Mommy Makeover

For moms of all ages in Tampa, a mommy makeover can help you feel your best once your childbearing years are behind you. At Castellano Cosmetic Surgery, our award-winning cosmetic surgeons with decades of experience between them will work with you to create a customized mommy makeover unique to your specific challenges and goals.

Request a consultation today to take the first step toward achieving your cosmetic goals and regaining self-confidence in the way you look and feel.

Pregnancy and childbirth can bring a lot of changes to your body. During the pregnancy itself, abdominal muscles become stretched and weakened. In some cases, the two sides of these muscles can separate, creating a “belly pooch” that won’t go away with diet and exercise alone. 

Additionally, breastfeeding can lead to a variety of changes to your breast tissue, leaving breasts looking deflated or just sitting lower than you might like. For women who feel unhappy with these changes that often result from pregnancy, breastfeeding and age, a mommy makeover is designed to help. 

If you are looking to address any of the above concerns and are in good overall health and are finished having children, you could be a great candidate for a mommy makeover.

The first step when planning your customized set of procedures is to sit down with Dr. Joseph Castellano or Dr. Mindi Giglio at our practice to discuss your goals, review your medical history and have a physical examination. During this time, you and your cosmetic surgeon will work together to create the best mommy makeover plan for your specific needs.

Because every mommy makeover is tailored to the individual, no two procedures will be exactly alike or cost the same. However, below are several of the most common procedures that are often included as part of a mommy makeover for Tampa moms.

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck will tighten and/or repair stretched or separated abdominal muscles while also removing excess skin and fat from the abdominal area. Dr. Castellano and Dr. Giglio often recommend a specialized drain-free tummy tuck technique called the Avelar tummy tuck to his Tampa mommy makeover patients. During your consultation, you will be able to discuss the advantages of this technique with your cosmetic surgeon and determine if it could be right for you.

Liposuction

If you would also like to address stubborn fat elsewhere on your body, such as your thighs, arms or back, liposuction can further sculpt these common problem areas. It is important to note, however, that liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss, although it can be used to remove excess fat that is not responding to diet and exercise. To see the best results, our cosmetic surgeons recommend coming as close as possible to your target weight prior to getting a mommy makeover. 

Breast Lift

Many women experience drooping or deflated breasts after pregnancy and breastfeeding. If this is a concern for you, including a breast lift with your mommy makeover can help. Through a breast lift, your cosmetic surgeon is able to resculpt the breast tissue and adjust nipple placement to create a more youthful and lifted final appearance.

Breast Augmentation

If you would like to increase the fullness and volume of your breasts, breast augmentation can be an excellent addition to your mommy makeover. Breast augmentation can be performed with or without a breast lift. Our cosmetic surgeons will help you to determine if you could benefit from a single or combination breast procedure based on your natural anatomy and cosmetic goals.

Arm Lift

Although less common, more women are beginning to request other body contouring procedures such as an arm lift as part of their mommy makeovers. An arm lift removes and tightens excess skin on the upper arms, which can be challenging or even impossible to address through exercise alone. 

Nonsurgical Procedures

In addition to the surgical options listed above, there are several nonsurgical treatments that you might consider. For example, laser resurfacing improves skin texture and can remove sun damage, which contributes to premature aging. BOTOX® Cosmetic can be used to slow down the advancement of certain facial wrinkles. Injectable fillers are able to minimize deeper lines, or plump the lips for an extra boost.

Once you have discussed and finalized your mommy makeover surgical plan with your cosmetic surgeon, the next step will be to prepare for your actual procedure. Your cosmetic surgeon will provide you with detailed mommy makeover preparation guidelines, such as which, if any, medications or supplements to pause taking, what supplies you might need at home for recovery, when to get prescriptions filled and much more. 

On the day of your procedure, you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment, as mommy makeovers are performed under general anesthesia. The total duration of your mommy makeover will be determined by the type and number of procedures you’ve chosen to include. In general, mommy makeovers typically take around 4 to 6 hours to complete. 

Once your surgery is complete, you will be moved to a recovery area where our team will monitor you as the anesthesia wears off. Once cleared by our team, you will be able to return home that same day.

Your cosmetic surgeon will explain the main points of a successful post-surgical healing process during your initial consultation. However, in all the excitement of planning your procedure, it can be easy to lose sight of just how important to the recovery period is. Recovery is a normal part of any surgical procedure and when it comes to a mommy makeover, taking good care of your body as you heal is essential for developing optimal results.

Immediately following your surgery, you can expect one or several of the following:

• Asymmetry: Especially when breast enhancement is concerned, asymmetry is often a normal part of the healing process as the breasts may experience swelling and implant settling at different rates. Asymmetry may also apply to areas of the body that have been treated with liposuction.
• Soreness: It’s normal for the areas treated during a mommy makeover to feel some amount of discomfort and soreness for the first several days and weeks following your appointment.
• Swelling: The treated areas will develop some swelling after your procedure which should peak over the first few days or weeks and then gradually subside.
• Bruising: Whenever the skin or tissue is affected, bruising is a common side effect. Any bruising you develop should gradually resolve itself over the first weeks of your recovery.

Your surgeon may ask you to wear one or more post-surgical garments, such as a special surgical bra or a compression bandage. The purpose of the garments is to maintain optimal physical comfort, minimize swelling and encourage blood circulation. Many women manage any discomfort with over-the-counter pain medications, but your surgeon can prescribe you something stronger if you wish. Our staff will schedule your first follow-up appointment and provide you with a detailed list of post-operative instructions.

Each woman’s recovery process is unique because of the way her body responds to surgery and the exact procedures involved. However, in general, you can expect your recovery to follow a rough timeline:

The First Few Days

Immediately after your surgery, you should notice changes in your figure but the extent of your cosmetic results will not be apparent due to post-surgical swelling. It’s normal to experience soreness, which can be managed with pain medications. Using bags of frozen veggies as ice packs can provide a useful way to soothe any soreness and reduce swelling. While it’s critical to not overexert yourself, some light walking around the house is encouraged once you feel able.

The First Week

It’s likely that your swelling will increase during the first week after your surgery. You may also notice bruising developing around the treated areas, such as the breasts and the lower abdomen. You may continue to take pain medication during this time, although some women discontinue after only a few days. If you work a desk job, you may feel ready to return to work at the end of the first week, though many women take up to 2 weeks away from work.

The First Month

You should notice your swelling and soreness significantly declining during the first month after your mommy makeover. Unless your job requires a high amount of physical activity, you can most likely return to work by the end of the second week. It’s recommended that you begin slowly resuming light exercise to maintain your results and prevent your muscles from atrophying. However, it’s important to avoid more vigorous activities for another several weeks.

The First Few Months

Within a couple of months following your procedure, you should begin to get a good idea of what your final results will look like. You may still have slight swelling in certain areas and some lingering tenderness. By now, you can return to your normal exercise routine given that your body doesn’t feel uncomfortably strained.

6 Months after Surgery

By this time, you should notice your treatment areas developing their final outcome from your mommy makeover. Your breasts should appear more youthful and proportionate, your midsection should appear more toned and tauter, and any areas treated with liposuction should be noticeably sleeker. Continue to maintain your results with a healthy and balanced diet and an active lifestyle.

1 Year after Surgery

Any scars from your mommy makeover should continue to heal and mature for 1 year or more following your appointment. Proper scar care, including moisturizing and keeping scars protected from the sun, can help ensure optimal healing.

This timeline does not encompass every stage of your recovery. Your body will continue to respond to factors such as age, weight fluctuations and lifestyle. However, you can expect to enjoy your new figure for many years to come provided that you maintain your results with a healthy and active lifestyle.

See even more mommy makeover FAQs on our dedicated page.