How Do I Speak to my Kids About my Surgery?

I am a mother of 2, about to have a mommy makeover. My son is 6 and my daughter is 10. I don't know how to tell them about my procedure. My daughter is old enough to acknowledge the physical changes, and since she's starting the training bra phase, I know mommy's new breasts will be very interesting to her. Have you ever had patients share how they handled this?

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by Makenzie in Seattle, WA

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Feel free to tell your children about your Mommy Makeover surgery

Most of my patients undergoing this, or pretty much any other cosmetic surgery, will, in fact, tell their children that they are having a "Mommy surgery" and, as mentioned, be short on details. Your children WILL tell everyone about it, so the less detail they know, probably the better. But certainly they need to know that you will be "resting a lot" and they even like that they can be helpful to Mom while she is recuperating.

What to tell the kids about surgery.

While it is best to speak honestly with children about the fact that you're having surgery, at the ages of 6 and 10, it is not necessary to give the intimate details. Most children just want to be reassured that Mom is going to be home in no time and that she is going to be fine- a little sore, but just fine. It's best to keep the conversation on the level of the ages of the children with reassurance that Mom will take some time to recover but will eventually look and feel better... more

Honesty with family members and children about plastic surgery

I have always felt that most children are quite capable of dealing with their parents' surgeries... provided they are dealt with honestly. This is of course a very personal decision, and parents must consider that children will repeat what they are told in school, so the choice of words used can be important. It is also usually advisable to be candid with immediate family members about the nature of plastic surgery.

Kids and Mommy Makeover

Honesty is the best policy but I would be short on details. Basically you tell them your body has changed with aging and the pregnancies and you are putting things back the way they were. After the procedure they may ask for and you can give them more details but you will be surprised how little they care once given a simplified answer.

Robert Kearney, MD, FACS

6 reviews

La Jolla Plastic Surgeon

Information to kids always gives good results/la informacion de la operacion a los niños siempre es deseable

Please always tell the truth to kids in order they keep always feeled protected by an adult at home, this will bring security to both patients and family preceseally about time at hospital digale siempre la verdad a los niños en casa para que se sientan protegidos por el o la adulta que permanecera en casa con ellos , sobre todo el factor tiempo en el hospital esto les dara seguridad a ellos

How Do I Speak to my Kids About my Surgery?

The most important thing to discuss with the children is the fact you will be having surgery and be sore afterwards so activities with the children will be limited for a while, but reassure them that you will be safe, they will be cared for while you are recovering, and within a short while you will be back to taking care of them. That is what will worry them the most. The 6 year old is to young to really care about the details. Be forthcoming but limited in details with your daughter... more

Discussing Mommy Makeover Surgery with my Kids?

In preparation to respond to your question I just asked a mother of 2 in my office how she discussed her aesthetic surgery with her children. Her response was: “honesty is the best policy”. Although your children of age 6 and 10 may be too young to and understand/care about the details of the plan procedures, I think that they will likely appreciate a basic explanation of what you are planning, what to expect after surgery, that you may need a little... more