Things to Know Before Mommy Makeover

What Should Be Known Before a Mommy Makeover? How Does the Preparation Phase Proceed?

The answer to the question of what should be known before a mommy makeover and how the preparation phase proceeds can be given as a multifaceted medical planning process carried out under physician control to prepare the body and mind for the medical requirements of the planned surgical operation, after the anatomical and cellular changes created in the body by pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation (breastfeeding) stages reach a stable point. This process encompasses not only the procedures to be performed on the operating table, but also lifestyle adjustments starting months before the operation date, changes in nutritional habits, and steps aimed at increasing the body’s repair capacity.

The female body experiences great physiological stretching and expansion during the adventure of bringing a baby into the world. At the end of this process, the changes occurring in the abdominal wall muscles, the collagen structure of the skin, and the mammary glands may not always revert to their original state naturally (through diet and exercise). Therefore, the mommy makeover, which involves combined surgical approaches applied to repair these structural differences, creates a certain biological load on the body. In order for this load to be tolerated and the healing period to progress in its normal course, there are medical and personal responsibilities that the individual must undertake in the preoperative period. As stated in the reviews prepared by Buşra Nur Özger, who provides detailed analyses in the field of medical content standards and health communication, the more consciously and disciplined the patient spends the preoperative period, the more the body’s postoperative repair process tends to progress on the planned route. The preparation phase is a critical timeframe where the patient’s medical data is collected, expectations are placed on a rational ground, and bodily values are made suitable for surgery.

What Biological Processes Are Expected to be Completed Before Making a Mommy Makeover Decision?

The answer to the question of what biological processes are expected to be completed before making a mommy makeover decision is that a certain medical resting period must have passed since birth for the end of the involution process (which expresses the return of the uterine tissue to its former size), the clearance of pregnancy hormones from blood values, the narrowing of milk ducts following the termination of breastfeeding, and the elimination of pregnancy edema from the body.

It is of great importance for the body to transition to a physiologically neutral state prior to the operation. Hormones such as relaxin secreted during pregnancy stretch connective tissues and cause the body to retain water. In the first months immediately after birth, the female body is still under the influence of these hormones, and tissues are not in their true form. As long as milk production continues in the breasts, the tissue is tense and its volume is large. Procedures such as breast shaping or a tummy tuck performed during this period can negatively affect long-term aesthetic planning, as they cannot be calculated based on the actual dimensions of the body. In order to see the body’s own natural recovery margin and to leave only the remaining stubborn tissues to surgery, one must patiently wait for the body cycles to settle down.

How Long Should One Wait After the Breastfeeding Period Ends?

The question of how long to wait after the breastfeeding period ends is answered by the fact that physicians recommend an average of six months to pass from the end of the lactation process so that milk production in the mammary gland tissue stops, hormones drop to their normal levels, and milk ducts shrink anatomically to allow the breast to take its true shape.

Breast shaping (lifting, augmentation, or reduction) procedures are one of the basic building blocks of mommy makeover combinations. Performing a surgical intervention on a tissue that has active milk production or has just recently stopped producing milk involves certain medical risks. In the event that milk ducts are cut, the milk residues left inside can pave the way for infection growth or lead to cyst (galactocele) formations. Furthermore, the breast will empty months after the milk stops, and the degree of sagging (ptosis) will only become clear then. The physician can accurately measure how much tissue will be removed from the patient’s body or what size implant (prosthesis) will be used only when this stable period is reached.

Why is Reaching the Ideal Weight an Expectation Before the Operation?

The answer to the question of why reaching the ideal weight is an expectation before the operation is that body shaping operations are not an obesity treatment or weight loss method, but rather target the excess skin and resistant fats remaining after lost weight; therefore, it is considered a fundamental rule of planning for the patient to drop down to the ideal weight they can achieve through diet.

A large portion of the weight gained during pregnancy is lost within the first year after birth with the help of diet, exercise, and breastfeeding. However, if the patient lies on the operating table while still having ten or fifteen kilos of excess weight, the surgeon can only remove a certain amount of skin from the abdominal or breast area. Months after the operation, when the patient loses this excess weight through their own efforts, the fat tissue under the skin will melt, and the emptied skin will start to sag again. This situation causes the loss of the taut and recovered form obtained by the surgery. In order to preserve the achieved structural change for many years, the individual’s weight is desired to be on a fixed (non-fluctuating) graph in the last six-month period prior to the surgery.

How is the Preoperative Physician Examination and Medical Evaluation Performed?

The question of how the preoperative physician examination and medical evaluation are performed is answered as a whole set of clinical consultations where the plastic surgeon millimetrically measures the patient’s rib cage structure, skin quality, and the degree of separation in the abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), and analyzes the harmony between the patient’s expectations and anatomical limits in detail.

The most critical point of the preparation phase is the consultation process. The patient evaluates her body together with the physician in front of a mirror. The physician manually examines the density of stretch marks (striae) on the patient’s skin, the condition of the belly button, and the stretching margin of the skin. How much tissue can be removed in a tummy tuck procedure is determined by this examination. In the breast area, the degree of sagging is determined by measuring the distance between the nipple and the inframammary fold. These measurements form the decision mechanism for the surgical techniques to be applied (for example, whether it will be only a lift or a lift with a prosthesis). The physician also checks the suitability of the body in terms of anesthesia by calculating the patient’s body mass index (BMI).

Why are Preoperative Blood Tests and Radiological Examinations Requested?

The answer to the question of why preoperative blood tests and radiological examinations are requested is that they are medical test stages carried out to map the body’s internal dynamics, to detect possible anemia, infection, or coagulation disorders, and to radiologically verify that there is no hidden pathological formation within the breast tissue.

A mommy makeover is a series of surgeries where the abdomen, breasts, and sometimes the waist areas undergo simultaneous procedures, involving a large tissue surface. Tissue nourishment and bleeding control hold great value in such operations. Anesthesiologists request tests from the patient a few days or weeks before the surgery, such as a complete blood count (hemogram), kidney and liver function tests, coagulation time (PT/aPTT), and ECG. If an anemia picture is detected in the blood values, these values are brought up to normal levels with iron supplements before the operation date. Additionally, in patients over forty or those with risk factors in their families, the tissue is radiologically screened by requesting a breast ultrasonography or mammography before the aesthetic operation, which is applied as a medical standard.

What Steps are Taken Regarding Regular Medications and Supplements Used?

The question of what steps are taken regarding regular medications and supplements used is answered as the process of stopping or readjusting the doses of blood-thinning medical drugs, painkillers, hormonal regulators, and certain herbal food supplements under doctor supervision a certain period before the surgery.

The patient is expected to be extremely transparent with the physician during the preparation period. Some routinely used painkillers (aspirin derivatives, etc.) or rheumatism drugs slow down the function of the blood’s clotting cells. This situation can increase bleeding during the operation and can also lead to fluid accumulation (hematoma) under the skin afterwards. Not only medical drugs but also frequently consumed herbal teas and supplements today such as omega-3 fish oils, vitamin E capsules, ginseng, garlic extract, green tea, and ginkgo biloba have similar blood-thinning effects. Physicians demand that the use of such supportive products and specific medications be suspended an average of two or three weeks before the surgery.

How Does the Use of Cigarettes and Tobacco Products Affect the Process?

The answer to the question of how the use of cigarettes and tobacco products affects the process is the fact that nicotine and carbon monoxide contained in tobacco constrict blood vessels, restricting the oxygen-rich blood flow to the wound sites, and as a result, wound closure may be delayed and scars may form thicker.

The quality of wound repair in aesthetic surgery is directly related to the microcirculation (capillary circulation) in that area. Especially in surgeries like a tummy tuck, where a large piece of skin is separated from the underlying tissues and pulled downwards, that skin needs flawless blood supply to survive. Cigarette consumption blocks this vital oxygen needed by the tissues. This lack of oxygen (hypoxia) experienced at the cellular level is a major risk factor that can lead to tissue necrosis (cell death), infections, and the opening of suture lines. For this reason, experts adopt it as a medical rule that the use of all tobacco products must be stopped at least four weeks before the operation date and that these substances should be avoided throughout the recovery period.

How Should Preoperative Nutrition and Diet Regimen be Organized?

The question of how the preoperative nutrition and diet regimen should be organized is answered as a preparation routine in which a protein-heavy diet is adopted to fill the amino acid and vitamin stores the body will need for cellular repair, edema is taken under control by reducing sodium (salt) consumption, and fresh foods supporting the immune system are added to the diet.

The weeks before entering a surgical procedure can be thought of as preparing the body for battle. The basic building block the body will use for wound repair is collagen, and high-quality proteins, vitamin C, and zinc are needed for collagen synthesis. Staying away from heavily fatty, processed, and packaged foods, and overly salty foods in the days before the surgery reduces fluid retention (edema) in the tissues. In addition, since bowel movements may slow down after anesthesia, focusing on the consumption of fibrous foods (vegetables, fruits, oats, etc.) during the preparation phase helps prevent digestive problems that may be experienced after the operation. Increasing water consumption is also a valuable step in terms of preserving the skin’s moisture balance and elasticity.

How Should the Recovery Area and Social Support System at Home be Prepared?

The answer to the question of how the recovery area and social support system at home should be prepared is organizing easily accessible living areas in the house, anticipating that the patient’s movement capacity will be restricted after the surgery, and setting up a support network (spouse, family member, or caregiver) prior to the surgery, especially for the care of young children.

When the patient returns home after a mommy makeover, the first weeks are days when effort should not be expended to protect the intra-abdominal stitches and to rest the breast. The patient may have difficulty getting up from bed without support, or carrying heavy objects is restricted. During the preparation phase, it is important to place frequently used items such as water, medications, and chargers within easy reach around the bed. The most important preparation is the management of young children at home. Hugging a baby or a toddler who has just started walking with repaired abdominal muscles and new stitches can apply serious pressure to the suture lines. Therefore, in the weeks before the operation, clearly planning who will provide support for child care and housework for at least a two-to-three-week period after the surgery is a detail that increases medical comfort.

What Should Be Included in the Bag to be Prepared When Going to the Hospital?

The question of what should be included in the bag to be prepared when going to the hospital is answered as a comfort-oriented preparation containing comfortable front-buttoned or zippered clothes that do not require raising the arms, non-slip slippers that can be worn without bending over, personal hygiene items, and continuously used (physician-approved) medications.

While spending the day of the surgery and the following one or two nights at the clinic, the patient’s mobility will be limited. It is quite difficult to wear clothes with narrow collars while having IV lines, medical corsets, or bandages on. For this reason, pajama sets that can be opened from the front must absolutely be placed in the preparation bag. Bottoms that do not put pressure on the incision areas and do not tighten the waist should be preferred. Adding necessary personal items to the list so that the companion at the clinic can also be comfortable, and preparing loose and baggy clothes to wear upon discharge in advance, are practical steps that facilitate the process.

How Should the Psychological Preparation Process Be Managed Before a Mommy Makeover?

The answer to the question of how the psychological preparation process should be managed before a mommy makeover is setting expectations on a rational basis by accepting the surgical changes in the body and temporary difficulties such as edema or tension during the recovery period, and achieving mental adaptation by establishing transparent communication with the physician.

In this preparation phase, which is a mental journey as much as a physical one, it is important for the individual to equip themselves with correct information. Instead of filtered images seen on social media, comprehending the realities presented by anatomy makes it easier to have confidence in the normal course of the process. As emphasized in the content analyses prepared by health communication expert Buşra Nur Özger; candidates who know the medical limits of aesthetic surgery, accept that there will be certain lines (scars) on their bodies after the operation, and have the knowledge that these scars will fade over time, get through the process much more calmly. Managing stress levels, doing breathing exercises, or reading resources from those who have experienced the process but take scientific data as a reference in the days before the surgery greatly reduces the anxiety that may be experienced on the day of the operation.

Why are Future Pregnancy Possibilities Discussed in the Preparation Phase?

The question of why future pregnancy possibilities are discussed in the preparation phase is answered as the need for family planning to be clearly decided with the patient for the sake of the permanence of the planning, anticipating that the anatomical form obtained by the surgery will be subjected to stretching and deterioration again with a new pregnancy process.

One of the most important questions physicians ask the patient during medical consultations in the preparation phase is “Do you plan to have children again in the future?”. A mommy makeover involves narrowing the abdominal muscles by stitching them from the inside (internal corset) and stretching the skin. If another pregnancy occurs after the operation, the growing uterus exposes these repaired muscles to severe pressure from the inside. Muscles can separate again, the skin can stretch and crack again, and the breast tissue can sag again with breastfeeding. Although there is no medical obstacle to getting pregnant or to the baby’s development, physicians recommend having this operation done after the family planning book is closed, since the visual gains of the surgery performed will be reversed.

What is the Importance of the Consultations Held with the Anesthesiologist?

The answer to the question of what the importance of the consultations held with the anesthesiologist is that it involves the evaluation of the patient’s past surgeries, allergies, and current systemic condition by the anesthesia physician to adjust personalized drug protocols, so that vital functions (heart rhythm, respiration, blood pressure) can be kept stable during the surgery.

While the plastic surgeon deals with form and tissue repair, the anesthesiologist is responsible for keeping the patient in a safe state of sleep throughout the surgery and for the awakening phase. In the days leading up to the surgery, the anesthesia physician questions the patient’s previous anesthesia experiences (if any), whether they experienced nausea upon waking, and whether they have respiratory problems such as asthma or sleep apnea. Physical details that could affect the intubation (connection to a respirator) process, such as the use of dental prostheses or cervical disc herniation, are recorded. This detailed screening is one of the most critical preparation steps ensuring that the patient is put to sleep and awakened on the operating table within the framework of medical safety.

How Should Work and Social Life Schedules be Arranged According to the Surgery?

The question of how work and social life schedules should be arranged according to the surgery is answered as a time management organized by adjusting the duration of leave from work according to the physical effort level required by the patient’s profession, creating time for doctor check-ups in the first weeks, and postponing travel plans until after the recovery period.

Following combined surgeries, the body’s need for rest is slightly greater than with single surgeries. While the average time to return to the office for a desk worker is two to three weeks, individuals working in the field or in jobs requiring physical strength may need to keep this period slightly longer. Discussing this situation clearly with the employer or workplace during the preparation phase eliminates work stress that may be experienced post-operation. Similarly, if there are planned long flights or road trips, considering that sitting for a long time can affect intravascular pressure, it is recommended to postpone such strenuous activities until at least a few months after the operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should be considered during the preparation process?

The answer to the question of what should be considered during the preparation process is meticulously following medical steps such as adhering to the physician’s instructions, staying away from blood thinners, pausing smoking, and restructuring the diet to be protein-heavy.

2. Should one go fasting (on an empty stomach) on the day of the operation?

The question of whether one should go fasting on the day of the operation is answered that since general anesthesia will be administered, not consuming any food including water starting from midnight before the surgery time (an average of eight hours before) is necessary for anesthesia safety.

3. Can herbal tea be consumed during the preparation period?

The answer to the question of whether herbal tea can be consumed during the preparation period is that it is recommended to stop their use two or three weeks before the operation, as mixtures like green tea, cherry stalk, and ginseng can affect bleeding time.

4. Does the menstrual period cause a problem before surgery?

The question of whether the menstrual period causes a problem before surgery is answered that menstruating does not pose a medical obstacle to receiving general anesthesia or undergoing surgery, but the date can be adjusted if the physician also deems it appropriate for the patient’s personal comfort.

5. Why are nail polish, jewelry, or piercings removed before entering surgery?

The answer to the question of why nail polish, jewelry, or piercings are removed before entering surgery is that nail polishes (or prosthetic nails) must be removed so that the anesthesia physician can measure oxygen levels from the fingertip, while jewelry and piercings are removed to prevent electrical conduction during the use of cautery (a burning device).

6. How many days of hospitalization are planned?

The question of how many days of hospitalization are planned finds its answer in the fact that, depending on the scope of mommy makeover combinations, a clinical rest of one to three nights is generally planned for monitoring the patient’s vital signs, pain management, and drain checks.

7. Is it important to take a shower before surgery?

The answer to the question of whether it is important to take a shower before surgery is that taking a warm shower with an antibacterial soap on the morning of the surgery or the night before is recommended to reduce bacteria on the skin surface and prepare the operation area for hygiene.

8. Are continuously used blood pressure pills taken on the morning of surgery?

The question of whether continuously used blood pressure pills are taken on the morning of surgery is explained that some critical drugs used for systemic diseases may be swallowed with a very small sip of water in the morning with the approval of the anesthesiologist, but this decision should be left entirely to the physician.

9. Why are body measurements and photography taken?

The answer to the question of why body measurements and photography are taken is that it is done for the medical archive in order to form the basis of surgical planning, detect asymmetries, and comparatively evaluate postoperative clinical follow-up in a scientific database (patient file).

10. When should alcohol consumption be paused?

The question of when alcohol consumption should be paused is answered by stating that it is requested to be stopped at least a week before the surgery due to the possibility that alcohol may fatigue liver enzymes, delaying the excretion of anesthetic substances from the metabolism, and may increase edema.

11. Should exercises be done during the preparation process?

The answer to the question of whether exercises should be done during the preparation process is that rather than heavy sports, light activities such as walking, which strengthen the circulatory system and lung capacity, make a positive contribution to the surgery preparation phase by increasing body resistance.

12. Are the corsets to be used purchased before surgery?

The question of whether the corsets to be used are purchased before surgery is answered that the sizes of the compression garments or medical bras the patient will use post-surgery are determined during the examination, and they are usually dressed on the patient in the operating room by the clinical teams at the end of the operation.

13. Does a cold postpone surgery?

The answer to the question of whether a cold postpones surgery is that the surgery is usually postponed to allow the illness to pass, because an active upper respiratory tract infection, a cough, or a fever picture can increase anesthesia risks and put a load on the stitches (due to coughing).

14. Is the condition of the belly button discussed during planning?

The question of whether the condition of the belly button is discussed during planning is explained that information is shared with the patient that, with the pulling down of the skin during tummy tuck procedures, the belly button will be left on its own stalk and repositioned through an opening suitable for its anatomical place on the newly stretched skin.

15. Should epilation be done before the operation?

The answer to the question of whether epilation should be done before the operation is that the areas where surgical incisions will be made (especially the bikini line) must be clean, but since razor applications that can cause irritation or micro-cuts on the skin carry a risk of infection, cleaning must be done a few days in advance and without irritating the skin.