Mommy Makeover FAQs

If you’ve been considering a mommy makeover, you probably want to know more about what to expect. Here, we answer the most commonly asked questions our patients have about Mommy Makeovers. You can also request a consultation with us for more information.

A mommy makeover consists of a combination of procedures designed to address the physical changes that arise after the childbearing years specifically due to pregnancy, nursing and the effects of aging and gravity.

An important part of your mommy makeover consultation will be determining your candidacy for surgery. Here are some of the things that will affect whether or you are ready.

• General Health. To be a good candidate for any kind of surgery, particularly multiple surgeries at once, you should be in good health. If you have any existing medical conditions or health concerns, these should be under control and properly managed.
• Lifestyle. The lifestyle choices you make every day can affect whether a mommy makeover is a good fit for you. You should be eating a healthy, nutritious diet to ensure that your body has what it needs to go through surgery and recovery. If you smoke, quit right away. It can be difficult, but it’s worth the effort. Smoking and surgery do not mix, as nicotine introduces a higher risk for complications.
• Attitude. You will need to have a healthy mental outlook in order to be a good candidate for plastic surgery. A positive attitude can also help you maintain your results long-term.
• Family Planning. Whether you plan to have children in the future may affect your candidacy for having a mommy makeover. It’s recommended that you wait until you have completed your final pregnancy before having one. You can still become pregnant and have children after getting a mommy makeover, but it’s likely that your results will be compromised.

You should wait several months after giving birth before you have a mommy makeover. Your body needs time to stabilize and recuperate from all the things that happen during pregnancy and childbirth. If you breastfeed and plan to include breast augmentation in your mommy makeover, wait until after you have weaned. Your plastic surgeon can advise you on how long you should wait to have surgery after you are done nursing.

There is no single best weight to be for a mommy makeover. However, our cosmetic surgeons typically recommend trying to come within 10 to 20 pounds of your ideal weight prior to your procedure for best results.

In general, I recommend waiting at least 6 months after giving birth before undergoing any surgery, but it really depends on a lot of factors and I can give you more specifics in a consultation. Your body needs a chance to recover from the rigorous process of creating life! Waiting a few months gives your body time to heal and you time to see what areas you most want to target. Some women’s bodies spring back to their original shape with just diet and exercise, while others could use a little extra help. You can always consider starting with some skin rejuvenation procedures, such as BOTOX® Cosmetic or laser resurfacing, that can help reduce wrinkles in your face and help you look as young and vibrant as you feel before moving on to body contouring.

Every mom who has plastic surgery wants the best results that will look good and complement her natural features. You may hear about many plastic surgeons near you in Tampa offering mommy makeovers, but there’s a reason Dr. Castellano is one of the most trusted cosmetic surgeons in the area. He and his team have decades of aesthetic experience and hundreds of satisfied repeat patients. During your consultation, you can see more before and after images and find out about all of your mommy makeover options.

The beauty of the mommy makeover is that it is 100 percent customizable for each woman’s individual needs. So, for example, if one patient is happy with her natural breast size but just wants her profile to look fuller and perkier, a breast lift may be best for her. Another woman, however, may want to augment her breasts and perhaps include some liposuction around her midsection. The most commonly included procedures of a mommy Makeover are:

• Breast Augmentation

• Breast Lift

• Liposuction

• Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Not at all. The beauty of a mommy makeover is that it’s completely individualized to each woman’s unique concerns. The idea is to address the parts of your body that you feel need a boost while making the most out of your natural assets. Regardless of what other women choose, Dr. Castellano is completely committed to ensuring that you feel comfortable and positive about your preferences for a mommy makeover.

Breastfeeding is one of the most common concerns women have when it comes to breast augmentation. The good news is that breastfeeding is certainly possible with implants. During augmentation surgery, I take the utmost care to avoid damaging nerves and milk ducts that could make breastfeeding difficult in the future. Placing the implants underneath the chest muscle can decrease damage to breast tissue, which can also help make breastfeeding easier for you in the future. Keep in mind that there are no guarantees: some women will find difficulty in breastfeeding even without undergoing augmentation, so be sure to discuss your breastfeeding intentions with me before any surgery.

There are several different surgical options for enhancing breasts, including breast augmentations and breast lifts. Breast lifts are different from augmentation in that they do not include implants to increase breast size. With a breast lift, an incision is made though which I can lift and reshape the breast and adjust nipple placement to bring the breasts front and center. While a breast augmentation can certainly fill out your breasts, I would recommend sticking with a breast lift if retaining your cup size is important to you.

Ask your surgeon to give you some tips on getting ready for your mommy makeover. Aside from all the things you may need to do to ensure you’re physically ready for surgery, there are other preparations you’ll have to make. Finish up projects at work before your makeover, and recruit help from friends or family to fill in for you as needed.

Before your procedure, Dr. Castellano will discuss your appearance goals so that he has a clear understanding of your hopes following the procedure. The surgery itself will vary in technique and time, depending on which individual procedures are being performed as well as the level of correction needed. Dr. Castellano will go over each surgery with you in more detail so you know exactly what to expect.

Following your mommy makeover, you can expect to feel a little sore and uncomfortable at first, usually accompanied by some swelling. Dr. Castellano may ask you to wear a special garment to support your new shape and help you feel more comfortable, and which will also help swelling dissipate more quickly. Most mommy makeover patients are back to their normal daily routine within a week or two, but more vigorous activities should wait until you feel more comfortable.

Scars after any surgery are inevitable, but Dr. Castellano makes every effort to ensure that you’ll heal beautifully. He also carefully places incisions where they’ll be hidden by your favorite bra or bikini bottoms whenever possible. Most women are so pleased with their end results that scars are not a concern.

Tummy tucks can actually be ideal for women who have had C-sections. During a tummy tuck, an incision is made in the lower abdomen and the muscles are surgically tightened. The belly button may be relocated and excess fat and tissue removed. This procedure can actually help minimize the visible scarring from your C-section, as the skin removal process can help lower your scar to below your bikini line, resulting in a smoother, more toned belly. You might also want to consider liposuction for stubborn deposits of fat around your midsection.

You should notice a difference almost right away after your surgery, with the effects becoming more apparent as post-operative swelling dissipates. Most patients can see their final results after a few months.