It’s extremely important to prepare your body and mind for overall wellness ahead of your mommy makeover surgery. The mommy makeover is a customized combination of surgeries designed to help restore your body to its pre-pregnancy state as much as possible. While the procedure is generally safe when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, it does require extensive recovery.
Emotional and physical preparation will make your procedure and recovery much more manageable. Here are some preparation tips to keep in mind ahead of your mommy makeover.
Search for a Surgeon
A mommy makeover is a major surgery, and you want to make sure it is done right the first time. Schedule appointments with board-certified plastic surgeons in your area so you can understand your options and choose the best surgeon for you.
Your choice should be based on everything from the surgeon’s credentials to online reviews. Also, confirm with the American Board of Plastic Surgery that the physician is certified and experienced enough to undertake this procedure. Ask potential surgeons if they have experience in performing mommy makeovers specifically and whether their patients have developed complications or not. If there were complications, ask how they handled them and the incurred costs.
Finally, choose a surgeon you feel comfortable with. You need to be confident about moving forward and should feel empowered to ask questions throughout the process. Getting to know prospective surgeons during your consultations will help you make a decision.
Avoid Certain Medications
Supplements and medications such as NSAIDs, ibuprofen, and aspirin can increase blood flow, leading to more bleeding. Increased bleeding can lead to complications during surgery and the recovery process.
Therefore, it is important to talk with your surgeon about all the daily supplements and medications you take well in advance of the surgery. Never assume that some medications are safe for surgery. Your safety comes ahead of everything, so it is essential to avoid taking any supplements or medications that might complicate the surgery process and interfere with anesthesia.
Maintain Your Ideal Weight
Mommy makeover surgery isn’t meant for weight loss. Instead, it is designed to contour and lift your body. While it can involve liposuction to remove isolated areas of stubborn fat that have been unresponsive to diet and exercise, you should be at a stable weight before your procedure.
In addition to making sure you are close to your ideal weight before surgery, you should avoid significant weight loss because it can result in lax or loose skin. The postpartum period can result in significant weight fluctuation. However, a future increase or decrease in weight can affect your mommy makeover results, especially after liposuction or tummy tuck procedures.
Therefore, be sure to maintain a stable weight before undergoing this procedure. Develop a workout routine and eat a healthy diet to maintain a stable weight even after undergoing the mommy makeover procedure.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking inhibits the flow of blood, which can, in turn, affect the performance of the lungs and heart and cause surgical complications. Smoking is also associated with skin loss during some surgery types and can result in poor wound healing.
Ask Yourself If You Want More Kids
Many women feel less confident about their appearance after childbirth. Fortunately, a mommy makeover procedure can help restore the body after giving birth. However, women can easily undo all their cosmetic results if they become pregnant again.
Women undergo mommy makeover surgery to address the changes caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding. That means another pregnancy may dramatically affect their surgical results. Therefore, before a woman undergoes this procedure, she should be certain that she isn’t interested in having more children.
Maintain Your Health
It is essential to have your health assessed by a qualified medical professional before undergoing any elective surgery. An EKG may be necessary before the procedure. Also, it might be necessary to book a pre-op appointment with a physician before undergoing a mommy makeover procedure. These are routine precautions to ensure your safety during and after surgery.
Communicate Your Goals
Clearly communicating your mommy makeover goals with your physician will increase your chances of a successful procedure. Let the surgeon know the specific areas of your body that you would like to improve. When a surgeon understands your needs, he or she will tailor procedures that fit your needs.
Spend time discussing your goals with your surgeon during the consultation session. Plastic surgeons are highly experienced and can design the perfect, custom procedure for your goals. Your surgeon can also let you know about any goals you have that are not achievable.
Consider Your Budget
Ask the surgeon about all the costs included in your mommy makeover surgery. Most quotes include medical testing, anesthesia, surgery facility, insurance for complications, and post-surgery garment fees. Financing is available from most surgeons.
Combining multiple procedures can be cost-saving. One reason to undergo a mommy makeover procedure is that it lowers surgery costs and quickens the recovery time. If you can have all the procedures done at once, you will reduce your recovery time and save money in the long run.
Follow the Guidelines
Planning for a mommy makeover is similar to planning for any surgery, including a C-section. Have a plan for childcare, prepare and store frozen meals, and do your chores before undergoing the procedure. You will have to stay indoors for at least two weeks to recover, but the results will last for many years. You will need to wear recovery bras and compression garments after the surgery to avoid complications and improve the recovery process.
A mommy makeover surgery can be any combination of procedures, including tummy tuck, vaginal rejuvenation, liposuction, breast augmentation, breast lift, and fat injection.
The most important thing to remember is to follow all of your surgeon’s instructions. Be sure to ask questions if you need clarification or don’t understand something!Dr. Paul Vitenas is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Houston, TX. He is known for his skill and artistry in body contouring and has performed many successful mommy makeover procedures. To learn more about surgical options at Vitanas Cosmetic Surgery, call 281-484-0088 today.
