torso. Women often experience diastasis recti after pregnancy, also known as the separation of the abdominal muscles. ⁽²⁾ With a tummy tuck, women can enjoy a slimmer figure while restoring the strength and structure of their core muscles (abdominal muscle plication).

Breast Augmentation with Lift

Pregnancy and breastfeeding can lead to changes in breast volume and shape, but these effects can be addressed through a breast lift, breast reduction, or breast augmentation and lift. Breast augmentation with a lift, also referred to as an augmentation mastopexy, is designed to reposition and remove excess breast tissue while simultaneously enhancing the size of the breasts. Augmentation mastopexy can be done using your existing breast tissue, auto-augmentation, or with breast implants. Patients who don’t want large breast volume may be candidates for breast augmentation with fat grafting.

Breast implants can consist of a silicone or saline filling, both with their own individual benefits. Saline implants are composed of a silicone shell and filled with a sterile saltwater solution.

Silicone implants closely imitate the look and feel of breast tissue with their silicone composition. These implants are filled with a silicone gel that creates a soft, natural feel. These implants are recommended for patients with thinner breast tissue, as silicone is less prone to visible rippling.

Benefits

There are many benefits of a mommy makeover. Each procedure is fully customized to provide as many benefits for each patient as possible. Patients will be able to experience restored fullness and volume to the breasts, as well as improved cleavage. Excess skin and fat can be removed, reducing the appearance of stretch marks and helping patients achieve a more toned and contoured figure. By combining multiple procedures, patients will be able to experience a reduced recovery time with results that can last for years.

To learn more about how a mommy makeover can benefit you, contact our Algonquin office or call (847) 854-3522 to schedule your personal consultation today!

Candidates

The ideal candidates for a mommy makeover are women who wish to restore/enhance their bodies after a pregnancy. However, patients do not have to have gone through pregnancy to benefit from this comprehensive procedure, weight loss after bariatric surgery, or after the use of

GLP-1 agonists (Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, or Mounjaro). Any eligible patients are welcome to attend a personal consultation to determine their candidacy for a mommy makeover.

We encourage patients to wait at least 6 months after nursing their last child before looking into a mommy makeover. ⁽³⁾ Patients should be finished planning their family as pregnancy and other significant weight changes can impact the outcome of the procedure. For this reason, we also recommend that patients adhere to a healthy lifestyle, incorporating exercise into their routine and practicing a balanced diet.

To find out if you are an ideal candidate for a mommy makeover, please contact our Algonquin location at (847) 854-3522 or visit our office!

Personal Consultation

We ask that each patient at Northwestern Plastic Surgery schedule a private consultation with Dr. Dolen before each procedure. This is not only a chance for our team to get to know each patient better, but it also ensures that each procedure is fully tailored towards helping each patient achieve their dream figure. Dr. Dolen will perform an examination before recommending the best combination of procedures, strategies, and methods to help each patient achieve their desired look. During a mommy makeover, multiple procedures are combined into a single appointment, reducing both the recovery time and providing optimal results!

We ask that patients prepare questions and concerns to discuss with Dr. Dolen. If applicable, patients are welcome to bring photos of their body before pregnancy.

To schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Dolen, please call us at (847) 854-3522 or contact our Algonquin office!

Procedure

The mommy makeover procedure typically includes a combination of the tummy tuck, breast lift, and/or breast augmentation, with each aspect of the procedure being tailored to address individual needs and specifications. The duration of the procedure itself can vary widely, but the lasting results will leave each patient looking and feeling better about their appearance than before.

Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty

The tummy tuck procedure begins with the administration of general anesthesia to ensure each patient’s comfort. After it has taken effect, Dr. Dolen will create an incision along the underwear line, ensuring that any scarring will be discreet. He can tighten the abdominal muscles and remove excess and loose skin. ⁽⁴⁾ The result is a flatter, toned-looking abdomen. If needed, Dr. Dolen can reshape and reposition the belly button to provide a more natural and proportional appearance to the midsection.

Breast Augmentation with Implants

Breast augmentation is a body contouring process that adjusts the shape and volume of the breasts through the use of implants. At each patient’s personal consultation, each type of implant offered at Northwest Plastic Surgery will be discussed. After talking with each patient, Dr. Dolen will recommend the best type of implant for each patient’s anatomy and treatment goals.

There are many different types of breast implants available on the market, and they vary in size, shape, material, and even texture.

Breast Lift Without Implants

A breast lift is a procedure that helps reduce sagging and drooping tissue in the breast through the removal of excess skin. This procedure helps the breasts appear smoother, firmer, and more lifted. In this procedure, Dr. Dolen will make incisions along the circumference of the areolas. For a more extensive lift, Dr. Dolen can use an incision that extends vertically down the lower half of the breast, also known as a “lollipop” incision. An “anchor” incision incorporates a third incision along the inframammary crease (lower breast crease). After making the necessary incisions, Dr. Dolen will remove excess tissue. Before closing the incisions, Dr. Dolen can reshape or reposition the nipples to help further restore a natural appearance to the chest.

Recovery and Results

Recovery after a mommy makeover procedure can differ from patient to patient depending on the procedures performed in the treatment. Patients can generally plan on taking time away from work and other social commitments for at least two to four weeks. Any swelling, bruising, or tenderness experienced throughout healing can be managed through the use of pain medications. Dr. Dolen will prescribe you a pain medication cocktail according to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. This also helps to reduce the amount of opioid medication you may use. Dr. Dolen will also discuss compression garments that you need to use after surgery.

Patients should refrain from physical activities or intensive tasks until approved by Dr. Dolen, however, we recommend taking light walks throughout recovery to help promote good circulation.

The full results of the procedure will be fully visible once any residual swelling has subsided. Once you are fully healed, we will discuss scar-minimizing agents and skin toning lotions.

The results of a mommy makeover are long-lasting, but patients should maintain a healthy lifestyle to promote the longevity of their results.

Cost of a Mommy Makeover in Algonquin, IL

The cost of a mommy makeover varies depending on what specific procedures are incorporated into your procedural plan. To obtain a cost estimate for your personalized mommy makeover, schedule an appointment at our office today!

To schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Dolen, please call us at (847) 854-3522 or contact our Algonquin office online!

References

1. Mommy Makeover. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/mommy-makeover
2. Shermak MA. Abdominoplasty with Combined Surgery. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2020;47(3):365-377. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cps.2020.02.001
3. Matarasso A, Smith DM. Combined Breast Surgery and Abdominoplasty. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2015;135(5):849e860e. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/prs.0000000000001238
4. Regan JP, Casaubon JT. Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck). PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431058/