Breasts, Belly, and Down Below – A Complete Mommy Makeover

You don’t have to accept the changes that happen to your body after having a baby. Instead of settling, many moms are opting for a figure flattering mommy makeover. During a mommy makeover, several plastic surgery procedures are done at the same time, restoring a woman’s pre-pregnancy figure without the need for multiple trips to the operating room.

It’s not surprising to anyone that mommy makeovers include surgery to improve the breasts and the tummy region. Everyone is aware that pregnancy takes a toll on the breasts and the abdomen. What’s less talked about, however, is the toll pregnancy takes on a woman’s more private areas. In her Houston practice, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kristi Hustak offers what is known as the complete mommy makeover. It’s a custom tailored surgical plan that addresses the breasts, the abdomen and what she refers to as the “nether regions.”

“Unless you ask, most women won’t voluntarily tell you about some of those issues down there,” shares Dr. Hustak. “One, because they don’t know anything can be done, or two, they just assume it’s part of the pregnancy process. It is a part of the process, but it doesn’t mean you have to like it.”  

Region #1: The Breasts

Pregnancy is hard on a woman’s breasts. First, the breasts enlarge. Hormonal changes, weight fluctuations and breastfeeding can all cause once perky breasts to fall and flatten. Breast skin is typically left stretched out and sagging. Depending on how much excess skin is present and how much volume a woman wants restored, there are several options available when it comes to breast surgery.  

For some women, augmentation with breast implants is enough to replace the volume lost and restore fullness to the upper portion of the breast. In other cases, women need a surgical breast lift to remove sagging skin and reshape the breast tissue. Many times, a combination lift and augmentation are the best way to restore lost volume while lifting the sagging tissue.

Mommy Makeover Breast Procedures:

• Breast Lift
• Augmentation
• Combination: Augmentation and Lift

Region #2: The Abdomen

From the outer layer of the skin down to the deeper layers of the muscles, pregnancy stretches abdomens out beyond their ability to bounce back. Afterwards, loose skin and separated muscles, combined with hard-to-lose baby weight, leave many women longing for their pre-baby belly.

Several procedures are available to restore a beautiful contour to the abdominal region. Which procedure is right for you will depend on the amount of loose skin and excess fat present in the abdomen. When there is very little excess skin, a mini tummy tuck may be all that is needed. When more than a little bit of skin is loose and fat is present, a full tummy tuck with liposuction may be necessary, to address both skin and fat.

Mommy Makeover Abdominal Procedures:

• Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
• Mini Tummy Tuck
• Liposuction

Region #3: Down Below

There are changes that occur in a woman’s private parts during pregnancy – whether she has a C-section or a vaginal birth. Many women experience urinary incontinence, vaginal laxity, loss of stimulation during sex, hemorrhoids and other uncomfortable difficulties post-pregnancy.  

“Just the weight of a baby sitting on your pelvis and your pelvic floor can stretch stuff and change things,” explains Hustak. “I ask every single woman coming in postpartum talking about mommy makeover things, ‘Are there any issues below?’”

While many people experience these issues, most women don’t feel comfortable discussing them with their friends or family. It is often a relief for patients to find out there are ways to address these problems at the same time as they are having their breasts and abdomen done. “There are different procedures we can offer down there to lift, tighten, fill things out and globally improve it,” says Hustak.

Changes Down Below After Pregnancy:

• Urinary Incontinence
• Vaginal Laxity
• Loss of stimulation
• Hemorrhoids

More Results, Same Recovery

“It’s really nice to have one recovery,” shares Hustak. In fact, she has found that by using a long-acting pain medication during surgery, patients experience little or no additional pain during their recovery with the addition of a third procedure in the vaginal region.  “Most patients have no idea I was even down there.”

There is a limit to how much surgery can be safely combined during one visit to the operating room. Dr. Hustak refers to a period of about 8 hours or less as the safe zone. The length of time needed for each procedure will vary from person to person. For this reason, the best way to find out if you are a candidate for a complete mommy makeover is to make an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in offering and combining each of these procedures.