Mommy Makeover Boston | Taylor & Sullivan Plastic Surgery Boston

Dr. Taylor & Dr. Sullivan, Board-certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and Mommy Makeovers Specialists in Boston, Massachusetts

While pregnancy and childbirth are miraculous, they are not entirely benign events for most mothers. Many of the changes induced by pregnancy and breastfeeding are reversible, and the body does recover to an amazing degree the first year after birth. During that period Mothers are typically entirely focused on their infants’ needs and well being. But many mothers struggle with diastasis (separation of the abdominal muscles), redundant skin, hernias, and breast deflation and ptosis. Exercise, diet, and even physical therapy can help with some things, but for many of these issues it is unrealistic to expect the patient alone to fix them, and are best treated surgically. Dr Taylor and Dr Sullivan enjoy these procedures that “put things back where they belong” after pregnancy. A Mommy Makeover can include a combination of surgical and non-surgical treatments, all with the goal of restoring the abdominal wall, and breast position and shape.

While the lay term “mommy makeover” is often used, our patients don’t typically want to look different. They just want to look like themselves--how they were before the important work of pregnancy, labor, and breastfeeding. Many of our patients initially feel selfish or vain that they are pursuing elective surgery for themselves. We understand that mothers often put themselves last in line. And we entirely sympathise/empathize. But when the time is right for you to address the changes in your body that distress you, we are happy to meet and discuss your options. Guided by your perspective and opinion, we are in this together with you, and we will help personalize a safe approach to fit your specific needs to help you achieve your goals, safely and easily as possible, so you can get back to the things and people you love.

What is a Mommy Makeover?

A Mommy Makeover can mean a number of things. Typically it is set of cosmetic procedures that address the results of childbearing and aging on the body. In our experience, the abdomen or tummy and the breasts tend to be the two most common areas of concern following pregnancy.

Nevertheless, a Mommy Makeover can be tailored to rejuvenate your face, breasts, buttocks, tummy or waist to restore or even improve your pre-pregnancy figure. Your individual perspective and opinion about the changes in your body guide the process of the Mommy Makeover with Dr. Taylor and Dr. Sullivan.

Every woman’s body reacts differently to pregnancy. The abdomen can be affected by a contracted or painful cesarean section scar, umbilical hernia, loss or widening of the waistline, separation of the rectus muscles and fascia (diastasis recti), abdominal fullness or distension that increases throughout the day and gives the appearance of pregnancy or obesity, lack of abdominal core strength with back pain or symptoms of urinary incontinence, excess skin and fat (pannus), and loss of skin elasticity (stretch marks or striae), and fat deposits in the hips, love handles, arms, legs or neck. The breasts can lose volume, deflate, sag (breast ptosis), lose firmness and projection, and the nipple and areola can become stretched, asymmetric, and point downward. While diet and exercise don’t hurt, there are some things, such as wide diastasis, extra skin, and sagging breasts, that can really only be fixed with surgery.

We work closely with women to address these areas and have found the most common and effective procedures for a Mommy Makeover to include procedures such as Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), Liposuction, Breast Lift (Mastopexy), Breast Augmentation (Augmentation Mammoplasty), or combinations thereof. Every procedure is personalized because no two women are alike, and a Mommy Makeover should be guided by you and your concerns and requirements. In our consultation and examination, we will learn how we can safely support you with your goals.

Types of Mommy Makeover Procedures

Surgical procedures can include:

Breast Lift (Mastopexy) restores the lifted appearance of breasts that have deflated and become droopy
Breast Augmentation with breast implants or fat transfer adds volume, shape and fullness to your breasts. This is often combined with a breast lift (mastopexy).
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) removes excess skin and c section scars, and some fat, and restores core strength by tightening diastasis recti, sculpts the abdomen with liposuction, and hides the scar along the waistline
Abdominal Reconstruction common after pregnancy, can repair hernias at the same time as a tummy tuck and it is the ideal time for a coordinated procedure to avoid additional scars
Breast Reduction reduces excess weight from the chest and alleviates other physical or psychological issues associated with heavy sagging breasts
Labiaplasty restores the appearance or discomfort of stretched, scared, or asymmetric labia
Liposuction and Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL) are minimally invasive and provide a sculpted and contoured appearance by removing fat deposits in places like the love handles, abdomen, hips, neck, arms, and thighs through micro incisions usually hidden in natural creases or folds
Fat grafting provides a natural way of restoring fullness to deflated areas such as the breasts, cheeks or lips by removing fat from undesirable areas by liposuction and transferring the fat grafts with minimally invasive techniques

Non-surgical procedures can include:

Botox and Dysport to help reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles such as frown lines, Crow’s feet, forehead creases and neck bands.
Juvederm, Restylane or Versa injectable facial fillers can rejuvenate healthy appearing fullness to your cheeks and lips and decrease fine lines, creases, and wrinkles

What can I expect during the recovery from a Mommy Makeover?

We will continue to be closely involved in your care following your procedure to ensure you have the best and fastest recovery. Your recovery from a Mommy Makeover depends on the specific procedures you have done.

Facial Botox or fillers are non-invasive with little to no downtime, whereas an operation will require time to regain full strength and resume regular activities. You can go home and will be walking on the day of the operation and you may shower the next morning. We work hard to minimize perioperative nausea and pain with multimodal pain therapy and narcotic minimizing strategies. Every patient is different, but while some pain and tenderness is normal, when compared to a caesarian section, for example, most women tell us that a tummy tuck is an easier recovery. Before, during and after the operation we’ll use non-narcotic medications to minimize pain and discomfort and limit the need to use opioid medications such as oxycodone. Most patients will benefit tremendously from our use of long-acting numbing medicine, to limit pain for several days following the operation. Our treatment regimen is also guided to prevent symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or constipation to ensure a gentle and comfortable recovery. For many Boston mommy makeover patients the surgical drains necessary for abdominoplasty are the most annoying and irritating part of their recovery. These are removed when the output drops below 30cc/day typically between 5 and 12 days after surgery.

You can expect your breasts, abdomen, or other surgical sites to be swollen for the first few weeks. To minimize swelling, you may receive a supportive bra or an abdominal compression garment. For a few weeks, you will need to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise. We will provide procedure specific information and instructions to help you recover from your procedures.

Common Benefits of a Mommy Makeover

In summary, if you are suffering from changes in your body from pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding, there are safe and effective surgical treatments that can help. While most patients don’t want to be transformed into someone else, many are happy to have their body back. Here are some benefits of a Mommy Makeover in Boston:

Safely combine those procedures that make sense to combine
Flatter, smoother abdomen
Repair separated and stretched abdominal muscles (diastasis recti)
Strengthen abdominal muscles and improve back discomfort
Repair hernias
Reduced stretch marks
Least conspicuous scars
Get rid of excess loose skin (skin laxity)
Restore body contour
Improve breast symmetry
Lifted breasts with better support
Larger or fuller breasts
Correct stretched or enlarged nipple and areola
Improve clothing fit
Recover with the least amount of discomfort and time
Narcotic reducing multimodal pain therapy
Early return to function

All with the goal of making you feel yourself again, so you can focus on the things you want to focus on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a candidate for a Mommy Makeover?

Most women who have given birth are potential candidates for a Mommy Makeover, but the ideal candidate is a nonsmoker, in good health, with a BMI less than 30, and who is finished with childbearing. The procedures can be performed after one or several pregnancies. Women who have had multiple children may have more changes in their body. Safely lose the weight you can and be at a weight that you can maintain. If you are planning to have more children, consider waiting to have a Mommy Makeover. If we determine you to be a good candidate and you wish to proceed, we will be in this together with you to help you to achieve your goals, as quickly and safely as possible.

When can I get a Mommy Makeover after giving birth?

Consider waiting at least six months after giving birth and at least three months after you’ve stopped breastfeeding to start the Mommy Makeover process. Pregnancy can undo the results of surgery because the skin and muscles in your abdomen stretch and breasts can deflate and sag again.

Being in good physical health and giving up smoking at least four months before surgery is required. We don’t recommend Botox or Dysport or breast operations for women who are breastfeeding.

Can I have more children after a Mommy Makeover?

A Mommy Makeover will not affect your ability to have more children. If you plan on having children within the next couple of years, you should consider postponing procedures such as tummy tuck or breast lift. Receiving a Mommy Makeover will provide the longest-lasting results when you are not immediately planning for further pregnancies. Nevertheless, operations can be performed again in the future.

What are the risks with a Mommy Makeover?

Every woman is unique, both with planned procedures as well as potential risks. A Mommy Makeover can combine different procedures and there are specific risks associated with each procedure since. General risks of all operations can include bleeding, scar, infection, fluid collection, pain, and blood clots in the legs. With careful patient and procedure selection, and detailed attention to perioperative care most potential complications are thankfully rare with Mommy Makeover procedures.

During a Mommy Makeover Boston plastic surgeons Dr. Taylor and Dr. Sullivan make safety their top priority. We will provide specific information and instructions to help you prepare for your procedures. We take precautionary steps to minimize risks and complications from surgery to help you recover with the least amount of discomfort and time. For some patients oral contraception should be stopped and replaced with a barrier method of birth control prior to an abdominal operation to decrease the risk of a blood clot.

Will I have a scar with a Mommy Makeover?

Noninvasive procedures such as Botox or fillers are performed without a scar. Liposuction and Power-Assisted liposuction are minimally invasive and are performed with sub-centimeter scars usually hidden in natural folds or creases. Other operations, such as breast lift and tummy tuck, trade a scar for improved body contour. The trade-off is typically a good one and the scars can be placed in the least conspicuous locations - such as under a bra line or underwear line. The scar from a tummy tuck, for example, is even lower than that of a caesarian section scar, and although longer, the scar can usually be hidden by underwear or bikini bottom. We use dissolving buried sutures to avoid the need for suture removal or unnecessary suture scars.

Is a Mommy Makeover covered by insurance?

Most Mommy Makeover procedures are considered cosmetic and not covered by insurance (at least until Women become CEOs of insurance companies). When you come in for your consultation we will evaluate your condition to determine if you might qualify for some coverage by your insurance company. Depending on which procedures meet your goals, your policy may provide some coverage. For example, if you suffer from pain in your back and neck due to large and heavy breasts (macromastia), your insurance company may consider coverage for a breast reduction. Each policy has its own requirements for coverage and we recommend checking with your insurance carrier.

Consultation for a Mommy Makeover in Boston

When you are ready to learn more about a Mommy Makeover, please contact us to set up your consultation with Dr. Taylor and Dr. Sullivan.

While one will be your primary surgeon, they usually operate together as a team for Mommy Makeover procedures to optimize your car and safety. They have both been named among the best board-certified plastic surgeons in Boston by Boston Magazine every year since they have practiced in the area.

They were both fortunate to be selected to train at some of the finest medical institutions in the world, including Harvard Medical School, where they now teach medical students and residents. Dr. Taylor and Dr. Sullivan aim to provide honest and informative consultations, and perform surgery with precision and an emphasis on safety. During your consultation, they will listen to your concerns and discuss the details of your procedure. Excellence with compassion is the motto of Mount Auburn Hospital, and they aspire to meet that goal each and every day.