Mommy Makeover is a surgery, or surgeries that help a woman look and feel more like she did prior to pregnancies and childbirth. Typically, the procedure consists of a tummy tuck and some kind of breast surgery. Possibly a breast augmentation, a breast lift, or a lift and an augmentation together. I would suggest that prospective patients look at mommy makeover before and after photos in addition to separate before and after images of tummy tucks, breast augmentation and breasts lifts to see more of a plastic surgeons' work. Some women elect to have post baby body concerns addressed in a single surgery, Others prefer to stage surgeries for various reasons. In many women, it reasonable to perform both breast lift and a tummy tuck in a single surgery. Pricing for this surgery will vary significantly, based on the extent of a tummy tuck, and also based on the training and expertise of a plastic surgeon. The most expensive plastic surgeon may not always be the best, but the lowest priced surgeon will almost certainly be cutting corners that could impact your safety and / or results. Look for lots of before and after photos of tummy tucks, breasts lifts and mommy makeovers. Scars around the belly button are a dead giveaway of a tummy tuck. There should NOT be visible scars around the belly button. Fullness in the upper abdomen is a result that would not be the ideal for most patients. Plastic surgeons who are unable to create natural looking belly buttons, or who rush through surgery without addressing upper abdominal fullness may charge lower prices than plastic surgeons who have the training, ability and interest in providing the very best possible result. A Mommy Makeover is a very significant procedure. Safety is of utmost importance. Take your time researching your plastic surgeon carefully. The following are a few things that can distinguish some surgeons from others1) Graduating from a top tier medical school at the top of their class. 2) Membership in Alpha Omega Alpha. THis is the medical honors society. Alpha Omega Alpha is to medicine what Phi Beta Kappa is to letters 3) Formal surgical training from prestigious medical universities. The minimum number of years of surgical training for plastic surgeons to be board certified in five years. Some physicians have as many as ten years of formal surgical training. There simply is no substitute for stellar academic and practical surgical training. 4) Very experienced surgeons with meticulous surgical technique and natural looking outcomes will have photographic evidence of their work. Patients should be able to view many photos of the surgery of interest, photographed from three different perspectives all with similar lighting, distance from the camera and croppingThe elite experience extends beyond the surgeon to the facility, and the surgical team. You should be able to see the surgical theater and know who else will be in the OR with you during surgery. The Joint Commission (JCAHO) is an organization that provides certification to hospital OR's. The Joint Commission and AAAASF are two of the organizations that can provide certification to surgical suites. Some plastic surgeons elect to have their surgery centers dually certified.The anesthesia experience is critical to a safe and comfortable surgical experience. A board certified anesthesiologist can administer general or MAC anesthesia. My preference is to have a board-certified anesthesiologist at the bedside of my patients for the duration of surgery.Plastic surgeons who cater to high profile individuals who place a high value on privacy will have a private first floor entrance and exit so patients never need to be in a public lobby or elevator for pre-operative or post operative visits.You need to feel like your surgeon listens to you and understands your goals. You need to feel a connection with staff members and you should never feel pressured into scheduling surgery. Prior to scheduling surgery, you should be able to speak to previous patients who have had the same surgery.Regardless of how you decide who you see, ask yourself the following questions after your consultation appointment(s):Is this surgeon qualified to perform the surgery I am considering?Do I like this person? Will I enjoy seeing them over the course of my surgery and recovery?Was my complete medical history taken and examined in detail?Did this physician truly listen to me as I explained my thoughts about the improvement I am seeking?Does this physician share my aesthetic sensibility? Do they understand me and are they able to provide exactly what I am looking for?Was I provided with a thorough understanding of all options available (both surgical and non-surgical)?Was I shown photographic examples of surgical outcomes that give me confidence?Was the office staff professional, friendly and accommodating?Was I pressured in any way to proceed with surgery?Does this surgeon perform aesthetic surgery exclusively or is aesthetic surgery a small percentage of the practice?You must be absolutely certain that your plastic surgeon's aesthetic sensibility matches your aesthetic goals. I have a very particular aesthetic vision, and I do not pretend to be the plastic surgeon for everybody. I strive to produce surgical results that are natural-appearing, results that do not advertise a trip to the operating room. For example, I do not perform breast augmentation for patients that are seeking an overly large and distinctly `done' breast appearance. And I have a particular distaste for cheek implants, as I think they rarely produce natural-appearing cheek contours, and instead prefer to enhance facial volume by means of structural fat grafting. Make sure that your plastic surgeon's philosophy and preferred approaches are consistent with the goals that you have in mind.Adequate communication is obviously invaluable, and you should be able to communicate clearly and easily not only with your doctor, but also with your doctor's staff. Over the course of preparing for and recovering from aesthetic surgery, your doctor's staff will have an important and active role. Make sure that your interaction with the staff gives you confidence that you will receive the care and attention that you expect, and deserve, postoperatively.You are trusting a plastic surgeon with your health and well being, and also to make a permanent change in your body. take your time doing your research.
