Knowing that the plastic surgery journey is collaborative, Dr. Johnson Lee takes the time to fully understand each patient in order to achieve only the most beautiful and natural results. He shares his passion for plastic surgery with his patients through education and open communication so that they can make an informed and positive decision. Haute Beauty chats with Dr. Lee about the mommy makeover and what really makes up this popular procedure. 

HB: What is a Mommy Makeover?

Mommy makeover – any combination of procedures to restore a patient’s body back to before they had children. Many people assume there is a specific procedure called the mommy makeover. Rather it is a catch-all phrase to describe any group of surgeries performed on mothers.

HB: How does the Mommy Makeover work?

A combination of procedures is performed together during the same surgery to address changes that have happened related to pregnancy and motherhood. These include a breast lift to tighten and lift the breasts and resizing of the areolas after breastfeeding, tummy tuck to tighten and restore the abdominal muscles and remove extra skin, liposuction and fat grafting to remove fat from unwanted areas and place them in areas where fat is preferred (breasts or buttocks).

HB: Who is the best candidate for a Mommy Makeover?

The best candidate is someone healthy and at least 6 months after pregnancy and/or breastfeeding and within 10% of their goal body weight. They should also be able to take off at least 2 weeks from caring for their children (heavy lifting) or from working while they recover.

HB: How does this treatment compare to others of the same nature?

A mommy makeover results in very dramatic changes for most patients and restores their confidence and pride in their body. By combining multiple procedures into one, patients can take less time off of work and spend less time recovering when compared to doing each procedure individually. This also translates to lower costs including operating room, anesthesia, and surgeon’s fees.

Photo Credit: Dr. Johnson Lee

HB: What does recovery look like?

Since a mommy makeover combines procedures, recovery Is typically longer than most other procedures. Most patients are back to their normal routine within 2 to 4 weeks so help around the house and with the kids is essential during the first few weeks.