There comes a point in almost every mother’s life when she looks in the mirror at her body and says, “Is that really me?” From pregnancy to breastfeeding to up-all-night-rocking-the-baby-to sleep, the demands of motherhood require plenty of physical sacrifices. And with all the changes that take place in the body along the way, it’s no wonder most mothers find themselves feeling like their body is no longer their own. At San Diego Body Contouring, our patients swear by the Mommy Makeover as the best way to regain the youthful contours they recognize as their own. In order to help ensure a successful procedure, we’ve provided the following 15 tips for before and after your Mommy Makeover.
Before your Mommy Makeover
#1. Stop Smoking
This is one of the first things you’ll need to do to prepare for your Mommy Makeover. Quitting smoking will reduce the likelihood of complications in surgery and increase your body’s ability to recover afterward. The earlier you quit, the better. At the very minimum, you’ll want to quit smoking one month prior to surgery and abstain for one month after.
#2. Optimize your health
The healthier your body at the time of your Mommy Makeover, the lower your risk of complications and the faster you’ll recover. In the month(s) leading up to your procedure, eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals to help fight inflammation. Get regular exercise and plenty of sleep to increase your fortitude and support your immune system.
#3. Arrange for help
On the day of your Mommy Makeover, you’ll need someone to drive you home. And for two to three days afterward, you’ll want to have a loved one help you eat, take your medication, and make it safely to the bathroom. Additionally, you’ll need help around the home with childcare, pet care, meal preparation, and housework. Making arrangements ahead of time with your spouse, other members of your household, or outside help if necessary will help ensure that you get the time you need to heal.
#4. Plan for ample recovery time
A Mommy Makeover is major surgery, and it requires significant recovery time. Plan to take at least two weeks to three weeks off of work, chauffeuring children to their activities, and household duties.
#5. Fill your prescriptions
Ask your doctor to provide you with prescriptions prior to your Mommy Makeover so that you can have them filled ahead of time. This way, you’ll have access to them as soon as you need them.
#6. Prepare your home
Your recovery space should be quiet, comfortable, and well stocked with all the items you’ll want nearby while you heal. This includes pillows, blankets, medicines, bandages, Kleenex, baby wipes, movies, books, and other entertainment options. If you’re the main meal provider for your family, take some time to prepare and freeze meals ahead of time. If necessary, write heating instructions as well. Communicate clear expectations to your family so that you get the rest you need.
After your Mommy Makeover
#7. Take it easy
Once you’ve set the expectations with your family, it’s going to be up to you to maintain those boundaries. For two to three weeks following your Mommy Makeover, you should be in recovery mode. Although this may sound simple enough, some women find it quite difficult because they’re so accustomed to staying busy. But getting up and moving around too soon can result in complications. It’s important to remember that your body needs rest in order to heal.
#8. Allow help from others
Remember those people you asked for help in #3? Well, let them help you. If you’re the family doer, this can be challenging, particularly if you’re convinced you’re the only one who can do it right. So what if your kids make a mess in the kitchen while getting their own breakfast? For three weeks, it’s not your job to clean up after them.
#9. Follow post-op instructions
Even if you start feeling great again sooner than you’d expected, it’s crucial that you follow all post-op instructions. This means taking your medications as prescribed, wearing your compression garments, draining your incisions, showing up to your follow-up appointments, and anything else your doctor has instructed.
#10. Keep records
You may have a lot of questions about what’s normal during the recovery process. But because your doctor can’t be with you at all times in the days following your Mommy Makeover, record keeping is the next best thing. If you keep a little notebook in your recovery space, you’ll be able to write down the amount of liquid drained from your incisions, a log of your medications, as well as any questions you may have along the way. Your records will allow you to provide your doctor with accurate information during follow-up phone calls or appointments.
#11. Eat healthy foods
Your post-surgery diet should contain foods with lots of vitamins and minerals to help decrease the risk of infection and speed the healing process. Fruit, vegetables, yogurt, lean proteins, and whole grains should make up most of your post-surgery diet.
#12. Drink plenty of liquid
Drinking plenty of liquid after your Mommy Makeover will help to flush the anesthesia out of your body, minimize constipation from pain medication, assist with wound drainage, and accelerate healing.
#13. Expect some emotional upheaval
Major surgery is a big deal. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. And when you add pain medication to the mix, the likelihood of being emotionally off-kilter increases significantly. If you can remember this and expect some emotional confusion and disturbance, it may help to remind you that it’s temporary and part of the process.
#14. Trust in the healing process
While the Mommy Makeover will eventually provide you with results you love to see in the mirror, it takes time. The recovery process is not always as fun as we may wish. There are some side effects like pain, bruising, swelling, and you probably won’t like the way you look in the mirror right away. But if you have chosen a doctor you can trust (which should always be the case!), then you can trust in the healing process as well.
#15. Celebrate the new you
When it’s all said and done, and you’re finally standing in front of the mirror marveling at your trim figure and your youthful contours, we highly recommend that you celebrate—in whatever way you choose. Whether this means a night on the town with your spouse or the purchase of a tiny new bikini, it’s important to take the time to celebrate the new you.
Ready for your Mommy Makeover? Come visit San Diego Body Contouring!
Whether you’re looking for breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck, or any combination of the three, you’ve come to the right place for your Mommy Makeover. At San Diego Body Contouring, Dr. Charles Sarosy has helped countless women feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. His decades of experience in cosmetic surgery and his expertise in state-of-the-art surgical techniques lead to stunning results and highly satisfied patients. He can help you, too!
Give us a call to schedule a consultation today.
