Mommy Makeover Surgery in Honolulu, HI

Good overall physical health, free from any significant medical conditions that could interfere with surgery or recovery. You will need to be cleared by your primary doctor for any pre-existing conditions including post-partum diabetes. It's essential for the candidate to have achieved a stable weight before considering a mommy makeover. Significant fluctuations in weight can affect the results of the procedures, while some fat is removed during the process, a tummy tuck's main goal is to remove excess skin and tighten abdominal muscles.

Smoking/vaping impedes the healing process and greatly increases the risk of complications including popped sutures, so it's preferable for candidates to be non-smokers or commit to quitting for a specified period before and after surgery. Alcohol and many over the counter pain killers are blood thinners and should also be discontinued prior to surgery.

It’s super easy to take the skin elasticity test – just pinch the skin on the back of your hand with your thumb and forefinger and hold it for five seconds. Let go and time how long it takes for the skin to flatten back out. The shorter the time, the younger the ‘functional age’ of the skin.

Time (Seconds)          Skin Age (Years)
1-2                               Under 30
3-4                               30-44
5-9                               45-50
10-15                           60
35-55                           70
56 or more                 Over 70

Mommy makeovers often involve skin tightening procedures, so having good skin elasticity can contribute to better results.

It is advisable to wait at least six months to a year after childbirth before undergoing a mommy makeover. A full makeover is best for someone who does not plan on having any more children. This is crucial for anyone planning on getting a tummy tuck as the procedure uses permanent sutures to tighten and hold the abdominal muscles in place.

If the candidate has been breastfeeding, it's essential to wait until breastfeeding is fully concluded before considering surgery. This ensures hormone levels stabilize, reducing the risk of complications. Although placing implants under the muscle is less likely to impact the ability to breastfeed in the future, the time your body will need to take off/recover will greatly impact you and your baby's feeding schedule.

Undergoing cosmetic surgery is a significant decision that can impact one's emotional well-being. It is common to get post surgery depression especially in the first month following your surgery when everything is swollen and painful. A good candidate should be mentally prepared for the procedure, understand the potential risks, and have a positive outlook/trust the process as it can take a full year to see your final results.

The candidate should have reasonable expectations about the outcomes of the procedures. A mommy makeover can bring significant improvements, but it may not result in perfection or entirely replicate a pre-pregnancy body. There will always be a large scar across your lower abdomen from where skin was removed. Most plastic surgeons don't show scars, even healed and rely on clothed images in their before/after galleries to conceal it.

Since mommy makeovers typically involve multiple procedures, having a support system in place for post-surgery recovery, childcare, and household responsibilities is crucial. This is one of the many reasons some moms wait until their children are adults who can be their caretakers during recovery.