Pregnancy and childbirth change your body in ways you may not have expected. But with a mommy makeover, you can regain your pre-baby body with a combination of treatments that lift, tighten, and sculpt the areas most affected. These procedures are fully customizable, often including a breast lift, a tummy tuck, or liposuction.
Working in association with McLean Plastic Surgery, Dr. Erica Anderson helps women take charge of their bodies with treatments that restore strength, shape, and confidence. Keep reading to discover exactly what these procedures are and how they can help.
To learn more about the transformational effects of a mommy makeover, call Dr. Erica Anderson—one of the few female plastic surgeons in the Washington DC area, at (703) 893-1111.
What Is a Mommy Makeover?
A mommy makeover is a combination of cosmetic procedures designed to help you restore and enhance your body after pregnancy, aging, or significant weight loss. As every woman’s journey is different, this treatment is fully customizable to address your specific concerns. More than just a physical transformation, a mommy makeover is about feeling strong, confident, and completely at home in your body again.
Customizing Your Mommy Makeover: What’s Included?
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty): Restoring a Flat, Toned Abdomen
Pregnancy, aging, and weight changes can leave behind stretch marks, stubborn fat, and weakened abdominal muscles that no number of crunches can fix. A tummy tuck removes excess skin, tightens muscles, and reshapes the midsection for a firmer, more sculpted look. Depending on your desired outcome, Dr. Anderson may recommend different techniques, including a mini tummy tuck for subtle refinement, or a full or extended abdominoplasty for more dramatic contouring.
Breast Augmentation: Restoring Volume and Fullness
Pregnancy and breastfeeding can lead to changes in breast volume and firmness, affecting your body’s proportions. Breast augmentation enhances the size and shape of your breasts, restoring fullness and correcting asymmetry. This is done using silicone or saline implants, or through fat transfer, where fat is taken from another area of your body and injected into the breasts.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy): Correcting Sagging for a Youthful Look
Breastfeeding can cause the breasts to sag and lose their youthful shape. A breast lift, or mastopexy, lifts and reshapes the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue. It can be performed on its own or combined with breast implants to restore lost volume.
Liposuction: Targeting Stubborn Fat for a Sculpted Shape
Even with a healthy lifestyle, some areas of fat just won’t budge. Liposuction removes stubborn fat deposits from the abdomen, thighs, hips, and arms, creating a smoother, more contoured figure. While it’s not a weight-loss solution, liposuction is an effective method of refining your shape and addressing bothersome areas. Techniques like power-assisted liposuction (PAL) break up fat cells for easier removal, leading to a quicker recovery with less bruising and swelling.
Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL): Enhancing Curves after Pregnancy
A Brazilian butt lift enhances your shape by using your own fat to add volume and contour to your buttocks. Fat is first removed using liposuction, which also sculpts and slims surrounding areas. Then the fat is purified and prepared for injection into the buttocks. Dr. Anderson will strategically place the fat to create a fuller, rounder appearance.
Labiaplasty: Restoring Comfort and Confidence
Enlarged or uneven labia can cause discomfort during exercise, intimacy, or even everyday activities. Labiaplasty removes excess tissue to improve symmetry, reduces irritation, and creates a more proportionate appearance. As an expert in labiaplasty procedures, Dr. Anderson will determine the correct technique to achieve the best results for each woman’s unique anatomy.
What Non-Surgical Treatments Are Available in a Mommy Makeover?
Surgery isn’t the only way to refresh your look after pregnancy, some non-surgical treatments can also enhance your mommy makeover. Neurotoxins like Botox and Daxxify smooth wrinkles, and dermal fillers restore fullness to areas that may have lost volume over time. For skin tightening and rejuvenation, Morpheus8 combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to stimulate collagen production, helping to firm and smooth the skin.
How to Choose the Right Combination of Procedures
Choosing the right combination of procedures is a highly personal decision based on your body, aesthetic goals, and lifestyle. During your consultation, Dr. Anderson will perform a thorough physical examination, review your medical history, and discuss your desired results. Based on this assessment, she will recommend a plan to help you regain confidence in your post-pregnancy body.
What to Expect During Recovery from a Mommy Makeover
Your recovery will depend on the procedures you choose, but most women need up to two weeks off work. Expect some initial swelling, bruising, and soreness, but compression garments will help with support and healing. You can ease back into light activity within a week, but heavy lifting and intense workouts should be avoided for at least three to four weeks.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?
You’re a suitable candidate if you’re in good health, have maintained a stable weight, and are committed to leading a healthy lifestyle. If you’ve recently had a baby, waiting at least a year after pregnancy and six months after completing breastfeeding gives your body time to heal, ensuring the best and longest-lasting results. It’s also important to have realistic expectations and a positive outlook regarding the outcomes of the procedures.
How Long Does a Mommy Makeover Take?
The duration depends on the specific procedures included in your personalized plan. For instance, a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) typically lasts between three to four hours. When multiple procedures are combined, the total surgery time will depend on the complexity and number of treatments performed. During your consultation, Dr. Anderson will discuss which treatments can be combined into one surgical experience.
Mommy Makeover Results: What You Can Expect
Many patients notice immediate improvements to their overall figures following their mommy makeover, but the full results will develop gradually as the body heals. Scarring is a natural part of the healing process and will be most noticeable in the initial months. Dr. Anderson will provide guidance on scar management to help improve their appearance over time.
Why Choose Dr. Erica Anderson for Your Mommy Makeover?
Choosing the right surgeon for your mommy makeover in McLean, VA, is just as important as choosing the procedures themselves. Dr. Erica Anderson is a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the breast and body. To begin your body contouring journey, contact us or call (703) 893-1111 to schedule your consultation.
