Having a child can take a toll on your body, leaving it with some unflattering side effects: sagging breasts, excessive weight gain, stretch marks and even sagging skin in the tummy area. Located in Phoenix and serving Chandler, Gilbert, Ahwatukee, and surrounding areas, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Larry C. Leverett of Body By Leverett can help restore your pre-pregnancy figure with a mommy makeover.
Dr. Leverett, a premier plastic surgeon offering mommy makeover, is honored to help women who have had children get their pre-baby body back. Having children is one of nature’s greatest miracles, yet this amazing process can often leave women with excess abdominal skin, greatly weakened or separated abdominal muscles and drooping or “deflated” breasts. Some women simply cannot recapture the taut, svelte figure that they had before they had children no matter how often they diet and exercise.
The encouraging news is that Dr. Leverett has a solution. By performing mommy makeover, a comprehensive plastic surgery regimen that typically includes abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction and breast enhancement surgeries, Dr. Leverett provides patients with the body of their dreams — even if they did not have their ideal body initially.
Dr. Leverett and Body By Leverett has been featured on Channel 3 “Your life A to Z” Restore Your Curves After Pregnancy!
How Much Does a Mommy Makeover Cost?
A mommy makeover is tailored to your specific needs, so costs will vary depending on the number of procedures you elect to have. During your consultation Dr. Leverett and his staff will discuss the various costs for each cosmetic procedure. To help make cosmetic surgeries more affordable and accessible to his patients, Dr. Leverett offers financing through CareCredit® and Prosper Healthcare Lending. Our office also accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, cash and cashier’s checks.
Benefits of a Mommy Makeover
Having a baby can make you become very self-conscious of your body. A mommy makeover can give you back the body you had before giving birth and allow you to be more comfortable with your body. Many women who have a mommy makeover experience the following benefits:
- Restored contour of the body
- Tightened and slimmer abdomen
- Lifted and reshaped breasts
- Improved self-confidence
The Mommy Makeover Procedure
During your consultation, Dr. Leverett and you will decide which of the following plastic surgery procedures to include in your mommy makeover surgery:
Breast Enhancement
Fluctuations in weight that occur before and after pregnancy, as well as breastfeeding, can wreak havoc on women’s breasts, leaving them saggy or deflated looking. That’s why mommy makeover surgery generally includes some sort of breast enhancement procedure, whether it is breast augmentation with breast implants, breast lift or both.
Tummy Tuck
Almost all patients have a primary concern of excess skin on the abdomen, stretch marks and weakened/stretched abdominal muscles. Therefore, the tummy tuck and/or liposuction procedures are commonly performed. With abdominoplasty, Dr. Leverett can help patients regain a firmer midsection by repairing greatly weakened or separated abdominal muscles and removing excess skin from the region.
Liposuction
Dr. Leverett performs liposuction when it is necessary to remove excess fat from the patient’s flanks (love handles) and/or midsection. Liposuction can provide a patient with a flatter abdominal profile and better contouring of the torso. Dr. Leverett performs this procedure by inserting a cannula, or thin, hollow tube, underneath the patient’s skin. Through the cannula, Dr. Leverett vacuums out stubborn fatty tissue, contouring the patient’s flanks and/or abdomen.
Incisions and Scarring
Mommy makeover patients should know that tummy tucks leave a horizontal scar across the lower abdomen, but Dr. Leverett positions the incision in an area that is hidden by an underwear or bikini line. Most tummy tuck patients typically agree that the appearance of the abdomen is well worth the scar. Breast incisions will depend on the procedure recommended. See breast augmentation and breast lift.
Mommy Makeover Recovery Period
Prior to the mommy makeover procedure, Dr. Leverett will provide patients with detailed aftercare instructions for the recovery period, including a list of needed items to have at home and any prescriptions for pain medication or antibiotics. However, here are some general guidelines for at-home postoperative care. Mommy makeover patients will need to have someone drive them to and from the surgical center. In most cases, the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia with a board-certified anesthesiologist. Patients will need to wear a surgical bra and/or compression garment during the recovery period as advised by Dr. Leverett. These help to minimize swelling and provide support while the body heals. Patients may also have drainage tubes inserted under the skin to alleviate any fluid accumulation near the incision sites. Dr. Leverett will remove these a week or two following surgery. Mommy makeover patients can generally return to work in two to three weeks and can resume exercise around the six-week mark. Patients should be sure to keep all follow-up appointments with Dr. Leverett, so he can monitor their recovery and ensure that they are on the right track.
Mommy Makeover Discomfort
Patients may feel some pain or discomfort in the first one to two weeks after surgery, but this will subside as time goes on. They should take the prescribed pain medication as directed to help alleviate any discomfort. Patients may also experience swelling and bruising in the treated areas. Again, this will diminish with time. By the end of the first week, mommy makeover patients should be able to walk around the house more easily and frequently. By the end of the second week, patients may be able to drive a car, but should not rush any part of the recovery if they do not feel up to it.
Suitable Candidates for Mommy Makeover
Suitable candidates for mommy makeover include those who are not breastfeeding. When breastfeeding, women have enlarged ducts and elevated blood vessel activity in the breast area. This may lead to an increased risk of infection or bleeding during surgery.
Suitable candidates also include those who are finished having children and are at a stable weight. Pregnancy and/or substantial weight gain can undo the aesthetic effects of a mommy makeover.
In general, women who are unhappy with their post-baby bodies, meet the criteria above, are in good overall physical and mental health and do not smoke are suitable candidates for life-changing mommy makeover plastic surgery.
Risks Involved With Mommy Makeover
All surgical procedures come with certain risks, but Dr. Leverett is highly skilled and takes every precaution possible to minimize any surgical risks. These include bleeding, infection, poor wound healing, blood clots and the possibility of a need for revision surgery, among others.
To decrease these risks, plastic surgery patients should:
- Not smoke.
- Walk around the house in the days following surgery (to help combat the risk of blood clots, especially in the legs).
- Avoid taking Advil, aspirin and other over-the-counter medications and herbs that cause blood thinning.
- Eat healthy, well-balanced meals to aid the body in the healing process.
- Be extremely forthcoming with Dr. Leverett about lifestyle habits and past medical history.
- Follow Dr. Leverett’s instructions prior to and following a mommy makeover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I breastfeed after a mommy makeover?
Mommy makeover procedures often involve breast surgery, and the types of breast surgery included can directly influence your ability to breastfeed in the future. Breast augmentations, breast lifts and breast reductions can all interfere with your ability to breastfeed. However, all of these situations are unique and may not automatically mean that breastfeeding will be impossible. For these reasons, it’s important to discuss the possibility of breastfeeding with Dr. Leverett during your consultation. If breastfeeding is a priority for you, it may be reasonable to postpone your mommy makeover (or breast surgery) until you no longer need to breastfeed.
Are the results of a mommy makeover permanent?
The results of a mommy makeover can be long-lasting; however, they are not considered permanent. A mommy makeover cannot stop the effects of aging or prevent future changes in your body. Over time, factors such as gravity, weight fluctuations, and the natural loss of skin elasticity can impact the results of the procedure. To optimize the longevity of your mommy makeover results, it is crucial to maintain a stable weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise. Significant weight gain or loss can affect the contours of your body and may require additional procedures to restore the desired appearance. By following your surgeon's post-operative instructions and embracing a healthy lifestyle, you can enjoy the benefits of your mommy makeover for many years to come.
Is it possible to have more children after a Mommy Makeover?
While it is possible to have children after a mommy makeover, it is generally recommended to complete your family before undergoing the procedure. Pregnancy and childbirth can undo the improvements achieved through surgery, requiring additional surgical intervention.
Will there be visible scarring after a mommy makeover?
Incisions are necessary during a mommy makeover to achieve the desired results, and the location and extent of these incisions will be dependent on the procedures involved and your treatment goals. However, Dr. Leverett makes every effort to place incisions in inconspicuous areas and use techniques to minimize scarring. Over time, scars typically fade and become less noticeable. Proper scar care, such as keeping the incisions clean and protected from the sun, can help optimize the healing process.
How long does a mommy makeover procedure take?
The duration of a mommy makeover procedure depends on the specific combination of surgeries being performed. It can range from 3 to 6 hours or longer. The surgical plan will be discussed with Dr. Leverett during your consultation, and he will provide you with a more accurate time frame based on your personalized treatment plan.
Have the effects of having children made you unhappy with your appearance? Just because you have children doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your body and self-image. A mommy makeover can reverse the signs of childbirth, such as sagging breasts and excess skin, and help you get your pre-pregnancy body back. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Larry C. Leverett is helping moms in and around the Greater Phoenix area, such as Ahwatukee, Chandler and Gilbert, transform their bodies back to the pre-baby days so they can focus on their families and not their bodies.