Mommy Makeover Recovery Timeline: What To Expect Week by Week
Embarking on a mommy makeover is an exciting step toward restoring your body after pregnancy. As… Read On
Craig W. Colville, M.D., F.A.C.S
2865 North Reynolds Road #250
Toledo, OH 43615
Phone: (419) 534-6551
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Mommy Makeover
Women who come to our Toledo, Ohio, practice for a mommy makeover share a common goal of regaining confidence in their bodies. Pregnancy and childbirth are wonderful experiences, but can create physical changes that diet and exercise alone cannot correct. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Craig Colville specializes in mommy makeover procedures, which usually include a tummy tuck and cosmetic breast surgery.
Mommy Makeover
Before & After Photos
WARNING:
This feature contains nudity. Please click OK to confirm you are at least 18 years of age and are not offended by such material.
Should You Consider a Mommy Makeover?
The changes to a woman’s body after having children can be fairly dramatic. Weight changes, breastfeeding, and fluctuating hormones can leave you with sagging abdominal skin and breasts that have lost much of their volume. If these changes have made you lose confidence in your figure, a mommy makeover procedure customized by Dr. Colville can help restore your pre-pregnancy body.
Exercise and diet alone aren’t enough to reverse the physical changes after pregnancy. Pursuing a healthy lifestyle is important, of course, but only cosmetic surgery can repair the abdominal wall and remove stubborn fat pockets and excess skin.
A Reputation Built on Results
I had a consultation on 1/7/25 with Dr. Colville for a tummy tuck after my original surgeon had to cancel...
Had a great experience at Dr Colville’s office. He was very thorough and all of his staff could not...
Dr. Colville has been absolutely incredible from start to finish. He explains everything throughly and...
Great experience with Dr Colville & his staff, highly recommend! He provides awesome results! He’s very...
Planning Your Mommy Makeover
Dr. Colville customizes your mommy makeover package after conducting a thorough physical examination and discussing the specific concerns you have during the consultation. You should be at the weight you want to maintain and have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or lower before scheduling your mommy makeover. Based on your aesthetic goals, Dr. Colville recommends a combination of procedures that can safely create the results you want in a single operation.
What Is Included in a Mommy Makeover?
The following procedures are most commonly part of a mommy makeover:
- Breast Augmentation: Breast implants restore volume to deflated breasts after childbirth and breastfeeding. Breast augmentation may improve the appearance of breasts that are just beginning to sag, but most women with appreciable sagging require a breast lift.
- Breast Lift: Mastopexy elevates and reshapes the breasts, and it can move the nipple to a more natural position, facing outward rather than downward. If you’re satisfied with the size of your breasts, but are unhappy with sagging or drooping that has developed, a breast lift is the appropriate procedure. Dr. Colville often combines a breast lift with implants to get the best cosmetic results.
- Breast Reduction: In some cases, a woman’s breasts remain overly large after having children, causing back, shoulder, and neck pain. Breast reduction surgery removes excess tissue and skin, and it’s common to combine reduction with a breast lift.
- Liposuction: Weight gain during pregnancy is expected, but it can be difficult for some women to lose all of the baby weight. Women who never struggled with excess fat prior to having children may notice “love handles” or a “muffin top”—localized areas of fat that can be hard to lose. Liposuction permanently removes this stubborn fat for patients who are not overweight to tone and sculpt areas such as the flanks, thighs, arms, or buttocks.
- Tummy Tuck: Diastasis recti, or separation of the abdominal muscles, is a common problem after pregnancy. Because the separation occurs at the fascia, sit-ups or exercises cannot correct this condition. A tummy tuck repairs these muscles and can also restore a flat, firm abdomen for women who notice excess skin or a “pooch” after pregnancy.
Mommy Makeover vs. Tummy Tuck
If you are deciding whether to have a mommy makeover or only a tummy tuck, here is a side-by-side comparison that might help. For additional information, review our blog post comparing abdominoplasty and mommy makeover surgery.
| Consideration | Mommy Makeover | Tummy Tuck |
|---|---|---|
| Area improved | Breasts and body | Abdomen |
| Cost | More than a tummy tuck, but less than having separate surgeries | Less than a mommy makeover |
| Downtime | At least 10 to 14 days | At least 10 to 14 days |
| Benefits | Multiple improvements with a single surgery and recovery period | Rejuvenation of the abdominal area |
Your Mommy Makeover Surgery
The specific nature of your surgery depends on the procedures Dr. Colville performs. He creates a precise surgical plan that addresses your concerns, making patient safety his top priority. He uses general anesthesia during a mommy makeover.
Your procedure may take several hours, depending on the number and type of procedures included in the operation. In most cases, patients return home on the day of the surgery. We can also arrange for an overnight stay if necessary or preferred.
Mommy Makeover Recovery Time
You should plan to take at least 10 to 14 days off of work if your mommy makeover includes a tummy tuck. The recovery from cosmetic breast surgery usually takes considerably less time. One of the benefits of a mommy makeover is the convenience of having a single recovery period following your operation. The specific nature of your recovery depends on the procedures performed.
Whatever your combination of procedures, it’s important to have someone at home to help with everyday tasks, especially if you have young children. You must avoid bending over, reaching, and lifting as your body heals. Dr. Colville provides all mommy makeover patients detailed postoperative instructions that should be closely followed to help minimize the risk of complications and help you remain comfortable during the recovery.
If you have any concerns or questions during the first few weeks following your operation, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Colville’s office.
Mommy Makeover FAQ
Can you get a mommy makeover without being a mom?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding are not the only reasons women’s bodies change, so motherhood is not a criterion for mommy makeover surgery. These combination procedures are great for healthy women who want to improve multiple areas for whatever reason. Learn more about who can benefit from a mommy makeover in our related blog post.
How long after a mommy makeover can I drive?
Most patients are safe to drive once they’ve stopped taking prescription pain medication, which is usually about a week after surgery.
What’s the best age for mommy makeover surgery?
As you might guess, there isn’t an ideal age for mommy makeover surgery. Your life’s circumstances and overall health play a more important role. For example, if you have young children at home, you’ll need childcare during your recovery.
Will I lose dress sizes after a mommy makeover?
Tummy tuck and liposuction—two procedures typically included in a mommy makeover—remove excess skin and fat. This typically results in a reduction of 1 to 3 clothing sizes after the procedure.
How many years does a mommy makeover last?
The results of a mommy makeover can last for years if you lead a healthy lifestyle. If breast augmentation is part of the procedure, your implants can last 15 to 20 years or more. The skin and fat removed through abdominoplasty and liposuction are permanently gone.
I had a C-section. Will this impact my mommy makeover surgery?
Having a C-section may affect the timing of your mommy makeover because you need to be completely healed before undergoing elective surgery. That is at least 6 months, perhaps longer. When you do get a mommy makeover, the plastic surgeon may use the same incision location for a tummy tuck, although the tummy tuck incision is typically longer.
Women considering a mommy makeover travel from Findlay and Sandusky, OH, along with Ann Arbor, MI, to have Dr. Colville perform their procedures. You can request a consultation to meet personally with Dr. Colville. Or call our office at (419) 534-6551 to schedule an appointment.
Mommy Makeover Related Blog Posts
Tummy Tuck vs Mommy Makeover: Which is Right for You? 4 Key Considerations
Deciding between a tummy tuck and a mommy makeover can be challenging, especially if you're considering… Read On
8 Common Questions About Mommy Makeover Surgery, Answered
Motherhood brings great joy, but it also brings its share of challenges. Pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding… Read On