A classic mommy makeover usually combines a tummy tuck (often with muscle repair), liposuction to shape the waist/hips or full torso, and a breast procedure (lift, implants, reduction, or lift-with-implants).
Some women add mons or labia contouring. Your plan should match your body, goals, and recovery window, there’s no one-size menu.
What’s Included in a Mommy Makeover?
Think of the makeover as two major zones, abdomen and breasts, plus targeted fat shaping. Your surgeon builds a short, focused plan rather than “everything at once.
Abdomen & Core
Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty).
Removes loose skin, tightens stretched abdominal muscles (diastasis repair), and relocates the belly button through a new opening.
Great for skin laxity, “pooch” from muscle separation, and tethered C-section scars.
- Full tummy tuck: hip-to-hip low scar, muscle repair from sternum to pubis.
- Mini tuck: shorter scar, below-belly-button skin only, no full muscle repair (for select candidates).
- Fleur-de-lis (vertical + horizontal scars): for major laxity after big weight changes.
Who it fits: loose skin that won’t budge, round abdomen from muscle split, low, overhanging C-section shelf.
Add-ons that sometimes happen in the same setting:
- Small hernia repair (umbilical/ventral) if your surgeon and your medical team agree, cosmetic parts remain self-pay.
- Mons pubis contouring (debulking or lift) when lower fullness or droop shows in leggings or swimsuits.
Want a deeper dive on discomfort, meds, and week-by-week walking goals? Read how painful tummy tuck is and even see how long does it take to recover from a tummy tuck.
Liposuction for Shape
Goal: refine the silhouette so clothes skim instead of catch.
Common areas: upper/lower abdomen, flanks, waist, upper back/bra roll, hips, inner/outer thighs, and under the chin if needed for overall balance.
- Spot lipo (abdomen/flanks only) works well with a tuck.
- 360° lipo (full torso) creates a waist-to-hip curve but adds time; many surgeons stage it if the plan is getting long.
Who it fits: good skin tone with stubborn bulges; great as a “finisher” around a tuck or breast lift.
Breasts: Lift, Implants, Reduction
Lift (mastopexy).
Raises the nipple-areola and removes extra skin. Shapes a perkier, rounder breast with your own tissue.
Best for: deflation and droop after pregnancy or weight shifts.
Augmentation (implants).
Restores lost upper-pole volume and roundness. This won’t fix true droop on its own if the nipple sits low, pair with a lift when needed.
Best for: volume loss with mild to no droop.
Lift with implants.
Two problems, one session: position and volume.
Best for: deflation plus clear droop where you also want more fullness.
Reduction.
Removes weight and lifts at the same time; also helps neck/shoulder/back strain and bra-strap grooves.
Best for: large, heavy breasts that stay sore and limit activity.
Intimate Options
- Labiaplasty: trims stretched or rubbing tissue; often staged to keep each surgery short.
- Mons liposuction or lift: helps “front-of-jeans” smoothness and swimsuit comfort.
Who’s a Good Candidate
You’re likely a match if you:
- Finished childbearing (a makeover doesn’t block pregnancy, but a future pregnancy can undo results).
- Reached a stable, healthy weight for a few months.
- Stopped breastfeeding and let breast size settle (see below).
- Can pause nicotine (all forms) as your surgeon directs.
- Have time and support for the first 1–2 weeks of recovery.
- Understand scar placement and a stepwise return to activity.
For timing pointers, postpartum windows, season picks, and work planning—see when is the right time for a mommy makeover.
Breastfeeding & Timing
Wait until you’re done breastfeeding, then give your body a few months to settle (many surgeons like 3–6 months after weaning). Milk glands shrink, ducts calm, and your final breast size becomes more predictable.
A lift or reduction can affect future breastfeeding. If more children and nursing remain on your roadmap, discuss techniques that protect ducts where possible or consider delaying breast work and starting with the abdomen.
Build Your Plan
Tummy tuck + focused lipo + breast lift
Best for: loose tummy skin, muscle split, droop without a big volume goal.
Upside: strong core change and perkier shape with a single recovery.
Watch-outs: follow bending and lifting rules after the tuck.
Tummy tuck + lipo 360 + lift with implants
Best for: full waist re-shape, flat abdomen, and restored volume.
Upside: dramatic silhouette change in clothes and swimwear.
Watch-outs: longer OR time—many surgeons cap time, so you might stage the 360° lipo or combine two and do the third later.
Tummy tuck first, breasts later
Best for: high BMI trending down, limited help at home, or you want to spread costs.
Upside: shorter operations, easier early healing.
Watch-outs: two anesthesia events and two recovery windows.
Breast reduction + focused lipo (no tuck)
Best for: healthy skin tone on the abdomen with most concerns up top.
Upside: faster mobility, simpler home care.
Watch-outs: if pregnancy stretched your core, a future tuck may still help.
Should You Bundle or Stage It?
Bundled (same day) makes sense when:
- You’re healthy, at a steady weight, and your OR time stays within your surgeon’s cap (many keep combined cases to ~5–6 hours).
- You have reliable help for week one.
- You prefer one main recovery.
Staged makes sense when:
- Your plan would exceed the time cap.
- BMI is higher, or you’re still losing weight.
- Breastfeeding was recent (let the chest settle first).
- Home support is thin, or your job can’t allow one long break.
For pricing trade-offs and safety guardrails (BMI, nicotine, clot prevention), read our guide for mommy makeover cost, safety & results.
Sample Timelines If You Stage
Option 1: Abdomen first
- Month 0: Tummy tuck + focused lipo
- Weeks 6–8: Back to full activity
- Month 4–6: Breast lift/augmentation or reduction
Option 2: Breasts first
- Month 0: Lift ± implants or reduction
- Weeks 4–6: Return to workouts
- Month 4–6: Tummy tuck + lipo (consider 360° now if time allows)
Option 3: Split 360° lipo
- Month 0: Tummy tuck + limited lipo
- Month 4–6: 360° lipo session + breast work (if within time cap)
Your surgeon will map this around your health, childcare, and work calendar.
How Surgeons Keep Makeovers Safe
- Board-certified plastic surgeon operating in an accredited facility
- Anesthesiologist/CRNA monitoring throughout
- OR time limits to avoid long marathons
- Formal blood clot prevention plan (leg compression, early walking, medication if needed)
- Nicotine-free window before and after
- BMI guardrails (many set ≤30–32 for combined cases)
Want a full safety checklist? Read mommy makeover risks & how surgeons reduce them.
Setting Expectations (Scars, Support Bras, and Core Work)
- Tummy tuck scar: low, hip to hip; bikinis and underwear usually cover it.
- Breast scars: vary—around the areola, a vertical line (lollipop), or an anchor in larger lifts/reductions.
- Lipo ports: tiny lines that fade over time.
Care basics: silicone (gel or sheets) once healed, paper taping to reduce tension if your surgeon uses it, and SPF 30+ on healed skin for a year. Ease back to workouts in stages; core work waits until your surgeon clears you.
What About Pain and Time Off Work?
- Days 0–3: tightness after a tummy tuck; take meds on schedule and do short hallway walks.
- Week 1: energy improves; lifting limits stay in place.
- Week 2: many desk workers return (half-days first).
- Weeks 3–4: light cardio; no heavy lifting or core strain yet.
- Weeks 6–8: most get clearance for fuller activity.
FAQs
What does a mommy makeover include?
There’s no fixed “default,” but most plans include tummy tuck, some liposuction and a breast procedure (lift, implants, reduction, or lift-with-implants). Everything else is optional.
What’s a mommy makeover consist of if I don’t want implants?
Plenty of women choose a breast lift without implants and love the shape. If you want a fuller upper curve, your surgeon can review implant sizes or fat grafting as an alternative for small volume boosts.
Can I get a mommy makeover while breastfeeding?
No. Wait until you finish nursing and allow 3–6 months for your breasts to stabilize. That gives a more predictable plan and safer surgery.
Is it safe to combine three procedures?
It can be, if your surgeon keeps the case within their time cap, you meet BMI/nicotine rules, and you’re a good health candidate. If the plan runs long, smart teams stage it.Will insurance cover any part?
Makeovers are elective. A hernia repair done at the same time may be billable through medical insurance, but the cosmetic portions remain self-pay. Ask your surgeon for itemized estimates.
