From Hollywood to Homemaker: Cosmetic Surgery Embraced in the “Mommy Makeover”

Many of us equate plastic surgery with the vanity, largesse, and elitism made famous by the perpetually sleek and youthful A-list Hollywood stars. But now, that perception is changing. As plastic surgery technology advances and becomes safer and more affordable, cosmetic surgery is making its way onto main street. This shift is embodied in shows like “Dr. 90210,” which seeks out ordinary individuals who feel that they are truly deserving of cosmetic surgery.

The most popular trend to emerge from the democratization of plastic surgery is the “Mommy Makeover.” Motherhood is a joyful journey, but it’s also marked by sacrifice. A woman’s body undergoes dramatic changes after childbirth, many of which are irreversible through non-surgical means. A mommy makeover is an umbrella term for a handful of procedures that are designed to undo these changes, including a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, breast lift, and liposuction. The goal isn’t to make the patient look like a movie star, it’s to make them look – and feel – like they did before childbirth. To friends and family, a Mommy Makeover is a subtle change. But for mothers, a makeover rewards their dedication to their family by potentially restoring their confidence and self-esteem.

Most mothers wait until they are at a stable weight and no longer plan to have any more children before having a Mommy Makeover. It’s not atypical for women to wait 10 or more years before undergoing procedures. However, as cosmetic surgery techniques develop, Mommy Makeovers can be performed with minimal disruption to the routine of a busy working mother. Under general anesthesia, tummy tucks, breast augmentations and other procedures can be performed all at once in as little as two hours; and with gentler, less invasive technology and smaller incisions, recovery time is much shorter. For example, at the office of Dr. Stuart Kincaid in San Diego, tummy tucks can be combined along with ZERONA or VASER liposuction treatments, which are far less intrusive than conventional liposuction methods, which are available throughout San Diego. Breast augmentation procedures can also be performed concurrently with a tummy tuck. In this way, a Mommy Makeover can be less painful, less time-consuming, and even less costly when performed during the same surgery setting.