How Long Should I Wait to Consider a Mommy Makeover After Having a C Section?

Hello. For the best results I tell my patients to wait nine months to a year after there last child before getting a mommy makeover. The reasoning for this is that the uterus needs time to return to its normal size after child birth so that your body can be corrected in its normal state. 6 months are also recommended after breast feeding. The last thing to consider is that you should be as close to your average healthy weight as possible before surgery. Good luck and congratulations!


Jaime Perez, MD
Mommy Makeover Specialist
Plastic Surgery Center of Tampa

It’s not unusual for women to request Mommy Makeover surgery
following pregnancy.This procedure
includes liposuction, abdominoplasty, breast augmentation and breast lift performed
in a single setting.The timing of this
procedure is extremely important for a variety of reasons.It
takes time for a new post pregnancy body to reach its new baseline following
pregnancy and during this transition, it’s impossible to make aesthetic
judgements.During this period,
stretched skin may contract, a swollen uterus may shrink and the weight gained
during pregnancy may gradually disappear.This process takes 3 to 6 months and needs to occur before
abdominoplasty is performed.Pregnancy
and breast feeding cause significant changes in a women’s breasts.When breast feeding is complete, the
glandular elements shrink and, as a result, the breasts become smaller and
develop sagginess.It may take several
months for this process to be completed and for this situation to
stabilize.Until this happens, it’s
impossible to make aesthetic judgements about the breasts. Ideally,
patients should be within 10% of their ideal body weight and in good health
otherwise.The majority of women who have
undergone C-Sections aren’t in good physical shape for a variety of
reasons.They may have severe fatigue, a
depressed immune system, possible blood loss, an increased potential for
infection and elevated estrogen levels which can increase the risk of blood
clots.Finally, the demands of a newborn
could make recovery difficult if these procedures are combined.For all
these reasons, it’s important that Mommy Makeover be delayed for at least 3 to
6 months following a C-Section. If you’re considering, Mommy Makeover surgery,
it’s important to give yourself time to fully recover from your C-Section.Once this has occurred, it’s appropriate to
consult a board certified plastic surgeon.

Most plastic surgeons would insist upon a decent interval between childbirth elective cosmetic surgery. Six months is an often quoted time interval which seems reasonable.

6 months is plenty of time after a c-section to wait before having a tummy tuck.  The breast lift portion of a mommy makeover can be performed a couple of months after you stop breast feeding.  For young healthy, patients both procedures can be performed at once.

Congrats on the new baby. The decision as to when to proceed with surgery is dependent on a lot of factors. Breast feeding is a consideration and I recommend 3 months after the completion of breast feeding before surgery. Regarding the tummy tuck, you want to be at a weight that you are comfortable with and can maintain. I like my patients to have a BMI of 25 or less. This is a common combination of procedures and one that can safely be done at one time. Best of luck with the new little one and with your surgery to restore your "preMom" figure!

I would wait four months or more for your C-section incision to heal and also for you to have time with your new child before having a Mommy Makeover. You need time to stabilize your weight and if breast feeding you need to wait 3-4 months after that. Pregnancy leaves you in a hypercoagulable state for 3-4 months after delivery. The operation of abdominoplasty is known to have one of the higher risks of deep venous thromboembolism, and adding breast surgery makes the surgery longer. Therefore you would be compounding the risks of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, by doing this combined surgery sooner than 4 months. 

"Pregnancy is a hypercoagulable state in which coagulation is activated and thrombolysis inhibited. This prothrombotic risk is compounded when hereditary and acquired thrombophilias and other prothrombotic risk factors are present. The risk of venous thrombotic events is increased fivefold during pregnancy and 60-fold in the first 3 months after delivery (postpartum period) compared with nonpregnant women."  See reference link below.

You are wise to wait until after you are finished having children before your mommy makeover, so the timing now relates to breastfeeding, and how much support you will have taking care of the children after your surgery. It is usually a good idea to wait at least 3 months after stopping breastfeeding before breast surgery. You will not be able to lift more than 5 lbs. for a few weeks after the tummy tuck so that will be a consideration too. so for most moms it is at least 6 to 12 months after your baby before doing the mommy makeover.

I would say about 4 months if you are not breastfeeding and are back to a weight that is stable for you. You can do all the surgeries in one step but the recovery is greater as is the expense. In my hands to do the procedures you mention takes about 4 hours.  If you are on a budget or do not have a lot of time for recovery then separate the procedure by 3 or 4 months. The breast surgery recovery is easier and many people can get back to work in 3 or 4 days after the procedure. A tummy tuck is about 2 times as long with 7 to 10 days of recovery. Good Luck!

For your safety and for best results, you should wait at least 6 months after your c-section till having a mommy makeover.  The allows your uterus to shrink, your hormone levels to normalize, your skin to retract some and perhaps you to lose some weight gained during pregnancy.  If you are breast feeding you must wait approx 4 months till you are done that before proceeding.  All surgeries can be done during one operation but if likely to be longer than 6 hours, your surgeon may wish to split it into 2 sessions, again, for your safety.  Some surgeons do not do breast augmentation and breast lifts at the same time due to high re-operation rates, so that should be covered fully with your doctor.  Best of luck.

Congratulations and good luck on your pregnancy!  There are many factors to consider before moving forward with a mommy makeover surgery.  You will want to be near your goal weight after pregnancy and if you are breast feeding, you want to wait at least 3-6 months after your are finished.  Your body will be going through many changes after pregnancy and with breast feeding and you want these to be stable prior to any surgery.  This is often at least 6 months after delivery.  Finally, combining these surgeries is very common and can be done in one day.  Of course, this depends on your overall health and a complete exam by a board-certified plastic surgeon.