By plastic surgeon Dr Dirk Kremer. 

For those mothers who have had a baby within the past few years, you’ll know that nothing in this world beats becoming a mum. With that said, the one bug bear could be the toll it has taken on your body - pregnancy and childbirth can bring about certain physical changes that you’d prefer to reverse, and nothing should stop you from obtaining a more toned body shape that you are proud of.

The mummy makeover can help you achieve this by targeting the parts of your body that childbirth has likely made the most changes to, namely the breasts, tummy area, waist, and any other area that you feel has been affected by the pregnancy and weight fluctuations you may have experienced.

Women who are seeking a mummy makeover have many questions about the procedures that are involved, so below I’ve answered some of the most commonly asked mummy makeover cosmetic surgery queries.

Which cosmetic procedures are included in a mummy makeover?

The cosmetic surgery procedures that are typically carried out to make up the full mummy makeover include breast augmentation coupled with a breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction - although this is no hard and fast rule, this is simply a way to market the combination of procedures to mothers looking to improve their after-pregnancy bodies. Women can and do choose only the procedures that target the areas they are personally most keen to improve.

How long does it take to fully recover from a mummy makeover?

Recovery times can vary slightly from patient to patient, plus it all depends on the exact combination of procedures that are performed, but for most patients who undergo the procedures mentioned above you can expect a recovery time of at least 6 to 8 weeks before you’re pretty much back to normal. However, in terms of a full recovery in all aspects of your life, it could take several months for a patient to feel 100%.

Combining the procedures is one great benefit of the mummy makeover, as undergoing them all at once condenses the recovery time as opposed to spreading out recovery times by undergoing the procedures individually.

Read: What you need to know about plastic surgery and pregnancy

Is it difficult to sleep comfortably after a mummy makeover?

Due to the number of incisions and the work that is carried out in the procedures it’s easy to understand why so many women worry about the trouble they may have with trying to get enough rest and sleep following the surgeries. Your surgeon will likely ask you to sleep in a recliner or on your back with your upper body elevated during the first few nights following the surgery. It goes without saying that you will feel some degree of pain and discomfort, although you will be wearing garments to help aid with the healing process and sleeping in the way described will also help with recovery and limit the strain on your incisions.

You are unlikely to be able to comfortably sleep on your stomach again for the majority of the 6 to 8 weeks of recovery, so you may find it particularly uncomfortable if you tend to sleep this way. However, after the first week or so you will notice an ongoing significant improvement in the pain and overall discomfort you feel while trying to settle down to sleep.

Read: How to sleep comfortably after breast surgery

How long will I have to wait before I can start exercising again?

Most patients are able to return to exercise sometime between 6 to 10 weeks after their surgery - again, it’s all dependent on the combination of surgeries and your personal speed of recovery. You should take the advice of your plastic surgeon as they will be able to inform you about how well you’re recovering and how soon you are likely to be recovered enough to resume exercise.

When you first return, it’s important that you start extremely slow and stick to very simple exercise activities, such as light walks - don’t go straight back to intense hill runs or strenuous heavy weightlifting immediately!

Will I be off work for a while after a mummy makeover?

I’m afraid this may be getting a little repetitive, but as usual, your combination of surgeries and ability to recover will determine how long you will have to wait before returning to work, along with how physically demanding your line of work is. However, to give you a general answer, it’s safe to say that for those who do not work within a physically demanding environment, most are able to return to some degree of sedentary work after 2 or so weeks so long as they are extremely careful with their movements, while most choose to wait 3 or 4 weeks. If your job role is particularly active and demanding, you may need to wait 6 to 8 weeks.

I hope the answers to some of the frequently asked mummy makeover questions help if you’ve been considering a combination of the procedures, despite some of them being repetitive. It’s important to understand that the mummy makeover isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to cosmetic surgery for mothers but rather a way to customise the procedures that are available to improve the areas you’re specifically concerned with following childbirth.

If you’d like to discuss a mummy makeover in more detail and find out how I can help restore your confidence in your body don’t hesitate to get in touch with me here at Harley Street Aesthetics. We can book you in for your initial consultation if you simply call 0845 519 7232, e-mail info@harleystreetaesthetics.com or complete the simple online contact form.