Mommy Makeover

During your consultation with your plastic surgeon, you can discuss your goals for your mommy makeover. You’ll also have time to ask your initial questions, go over your medical history, have photos taken, and undergo a physical examination. This examination consists of two parts: one focusing on your breasts and the other on your abdomen.

For the breast examination, your measurements will be taken. Depending on whether you’re having a breast augmentation or a breast lift, the plastic surgeon will discuss the chosen technique with you.

Next, your abdominal region will be examined for the second part of the evaluation. The surgeon will assess the degree of abdominal laxity, determine whether the muscles need to be strengthened, and evaluate whether the abdominoplasty may need to be supplemented with liposculpture.

At the end, your consultation will be summarized in a treatment plan, and the total costs will be discussed with you immediately. This way, by the end of the consultation, you’ll have a clear picture of the potential results.

Please keep in mind that in some cases, it is not possible to perform the various procedures during a single surgery. With your health and recovery in mind, we may decide to split the procedures into two surgeries. This largely depends on the extent of the procedures you wish to undergo. You may also be referred to an anesthesiologist for a preoperative screening to ensure that the treatments you’ve requested can be performed as safely and responsibly as possible.

Consultant

Following your initial consultation, you will have a meeting with your counselor. The purpose of this meeting is to inform you about the general procedures that need to be arranged. Would you like to read more about your initial consultation? Read more here.

Because a mommy makeover consists of a combination of procedures, the surgery is performed under general anesthesia. This means you will not be able to go home immediately after the surgery. In most cases, after spending the night at our clinic, you’ll be able to go home that same afternoon. What else can you expect from the treatment? You’re expected to arrive at the Boerhaave Clinic half an hour before your treatment.
Read here to find out how a typical day unfolds.

Tummy Tuck

For the tummy tuck, an incision is made around your navel to separate it from the surrounding tissue and keep it in place. A second incision is made just above the pubic area and just below the bikini line, from hip to hip. Next, the skin tissue is detached from the underlying muscles up to the rib cage. This allows the often-sagging abdominal muscles to be sutured together, and the skin flap—the detached skin—to be pulled downward to the incision. The excess tissue is then removed before everything is carefully sutured. A small hole is made in the skin at the location where your navel will be, and the navel is sutured into place. This restores the navel’s position in proportion to the rest of the abdomen.

Breast Augmentation

If you combine the tummy tuck with breast augmentation, an incision is made under the breast, in the future breast crease. Next, a pocket—or space—is created into which the implant is placed. The skin is then closed with dissolvable sutures; the wound is covered with Steri-Strips, and a water-repellent, transparent bandage is applied over them.

Whether the breast implant is placed above or below the pectoral muscle depends on several factors. During your consultation, the plastic surgeon will discuss with you which placement will yield the best results for you. For example, an implant can be placed entirely in front of, entirely behind, or partially behind the pectoral muscle.

Breast Lift

It is also possible to combine this procedure with a breast lift. During this procedure, three incisions are made: around the areola, vertically downward from the lower edge of the areola, and horizontally along the natural curve of the breast. This method is also known as the anchor method.

After the incisions are made, the skin is separated from the underlying tissue. This tissue is then lifted upward, and the excess skin is removed. Depending on the new position of the breast, a small opening is made in the skin where the nipple is sutured into place. The wound is covered with gauze pads and a support bandage.

The final results of a mommy makeover are only visible after a few months. In the case of a tummy tuck, your abdomen will be flatter and have a firmer shape. If you’ve also opted for a breast lift or breast augmentation, your breasts will have more volume. For many women, the results can evoke a range of emotions, as they experience the procedure as “transformative.”

Scars

The plastic surgeon will do everything possible to ensure the scars are barely visible. The scars will initially be red and swollen, but this will subside after a few weeks. It’s helpful to know that a scar takes one to one and a half years to fully heal. Be sure to apply the cream you were given generously to the scars and keep them out of the sun. In addition, always use SPF 50 sunscreen for the first year to protect your skin.

Any surgical procedure can involve risks and complications. However, the risk of complications is low in plastic surgery procedures, as they generally involve healthy individuals. Still, it’s important to know that the time you spend under anesthesia during a Mommy Makeover can be quite long. This is because it involves a combination of procedures.

Thanks to our comprehensive medical history review, our professional approach, and thorough patient education, we minimize any potential risks to an absolute minimum. In addition, you’ll receive instructions to take home with you before your procedure, which you should follow carefully. By doing so, you can help reduce certain risks.

Possible complications may include:

• Hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin that requires drainage)

• Adverse reaction to the anesthetic

• Postoperative bleeding

• Infection

• Change in sensation

• Permanent scarring

• Damage to underlying structures

• Unsatisfactory aesthetic result.

Capsular Contracture

If your procedure includes breast augmentation, there is a risk of capsular contracture. This occurs when scar tissue that forms around the implants inside the body causes the breast to tighten, becoming firm and possibly painful. This excessive firmness can occur soon after surgery, but it can also develop years later. Unfortunately, this is unpredictable. However, the risk of it occurring increases over time. After 10 years, the incidence rate is 10 to 12 percent.

Capsular contracture can occur on one side or both sides and is more common when an implant is placed in front of the pectoral muscle. It can be treated through surgery, either by replacing or removing the implant. Keep in mind that it may recur after surgery.

Smoking

Did you know that if you smoke or use tobacco and nicotine products at the time of surgery, you are at a higher risk of complications? These complications include skin necrosis and impaired wound healing. In addition, smoking can also have a negative effect on anesthesia, potentially resulting in an increased risk of bleeding. It is therefore important that you stop smoking at least four weeks in advance and that you continue to abstain throughout the entire recovery process.