Mommy Makeover surgery addresses a woman’s breasts and tummy post-pregnancy in a single surgery. Reshaping and contouring the body, a Mommy Makeover isn’t just for moms—it’s for anyone who has experienced significant body changes such as major weight loss or pregnancy.
The combination procedure usually consists of a tummy tuck and breast surgery such as a breast reduction, breast augmentation, or a breast lift with or without implants. Combining these surgeries saves the patient recovery time, adds minimal additional risk, saves the patient from taking more time off from work, and, in most cases, saves money. The school of thought is: If you are going to recover from a tummy tuck, you might as well have your breast surgery at the same time as it won’t add additional time in bed. We all know moms don’t have a lot of spare time!
Following the mommy makeover recovery tips below can help ease your post-surgical experience.
Take Enough Time Off
Our surgeons recommend that women take at least 2 weeks off from a desk job and at least 3 weeks off from a physically demanding job. Mothers of small children will need additional child care at home during their recovery from mommy makeover surgery. Ask your doctor for healing guidelines in advance.
Embrace These Healthy Habits
Healing from any surgery isn’t fun. However, arming yourself with the following healthy habits before Mommy Makeover surgery will keep your spirits higher, stress levels lower, and aid your body in optimum healing:
1. Lower stress
Moms wear many hats, which means we are managing several things at once. Preparedness will help keep your stress levels low. Enlist help from friends and family. Things to try:
- Ask the carpool members to pitch in while you are out.
- Create a chore chart with your family before surgery.
- Have your kids and hubby take over laundry, grocery shopping, pet care, and house cleaning.
- Meal prep and shop beforehand so that they have quick, healthy meals at their fingertips.
- Designate who is picking you up from surgery and who will stay to take care of you.
- Be sure to handle all loose ends at work beforehand. Tell your staff and co-workers you are unreachable for at least a week. Leave an outgoing message on your cell phone stating you will return from a vacation in 10 days.
- Have your house cleaned the day before surgery so that you are walking into a stress-free zone upon return from our surgery center.
2. Stay hydrated
The daily recommendation is to drink at least 8 8-ounce glasses of water per day. A side effect of most pain medication is dehydration. Up the daily recommendation to at least 10 8-ounce glasses per day while you are healing.
- Have a large water bottle near your bedside so that you can drink with ease. Keep your taste buds interested by adding sliced cucumbers, mint leaves, or lemons to the water.
- Run a humidifier in your room. Colorado is one of the driest states in the Union. Adding extra humidity to your living environment will help keep your skin supple.
- Eat foods high in water, such as melons, celery, and citrus fruits.
3. Eat mostly whole foods
Many patients ask what to eat after breast surgery or a Mommy Makeover procedure. After surgery, your body is sending increased blood flow to your incisions in order to heal them. Blood houses oxygen and healthy nutrients that allow our bodies to heal from trauma. This is why eating a nutrient-rich, whole-food diet is so important. Whole foods are plant-based foods that are unprocessed and unrefined before consumption.
- Try to eliminate boxed foods that have several ingredients and words that are difficult to pronounce. Food loses its nutritional value with boiling, dying, bleaching, adding sugar, and frying.
- Do your best to eat salads containing dark green leafy lettuce, a rainbow of veggies, and lean protein.
- Add healthy oils such as cold-pressed olive and sunflower to make salad dressing. Your skin LOVES foods high in vitamins C, A, and E and healthy omega-3 fats. Vitamin C is the one ingredient that promotes collagen production within your body. It aids in keeping skin strong and healthy.
4. Read
After a Mommy Makeover, you will be unable to exercise for several weeks, so it is important to keep your brain active. How many books do you have on your shelf that you have meant to read over the past 2 years? Reading during recovery will make your mind active and keep the blues at bay. Feed your mind with knowledge. Listen to podcasts or watch a documentary. Bottom line: An idle mind is a depressing state of mind. Consume all of those magazines, books, and blogs you haven’t had time for!
5. Surround yourself with positivity
By and large, women link personal happiness to their ability to be productive. Keep in mind, productivity is low when the body is healing from a Mommy Makeover. It is important to remind yourself that the healing stages of sleeping and resting are temporary. (Be sure to read our mommy makeover recovery timeline blog post to know what you can expect week by week.) Exercise, play, and productivity are on the horizon in your new body!
- Post positive quotes in your bedroom or on your bathroom mirror.
- Ask your fun, supportive, inspiring friends to visit. Do not speak to “Debbie Downers” or invite naysayers over.
- Write in a journal.
- Add a few drops of good-smelling essential oil to your humidifier.
- Listen to feel-good music.
- Open your shades to let some light in.
- For inspiration, visit our online photo gallery of Mommy Makeover patients.
6. Fill your recovery room with creature comforts
You have most likely donated your childhood teddy bear to charity by now. However, if you haven’t, dust her off and bring her to bed! Healing from your Mommy Makeover will happen with ease if you wear your most comfy pajamas and wrap yourself with the softest blanket available. You may want to adorn your bed with soft, pretty sheets before surgery, as you will live in your bedroom more than usual for the first week of recovery. Have your favorite slippers bedside and the pantry stocked with quality tea and dark chocolate (high in antioxidants). Put a pretty, vibrant plant in your bedroom. Recovery is a time to heal in soft surroundings.
7. Inhale fresh air daily
Get outside, even if it’s for just 5 minutes. The fresh air will enliven your spirits and help you feel refreshed. Sit outside in a comfortable chair and read your book or take a few steps outside.
If you’re ready to transform your body with a Mommy Makeover or want to talk about your options with some of the top plastic surgeons in Colorado, feel free to request a consultation using our online form or call us at (720) 279-1926.
Kari Fisher White
Patient Counselor
[email protected]
Leave a Reply