Having kids changes everything, including your body. Pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding change a woman’s body in ways that don’t always bounce back with time, exercise, or healthy habits alone. Many women struggle with loose skin, sagging breasts, stretch marks, or stubborn fat, things that simply don’t respond to a proper diet or workouts.
That’s why the Mommy Makeover exists.
A Mommy Makeover is a customized combination of cosmetic procedures designed to help restore areas like the abdomen and breasts after pregnancy. For many patients, this isn’t just about looking a certain way. It’s about regaining self-confidence and feeling comfortable in their skin again.
In this blog, we’ll walk through everything you should know about this popular cosmetic surgery, from what’s included to what recovery looks like and how much it typically costs. If you’ve been considering a Mommy Makeover or are just curious about the process, you’re in the right place.
A Mommy Makeover surgery is not a single procedure. It’s a combination of procedures that are typically performed in one surgical session to address changes in the body after childbirth and breastfeeding. The goal is to restore the shape and tone of specific areas that often change after pregnancy, especially the abdomen and breasts.
Here are the most common Mommy Makeover procedures:
A tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen and tightens stretched abdominal muscles. It’s especially helpful if you have loose skin, stretch marks, or diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal wall), which can happen after pregnancy. This is one of the most commonly included procedures in a Mommy Makeover.
Breast surgery after pregnancy usually involves a breast lift, breast augmentation, or both. A lift helps correct sagging breasts and reposition the nipples, while breast implants restore lost breast volume. Some patients may also consider breast reduction if their breasts became overly large or uncomfortable after childbirth and breastfeeding.
Liposuction is used to remove unwanted fat from multiple areas, like the flanks, hips, thighs, or upper arms. It’s not for weight loss, it’s for shaping specific areas that don’t respond to diet and exercise.
Some women choose to include labiaplasty or clitoral hood reduction to improve comfort or appearance after childbirth. These surgical procedures are always optional and based on individual concerns.
Once you’ve scheduled your initial consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon in Atlanta, the next step is preparing for surgery day. Proper prep goes a long way in setting up a smooth recovery and better results.
You’ll need to be in good overall health, a non-smoker, and at or near your goal weight. Most plastic surgeons recommend waiting until you’re done having children, since pregnancy after surgery can affect your results. Many women choose a Mommy Makeover when they feel ready to focus on themselves again, whether that’s one year or ten years after childbirth.
During your consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your body, discuss your goals, and explain what kind of results are realistic based on your anatomy, skin elasticity, and lifestyle.
Depending on the combination of procedures, most women need two to three weeks off work and several weeks of avoiding heavy lifting. If you have small children, you’ll need help with childcare during the first part of recovery. You’ll also want to plan for one recovery period instead of spacing out surgeries over time, which is one of the big advantages of combining procedures.
Being prepared helps make the recovery smoother and reduces stress in those first few days after surgery.
Mommy Makeover surgery is typically done under general anesthesia and may take anywhere from three to six hours, depending on how many procedures are included.
Let’s look at what usually happens with each surgical procedure:
This is often the first step in a Mommy Makeover. The surgeon will make a low incision just above the pubic area, remove excess skin and fat, and tighten the abdominal wall muscles. The belly button may be repositioned. Compression garments are placed to reduce swelling and support healing.
A breast lift removes sagging skin and repositions the breast tissue and nipples. If you’re adding breast implants, they’ll be placed during the same procedure. This part of the surgery addresses the loss of breast volume and improves shape and symmetry.
Your surgeon will use a small tube (cannula) to suction out fat from specific areas like the hips, love handles, or thighs. This helps sculpt and balance the overall result.
This shorter cosmetic surgery procedure involves reshaping the labia minora and/or trimming the clitoral hood. Some patients include this to feel more comfortable in clothing or during physical activity.
After surgery, you’ll spend a few hours in recovery before going home the same day. Be sure someone is available to drive you and stay with you for at least the first 24 hours.
Mommy Makeover recovery isn’t the same for everyone. It can vary depending on your overall health, which procedures you had done, and how closely you follow post-op instructions. But here’s a general recovery timeline that can help you know what to expect:
The total recovery period may be longer or shorter depending on the procedures included, but with proper care and time, results are long-lasting.
The results of a Mommy Makeover surgery are designed to be both natural-looking and dramatic in the right ways. You may notice a flatter, firmer stomach, more lifted and fuller-looking breasts, and a smoother overall silhouette.
Most patients feel a major boost in self-confidence, not just because of how they look, but because they finally feel like themselves again.
Final results usually settle in around 3 to 6 months after surgery. Swelling will go down gradually, and scars will continue to fade over the following year.
Every result is different because every woman’s body and every combination of procedures is unique. If you're curious what’s possible, check out our Before & After Gallery to see real outcomes from real patients.
Mommy Makeover cost in Atlanta can vary depending on the procedures included, the surgeon’s experience, and the location. In the Atlanta area, the total cost typically ranges from $15,000 to $25,000 or more.
Factors that affect the cost include:
Keep in mind, a Mommy Makeover combines several procedures into one surgical event, which can help save money compared to doing each surgical procedure separately. Plus, you benefit from one recovery period instead of multiple.
If you're in good health, done having children, and looking to restore parts of your body affected by pregnancy, a Mommy Makeover might be a good fit. It’s not about chasing perfection, it’s about feeling more at ease in your own skin.
Talk with a board-certified plastic surgeon about a Mommy Makeover about your goals, and get answers to your questions during your initial consultation. This is your chance to build a plan that fits your body and your life.
If you're thinking about a Mommy Makeover, we're here to help. At Nip & Tuck Plastic Surgery, our team of experienced plastic surgeons understands how personal this decision is. We’ll walk you through your options, explain each step, and help you feel confident every step of the way.
Schedule a consultation today and take the first step toward feeling like yourself again, only better.
Come visit Dr. Jones and our team and let us help you achieve the spectacular look you deserve!
3280 Howell Mill Rd NW, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30327
