What Procedures Are Included in Mommy Makeover Surgery?
Pregnancy can bring lasting changes to the body that don’t always respond to diet and exercise alone. Stretched abdominal muscles, deflated breasts, stubborn pockets of fat that appeared out of nowhere… they’re all completely normal. They’re also the reason so many women find themselves Googling “mommy makeover” at 11 p.m. after the kids are finally asleep.
A mommy makeover is a customized combination of surgeries designed to address the specific concerns you have about your post-baby body. The level of personalization is what makes a mommy makeover so unique. The procedures you choose to include will look different from someone else’s because your body and your goals are different from theirs.
At The Swan Center for Plastic Surgery, our board-certified plastic surgeons have helped thousands of Atlanta-area moms feel confident again. Let’s talk about what a mommy makeover could look like for you.
How Your Mommy Makeover Gets Built
What bothers you most when you look in the mirror?
That’s where your surgeon will start.
During your consultation, your plastic surgeon will ask you to describe your concerns, your preferences, and your goals. This is how we get to know you and how you get to know us. Every great relationship starts with honesty, after all.
Once your surgeon understands what you’re looking for and what your starting point is, they’ll recommend a combination of procedures designed around your needs. Some women desire extensive work in multiple areas. Others have one primary concern they want addressed. There’s no right or wrong approach because there’s no standard package. Your mommy makeover plan is designed around you.
Choosing Your Mommy Makeover Procedures
When Your Breasts Have Lost Volume or Changed Shape
Breastfeeding can be wonderful for you and your baby, but it’s often brutal on your breasts. Many women describe their post-nursing breasts as “deflated” or “empty”, like the fullness simply vanished. Others notice that their breasts hang lower than before or their nipples point downward.
For volume loss: Breast augmentation can restore fullness using implants or fat transfer. Dr. Joseph Bauer, founder of The Swan Center, has performed more than 50,000 breast surgeries throughout his career and serves on Mentor’s LEAD council, which helps shape the future of breast implant technology. It’s a level of expertise and hands-on experience few practices can match.
For sagging: A breast lift repositions the breast tissue higher on the chest and reshapes it for a more youthful contour. The nipple and areola are moved to a perkier position, and excess skin is removed. Many moms benefit from combining a breast lift with augmentation to address sagging and volume loss simultaneously.
For breasts that stayed too large: Some women’s breasts remain significantly larger after pregnancy than they’d prefer. If you’re dealing with back pain, shoulder grooving from bra straps, or general discomfort, breast reduction might be worth discussing with your surgeon.
When Your Midsection Won’t Cooperate
That stubborn pooch below your belly button? It might be fat, but it might be something deeper.
Pregnancy often causes diastasis recti, a separation of the abdominal muscles down the midline. The muscles have literally pulled apart to accommodate your growing baby, and they need to be surgically sutured back together.
Add loose, crepey skin and stretch marks to the mix, and you’ve got a trifecta of frustration that diet and exercise simply cannot fix.
For excess skin, stubborn fat and muscle separation: A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) addresses all three issues. Your surgeon removes excess skin (including any stretch marks below your belly button), tightens your abdominal muscles and contours your waist for a flatter, firmer and slimmer profile. The Swan Center has been recognized as “Best Plastic Surgery Center for the Tummy/Midsection” by Best Self Atlanta, a testament to our surgeons’ expertise in this particular area.
For fat reduction and contouring: Liposuction is frequently paired with a tummy tuck to remove fat from the flanks, hips, thighs or bra roll area. The combination creates a more comprehensive transformation than either procedure alone.
When Intimacy Has Changed
This part of the mommy makeover conversation doesn’t get enough attention. After childbirth, some women experience discomfort during sex. Others struggle with incontinence when they laugh or sneeze. These concerns are incredibly common, and they’re treatable.
For surgical rejuvenation: Labiaplasty can help restore a proportionate, youthful appearance to large or irregularly-shaped labia so you can live with greater comfort and confidence.
For nonsurgical rejuvenation: ThermiVa uses radiofrequency energy to tighten vaginal and labial tissues without surgery. It’s a nonsurgical option that can improve both function and appearance.
One Swan Center mommy makeover patient put it plainly: “My sex life was affected, I could only wear certain clothing, and walking too long caused me to cry, it hurt so bad. I no longer have any of that! I’m a little over a month post-op and I couldn’t be happier.”
Other Procedures to Consider in Your Mommy Makeover
Depending on your goals, your surgeon might recommend additional procedures and treatments:
- Fat transfer to add volume to areas like your buttocks or breasts using your own fat
- Injectable butt lift for subtle enhancement
- Facial rejuvenation procedures if pregnancy-related exhaustion has left its mark on your face
- Semaglutide injections to help with weight loss
There are no rules, as long as your surgeon confirms that your plan is safe for you. Your mommy makeover can include any procedure that helps you feel like the best version of yourself.
What Makes The Swan Center Different
The Swan Center has been serving Atlanta for more than 30 years. Our three board-certified plastic surgeons — Dr. Joseph Bauer, Dr. Cristen Catignani, and Dr. Dean Fardo — each bring distinct expertise to mommy makeover surgery.
Our on-site surgical suite is JCAHO-accredited, meaning it meets the same rigorous standards applied to hospitals. Your surgery happens in a private, convenient setting but doesn’t sacrifice safety.
Perhaps most importantly, our surgeons are known for natural-looking results. Dr. Bauer’s philosophy explains it perfectly: patients never look like they have had a cosmetic procedure. They simply leave here looking great.
What Our Real Mommy Makeover Patients Say
The decision to have a mommy makeover is personal. Hearing from women who’ve been through it can help you make the right choice for yourself.
Rachel F., who works in the medical field herself, shared: “I had Mom Makeover surgery in November of 2019. I could not be happier with my results. I have referred many people to The Swan Center because of my immense confidence in the patient care, surgical expertise, and the phenomenal results. I feel beautiful and natural, and my confidence in my physical appearance has completely been restored following surgery.”
Oleta J. said: “I’ve been going to The Swan Center for years, starting with a Mommy Makeover (breast augmentation and lipo around belly and flanks) and have continued to go for injectables. The reason I chose Swan Center is because they have an impeccable reputation and I know they will always have only the best providers in the business.”
Amylou I. described her results as “mind-blowing” and added: “It’s such an out of body experience to feel so awesome with my body again. I highly recommend this practice and I will be going back.”
Ready to Feel Like You Again? Let’s Talk About What’s Possible
Every mommy makeover starts with a conversation. To schedule your consultation at The Swan Center, call 770-667-0904 or contact us online. We serve patients from Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Roswell, Sandy Springs, and throughout the greater Atlanta area.
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