Mommy Makeover in Atlanta

The perfect timing for your mommy makeover will be what is right for your body, your family, and your lifestyle. During your initial consultation, we will make sure you have the information you need to determine confidently if you are ready for mommy makeover surgery at this time.

In general, you will want to make sure:

• You are finished having children & are already considering a tummy tuck and/or breast lift. Becoming pregnant after a mommy makeover is not unsafe for you or baby, but it will undo some of your results, as your breasts and belly will change again. If you’re undecided on whether or not you may want more children, you may simply consider non-surgical treatment in the meantime.
• You are at or near a weight you are happy with. Significant weight changes after plastic surgery can compromise your results, so if you have weight loss (or gain) goals, it is better to wait until you have achieved that goal and your weight has been stable for several months before moving forward with surgery.
• You are no longer breastfeeding. We generally recommend waiting to undergo cosmetic breast surgery until after the breasts have returned to their normal (non-pregnant and non-breastfeeding) state for several months for the best results.
• You have reliable full-time childcare help, or your kids no longer need to be lifted or carried on a daily basis. You will not be allowed to lift anything heavy, including small children, for several weeks after breast or body surgery.

One of the key benefits of a mommy makeover in Atlanta is that it is a single procedure. When you have one surgery with a single recovery period, you won’t have to repeat the process every few months or years to achieve your overall goal. This means fewer disruptions to your busy life!

Combining procedures also decreases your total expenses. This is because you will only have to pay the operating room and anesthesiologist fees once. Additionally, you will likely need less total time off of work, which can save you time and prevent future loss of income.

In addition to the practical benefits of a mommy makeover, there can be significant benefits to combining these procedures into a single surgery! For example, by working on the abdomen and hips at the same time as the breasts, we can achieve harmony between these areas. While not impossible to do with separate surgeries, we can more easily make nuanced adjustments to achieve the most natural looking transitions between the breasts and body.

That said, our entire team is here to support you—that means your goals, your budget, and your timeline. If you are not ready to undergo a mommy makeover, we will still be there to support you, creating a plan that will best suit your individual needs.

A mommy makeover surgery at Artisan Plastic Surgery usually takes 3 to 5 hours to complete.

Yes. At Artisan Plastic Surgery, we perform our mommy makeover in Atlanta as an inpatient procedure, meaning you will need to stay in the hospital for a 23-hour observation period.

There are a few things you can do to prepare for the mommy makeover at Artisan Plastic Surgery:

• Because you will be under general anesthesia for your mommy makeover, you will be required to refrain from eating anything after midnight the night before.
• You must abstain from using blood-thinning drugs or supplements for at least two weeks prior to the surgery.
• Arrange for a friend to drop you at home after your surgery.
• You will also likely require assistance during the initial night post-surgery.
• To avoid potential complications, please cease use of all diet pills and injections. All patients receiving these injections are required to be on a liquid diet for a full day before surgery. Water, black coffee, Jello, clear broth, and popsicles are all permitted on a liquid diet. Failing to follow these instructions may cause the cancellation or rescheduling of your surgery.
• Because smoking hinders blood circulation to the skin, which can lead to serious healing issues, we prohibit it.
• Alcohol consumption is prohibited for a week before and a week after surgery. Alcohol can affect anesthesia, and it also influences blood clotting.
• Before surgery, use a germ-killing soap like Dial, Safeguard, or Lever 2000 every time you shower for a week. This applies only before surgery. You can go back to using your usual soap or body wash after surgery.
• Report any signs of cold, viral infection, or pustules on the skin that appear before surgery.
• You will need to shampoo your hair the morning of your surgery. This aims to reduce bacteria on the skin and lower the chance of infection.
• Please avoid applying makeup, creams, lotions, hair products, sprays, perfumes, powder, antiperspirant or deodorant to your skin, hair, or face after showering on the morning of your surgery. Applying these products can expose the skin to bacteria, raising the chance of infection.
• Prior to surgery, contact our office before taking any cough or cold medication.
• We prohibit anxiety medications, including Xanax, on the morning of surgery. Taking anxiety medications, including Xanax, on the morning of surgery will cause us to reschedule or cancel your surgery.
• Shower completely the morning of surgery using your antibacterial soap.
• You can brush your teeth the morning of surgery, but avoid swallowing any water.
• You may not wear contacts during surgery. Please bring your glasses.
• We do not allow jewelry. We will tape any jewelry that is impossible to remove.
• We recommend wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Wear a button-up or zip-up shirt for procedures above the waist. When undergoing procedures below the waist, opt for loose and easily accessible clothing.

There are a few things you should do after mommy makeover surgery in Atlanta:

• We recommend getting up and walking every hour (when you are awake) after you get home. This will keep the circulation in your legs going and help to prevent a blood clot.
• You may return to non-strenuous work 1 week after surgery.
• No sports or gym activity for 6 weeks, unless otherwise directed by the medical team.
• Do not raise your arms above shoulder height for 1 week. After 1 week full range of motion with your arms is permissible, but you need to avoid big stretches with your arms above your head or out to the side.
• No lifting, pulling, or pushing greater than 5 lbs for 3 weeks.
• Positioning: When lying down in bed, position yourself on your back, elevated with your head above your heart for 1 week. This helps with swelling.
• You will wake up after surgery in a surgical bra. This bra should remain in place 24/7 for 1 week aside from showers. After 1 week you may either continue to wear the surgical bra, or switch to a bra of your choice; no underwire, a sports bra that zips or clasps up the front is recommended.
• A bra should be worn 24/7 for 6 weeks aside from showers. After 6 weeks you may wear any bra of your choice, including underwire. Wearing a bra during recovery helps with swelling and reduces tension on your incisions.
• All your sutures are dissolvable.
• No alcohol for 1 week post-op and for as long as you are taking pain medications or muscle relaxers.
• At 3 weeks post-op, you will be instructed on breast massage. This is to help your implants fall in the pocket and prevent scar tissue from forming around the implant.
• Perform breast massage once a day for one minute to each breast. This is most important in the first year post surgery, however, massage should be done for the life that you have the implants.

If you experience any of the following please call the office right away at (404-851-1998):

• A sudden increase in drain output.
• Intense pain that is unresponsive to pain medication.
• Swelling that is excessive, or significantly more pronounced in one breast than the other.
• A bright red mark on the bandage is expanding.
• Incisions that seem to split open.
• Incisions that are noticeably red and warm.
• You may experience fever and/or chills.
• Skin darkening or discoloration, or changes in incision appearance.
• Be sure to let us know immediately if you notice any hardening in either breast, even after a considerable period following surgery.
• If you have calf pain or swelling in one leg. This can be a sign of a blood clot requiring immediate attention.

Recovery time varies widely from patient to patient, depending on the procedures performed. If you are only having a breast augmentation and some hip liposuction, for example, your recovery will likely be much shorter than a patient who is undergoing a breast lift, augmentation, and extended tummy tuck. In any case, you can expect to need a minimum of 1 to 2 weeks off work, and you will need help with childcare and around the house for several weeks, as you will be limited in how much you can lift or strain at first.

Your plastic surgeon will discuss your expected recovery timeline at your consultation, and she will provide detailed, personalized recovery and aftercare instructions before your surgery date to help you prepare.