If you’re gearing up for your mommy makeover, you’re probably filled with a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation as the day you have waited for so long finally nears. The length and intensity of your mommy makeover recovery will depend on a range of factors, including the number of the procedures you want, the surgical sites, and your physical health.
It is important to be aware of the primary stages of mommy makeover recovery, the typical recovery period, and the restrictions you’ll need to adhere to post-surgery. Keep reading to find out exactly what to expect after your mommy makeover surgery, along with our top tips for the optimal mommy makeover recovery.
Let’s dive right in!
What to Expect After a Mommy Makeover Surgery
After the process of pregnancy, giving birth, and breastfeeding, it’s not uncommon for women to search for solutions to return to their pre-baby body. The fact of the matter is, sometimes eating the right diet and exercising just isn’t enough. Having babies often leaves women dealing with excess skin, sagging areas, fat pockets, lessened skin elasticity, and deflated breasts.
With a mommy makeover, you can customize your cosmetic procedures to achieve your desired shape by choosing the combination of surgeries you want to meet your particular body needs. With a mommy makeover, you can lift your breasts, tone your body, tighten your skin, and help restore your appearance to its pre-pregnancy look.
Mommy makeover surgeries frequently involve the following procedures:
- Breast reduction
- Breast augmentation
- Breast lift
- Fat reduction
- A tummy tuck
Immediately following your mommy makeover surgery, the doctor will administer bandages or gauze to cover your incisions. The doctor will also give you a support bra or elastic bandage to reduce swelling and offer support to your breasts (assuming you had a breast procedure). Before you go home, the surgeon will also give you very particular instructions that you must adhere to throughout the duration of your recovery.
Typical doctor’s instructions include:
- The best way to care for the surgery regions after the procedure(s)
- The medications you need to take either orally or topically to fight infection and promote the healing process
- Any risk factors or complications to keep an eye out for at the procedure site or regarding your overall health
- When you need to attend your follow-up appointment with the doctor post-operation
Let’s take a closer look at the typical mommy makeover recovery time.
Mommy Makeover Recovery Time
There is no concrete mommy makeover recovery time that applies 100% across the board because each patient is different. For example, a mommy makeover involving only 1 or 2 surgeries or noninvasive procedures will likely mean a much shorter recovery time than if you undergo multiple, highly invasive surgeries.
Also, it is critical to recognize that everyone responds differently to surgery, healing and recovering at varying speeds. You must have realistic expectations of the length of time it will take to recover and have patience with your body if it takes a bit longer than you hoped.
Speak with your doctor in advance of your surgery to discuss your mommy makeover recovery and get their feedback on your anticipated recovery period based on your chosen procedures and overall health.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Mommy Makeover
The initial mommy makeover recovery period typically lasts for around two weeks following the surgery. During this period, you should expect to have a certain amount of discomfort, along with bruising and swelling at and surrounding the surgical sites.
It will take a few months before you can move around with ease and the bruising subsides. Even a few months out from the surgery, it is still perfectly normal to have swelling at the surgical sites. The last part of your mommy makeover recovery will last the longest, but you should be feeling much more like your regular self.
During the final stage of your mommy makeover recovery, you will start to see the swelling go down, revealing the results of your surgery. The final stage can last anywhere from several months to a year, which means it could be a very long time before all the swelling has subsided. Tummy tucks, in particular, have a very long mommy makeover recovery period, with swelling subsiding very gradually.
On the other hand, if you opt for less invasive procedures, you could expect a much shorter recovery time with far less swelling and general discomfort.
Mommy Makeover Recovery Week by Week
Remember, mommy makeover recovery looks different for each person. The following timeline will offer a general idea of the recovery you can expect.
The first week of your mommy makeover recovery is going to be the most intense period of your recuperation. Your body will be somewhat in shock from the procedures, so you will be able to do little else other than eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, and move a little around your house to promote proper blood circulation. It is completely normal to walk somewhat hunched in the initial week due to the discomfort and swelling.
When you are in that first week of your mommy makeover recovery, you will need to have someone else handle your regular household routine, such as preparing meals, doing chores, shopping, and so forth.
By week 2 of your mommy makeover recovery, you will start to notice a marked difference in how you feel. You should be phasing out any pain medications your doctor prescribed and switching to ibuprofen or Tylenol as needed. Provided you are completely off of pain medications, your doctor may permit you to drive.
It is very normal to feel pretty tired during week 2 of your mommy makeover recovery, as is feeling sore and tender at the surgical sites. You will probably need to take naps regularly. If possible, you should be able to work from home and take brief, slow walks as exercise. If your job is sedentary, you should be just fine returning to work at the 2-week mark. Otherwise, you will need another 1 or 2 weeks if your work involves more physical labor.
Some women find that week 3 is difficult, where the healing seems to slow and you still feel very exhausted. Others feel more energized and notice lessened swelling at this point. It is normal to feel frustrated and just want to return to normal, but you need to get plenty of rest and allow yourself sufficient time to heal. Rely on your family and friends to help you out during week 3, and don’t be afraid to take downtime and ask for help.
Once you hit week 4 of your mommy makeover recovery, you can switch to wearing your abdominal compression binder either occasionally or stop wearing it completely, depending on what your doctor says. The swelling should be down and you should also feel improvement in your energy levels.
Bruising should be completely gone. It’s typically fine to engage in light cardio at this point, but keep your exercise moderate if you start to experience pain. If you travel for your job, you can resume that as well once you reach week 4 of your mommy makeover recovery.
Finally, when week 5 and 6 roll around, you will start to see massive improvement and changes. You can resume your regular exercising at this point, but you should avoid high-intensity activities if you start to feel pain. The swelling will mostly recede and incisions should be closed.
Remember, the last of the swelling could take as long as a year to go away, especially with a tummy tuck. Have patience with the process and enjoy your newly restored body shape.
What to Consider After the Mommy Makeover Surgery
Here’s what you need to consider regarding the period after your mommy makeover surgery.
Pain from the Mommy Makeover Surgery
You can and will experience pain from your mommy makeover surgery. The pain is a completely normal aspect of the mommy makeover recovery process and will abate considerably as early as week 2.
Take care to get the rest you need, not to move around too much before you’re ready, and avoid lifting or strenuous exercise. Lifting items like groceries or even your baby could cause significant pain during the initial mommy makeover recovery period. Take the pain medicine your doctor prescribes as required, but try to wean off as soon as you can in accordance with the surgeon’s instructions.
Exercise After the Mommy Makeover Surgery
During that first week of your mommy makeover recovery, the most physical activity you’ll be able to do is to move very slowly around your house for very short periods to get your blood circulating. By week 2, you can usually start light exercise like moderate walking in brief intervals and resume light cardio as early as week 4.
You should be able to return to your regular exercise regimen 5 or 6 weeks out from the procedure. With that said, you should not be in a huge hurry to get back into your exercise routine. Walking is a great way to start moving again, but you need to see substantial healing before engaging in more intense activities like lifting weights or jogging.
Don’t be frustrated if your mommy makeover recovery takes a bit longer than the periods noted here. Everyone’s recovery timeline is different. What matters is to make sure that you give your body the time and rest it requires to heal properly.
Tips for a Quick Recovery After a Mommy Makeover Surgery
Check out our top tips for a quick recovery after mommy makeover surgery!
First, pay attention to your body’s signals. If you don’t feel ready to perform an activity, wait until you do. You shouldn’t ever just push ahead if you feel pain or strain.
Once you’re about 3 months out in your mommy makeover recovery, you should be close to fully healed and have no issue returning to your regular routine. However, if you experience discomfort during that initial year at any point, listen to what your body is trying to tell you. If you need to take a break and rest or avoid a certain activity, do so until you feel you’re ready.
Make sure your wound is dressed sufficiently at all times. You should not expose your surgical sites with the incisions to direct sunlight. You also need to keep wearing the compression garments your doctor instructs for as long as they deem appropriate.
Always speak with your physician in advance of and during your mommy makeover recovery regarding any questions or concerns you might have. Listen to and heed your doctor’s advice each step of the way to promote fast healing and a speedy recovery.