The Mummy Makeover – a combination of procedures designed to restore various parts of the body after the punishing routine of pregnancy – is growing in popularity, and for good reason: while a woman’s body can recover to an extent after pregnancy and the post-natal phase, with loose muscles and stretched skin improving slightly over time, many women desire the firmness they had before.
But how soon after the event should women be considering the Mummy Makeover? The short answer is: it depends. Just as every woman handles pregnancy and the post-natal stage in different ways – both physically and mentally – so it is with post-pregnancy surgery, and no professional practitioner will consider undertaking a procedure until the client is fully ready for it.
If you’re intending to have more children, consider delaying the Mummy Makeover
Post-maternity tummy tucks – a key element of the Mummy Makeover – does two things: tighten the abdominal muscles, and remove excess skin, which you’re going to need if you’re intending to become pregnant again. So don’t even think about having one until you’re sure you’ve had your last child.
Your body will tell you when it’s ready for the Mummy Makeover
If you’re breastfeeding – and even if you’re not – you can rule out a breast lift or reduction until at least three months after your breasts cease lactating – and in some cases, six. There are two main reasons for this: firstly, because even if you’re bottle-feeding, your breasts are very unstable, increasing in size during pregnancy and at the start of the breastfeeding stage, and then losing volume afterwards. There’s very little point in modifying anything until the surgeon knows what state they’re in.
Our advice is to consult your GP and make sure the chemical reactions your body has gone through have finally calmed down before you take the next step. And please be aware that there will be two weeks of post-procedure downtime to factor in…