How Long is Mommy Makeover Recovery Time?
Longing for your pre-baby body?
Good news: It is not a thing of the past.
Any mother can regain her youthful, pre-baby shape and appearance with a procedure called a Mommy Makeover.
One of the first questions we receive regarding Mommy Makeovers is: What should I expect during mommy makeover recovery?
Naturally, busy moms want to specifically know how long recovery will take:
- How long will the bruising, swelling, and discomfort last?
- When can I return to work?
- When can I do strenuous exercise and resume normal activities?
- When will I see complete results from my surgery?
- Will I have a healthy recovery?
- Who are the best Plastic Surgeons for mommy makeover
In the following article, we’ll answer all of these questions and several other common concerns regarding Mommy Makeovers and most mommy makeover patients.
Let’s first start by explaining what a Mommy Makeover is.
WHAT IS A MOMMY MAKEOVER?
A Mommy Makeover is a combination surgery aimed at rejuvenating a woman’s body after she is done having children.
Like many other cosmetic procedures, all Mommy Makeover procedures are unique. This is because each one is catered to the individual. Your Mommy Makeover consultation will address the specific concerns you have with your postpartum body.
Most often, a Mommy Makeover includes several of the following procedures rolled into one or two surgeries:
- Tummy tuck
- Liposuction
- Breast lift
- Breast augmentation
- Mini tummy tuck
Which of these procedures you choose will ultimately impact your body’s recovery rate over time.
MOMMY MAKEOVER RECOVERY WEEK BY WEEK:
Week 1: The first week after your procedure is the most intense period of recovery time for mommy makeover. Your body will be in a state of shock, which means you will mostly be sleeping, eating, going to the bathroom, and moving just enough to get your blood flowing. You may experience discomfort and swelling, so be sure to make arrangements for handling your usual household routine and Dr. Sieber will prescribe pain medication to help.
Week 2: During this phase, you will start to feel sore and tender on surgical sites, but also overall tired, which may prompt you to take naps frequently. If possible, you can work from home and take brief walks. Your doctor may also clear you for driving, provided you are off all narcotic pain medication by then.
Week 3: This can be a challenging time for some women because the healing from breast augmentation surgery has slowed down, but they still feel exhausted. Others may feel more energized but frustrated with the overall progress. It’s essential to allow yourself enough time to heal correctly and rely on your family and friends for any help you may need.
Week 4: By this time, the swelling from your breast surgery should be down, and you should start feeling more energized. You can start wearing your abdominal compression binder occasionally or stop wearing it entirely, depending on your doctor’s advice.
Week 5 and 6: At this point, you will start to feel immense improvement and changes. You can resume your regular exercise, but in moderate intensity. The swelling should recede, and the incisions should be closed. However, the swelling could take up to a year to completely wear off, especially if you have had a tummy tuck, so be patient.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: WHAT TO EXPECT DURING MOMMY MAKEOVER RECOVERY TIMELINE
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding recovery from a Mommy Makeover.
Q: WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT DIRECTLY AFTER SURGERY?
A: After your procedure, it’s important to have a trusted friend or relative there to take you home. In most cases, Mommy Makeovers are outpatient procedures, which means you can go home on the same day of the procedure.
In terms of side effects, you will have some bruising, swelling, tenderness, and discomfort. This is all normal and to be expected. Dr. Sieber will give you care instructions for your incision sites and offer techniques and pain medications to reduce swelling, discomfort, and manage pain well.
You’ll need to adjust your lifestyle significantly at first. But over time, your body will heal, and you can return to normal. Be sure to make all of your postoperative appointments with Dr. Sieber.
Q: HOW LONG WILL THE BRUISING, SWELLING, AND DISCOMFORT LAST?
A: Standard side effects associated with the Mommy Makeover procedure include swelling, bruising, tightness, numbness, and some overall discomfort and pain. You can expect these side effects to be worst during the first week and to subside as time goes on.
Q: WILL I NEED HELP AT HOME AFTER MOMMY MAKEOVER SURGERY?
A: Yes, you will need help at home after your Mommy Makeover surgery. Ideally, family members and/or friends will be on standby to help you get around, take care of the household, and care for your kids. Small things like getting groceries and picking up small children need to be performed by others at the very beginning of your recovery.
Q: WHEN CAN I RETURN TO WORK?
A: Most women can return to work within approximately two weeks to three weeks. This, of course, depends on your job. If you have a vigorous job that requires a lot of physical activity, it may take longer to return to normal work.
Q: WHEN CAN START TAKING CARE OF MY CHILDREN ON MY OWN AGAIN?
A: Keep in mind that you’ll need considerable help with your children directly after surgery, especially when they are small and require constant attention. Most women require assistance for around two weeks to four weeks, but it can take up to six weeks for you to be in full charge of your children again.
Q: WHEN CAN I START EXERCISING AGAIN?
A: You won’t be able to start exercising after your surgery for approximately six weeks. Unlike returning to a typical desk job or carrying out routine tasks around the house, exercise is particularly exerting on the body. Therefore, most patients want to give yourself adequate time to recover before doing activities such as running, swimming, or heavy lifting of weights.
Short walks, however, may be encouraged sooner rather than later. You can speak with Dr. Sieber about this at your regular check-up appointments following your cosmetic surgery.
Q: WHERE WILL MY INCISIONS BE?
A: This will depend on several factors, including which procedures you opted for and exactly how each procedure was performed. Varying techniques exist with procedures such as a breast lift and breast augmentation, for example.
Ultimately, the placement of your incisions will be up to the discretion of plastic surgeon, Dr. Sieber. Keep in mind, however, that Dr. Sieber will do his utmost to place all of your incisions in discreet locations to speed up your mommy makeover recovery.
Q: WHAT IS RECOVERY TIME LIKE IF I HAVE MORE THAN ONE SURGERY?
A: Most Mommy Makeovers can be completed in one surgical procedure. However, some women may be interested in staggering surgeries, or Dr. Sieber may deem it necessary to perform the makeover in two sessions.
If this is the case, you should expect to go through a substantial speedy and healthy recovery period both times you have plastic surgery procedures. Only the specific areas of your body that are affected will be different.
Q: WHEN WILL I SEE THE COMPLETE RESULTS ?
A: You should be able to notice some Mommy Makeover results directly following your procedure. Keep in mind, however, that bruising and swelling will be camouflaging your true figure. This can last for up to four or six weeks post surgery.
As your body heals after just a first few weeks or months, your results will become increasingly apparent. Generally speaking, at around three months, mommy makeover patients are able to see the bulk of your results and go back to all of your normal daily activities. For some women, it can take up to a full six months or even a year before the ultimate results have been completely achieved.
Q: WILL I HAVE SCARS?
A: Scars are part and parcel of the Mommy Makeover procedure. Fortunately, Dr. Sieber is skilled at making operative scars as small and indistinguishable as possible.
In most cases, they will be hidden in hard-to-see areas, such as below the bikini line. Moreover, Dr. Sieber will offer post-operative instructions for helping your scars fade as quickly as possible during your mommy makeover recovery.
SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION APPOINTMENT TODAY
The journey towards your pre-baby body starts by booking a mommy makeover consultation today with Dr. David Sieber of San Francisco’s Sieber Plastic Surgery. To schedule yours today, ND learn about Mommy Makeover recovery contact our office at (415) 915-9000!
