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Many women considering a mommy makeover wonder if they need to hit a “magic number” on the scale first. The truth is, there’s no perfect weight, just the healthiest version of you.
As a woman, your body will go through a variety of unique changes throughout your life. The most noticeable of these transformations often occur after having children or experiencing significant weight loss. A few examples of this include the breasts sagging, belly skin losing its elasticity, and stubborn pockets of excess fat forming. If you’ve encountered these kinds of changes, you could be a candidate for a mommy makeover. A mommy makeover is a set of cosmetic procedures that can be custom-tailored to restore a woman’s figure after pregnancy, weight loss, or the effects of aging.
WHAT PROCEDURES ARE INCLUDED IN A MOMMY MAKEOVER?
The specific procedures you undergo in a mommy makeover will depend on your personal needs. You will have a consultation with your plastic surgeon to discuss your goals for the procedure and determine the most effective treatment plan. Typically, a mommy makeover will consist of some combination of these procedures:
• Breast Augmentation
Enhances breast volume and shape—typically using implants or fat transfer—to restore fullness lost during pregnancy or weight fluctuations.
• Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Elevates and reshapes sagging breasts by tightening skin, repositioning the nipple, and restoring a firmer, more youthful contour.
• Liposuction
Targets and removes stubborn pockets of fat in areas like the abdomen, hips, flanks, or thighs to achieve a more refined silhouette.
• Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightens weakened abdominal muscles—commonly stretched or separated during pregnancy—for a flatter and firmer midsection.
• Brazilian Butt Lift
Contours and enhances the buttocks using fat transfer or implants to improve shape and lift—often paired with liposuction to sculpt surrounding areas.
• Belt Lipectomy (Body Lift)
Addresses sagging skin and tissue from the lower torso and hips, especially beneficial for patients with significant weight loss or extensive skin laxity.
WHAT MAKES YOU A CANDIDATE FOR A MOMMY MAKEOVER?
Because a mommy makeover often consists of several major procedures, there are several requirements that candidates typically need to meet. For one, it’s important to be in generally good physical health. Additionally, you need to be confident that you are finished with childbearing; otherwise, it’s likely that you will lose some of the results of your mommy makeover. If you’ve had children in the past, you should also be far enough removed from your most recent pregnancy for your body and hormones to have stabilized. This can take anywhere from six months to a year.
In addition to these requirements, most plastic surgeons prefer patients to be within a certain weight range before undergoing a mommy makeover. However, that doesn’t mean there’s a universal ideal weight for a mommy makeover necessarily.
THE IDEAL WEIGHT FOR A MOMMY MAKEOVER VARIES
When women hear that there is an ideal weight for a mommy makeover, many of them believe that it’s a specific weight they need to reach. However, that isn’t the case. If you’re interested in a mommy makeover, what’s actually important is that your BMI (body mass index) is below 30 and that you’re close to your personal ideal weight.
Your BMI is a measurement of how healthy your weight is relative to your height. For example, someone who weighs 150 pounds at 5’ 3” tall would have a higher BMI than someone who is 5′ 8” tall and the same weight. Your BMI can classify your weight as underweight, healthy, overweight, obese, or severely obese. If your BMI is over 30, that’s classified as obese, and plastic surgeons may be unwilling to perform a mommy makeover before you’ve shed some of that extra weight.
At Neaman Plastic Surgery, we take a more individualized approach. While we always prioritize patient safety, we are often more flexible than other practices and will consider patients with slightly higher BMIs on a case-by-case basis. Our goal is to help you achieve a safe, beautiful transformation without arbitrary barriers. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, a consultation with our team is the best next step.
Preventing Complications
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Being significantly overweight can raise the risk of complications during and after surgery.
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Studies show that obesity increases the likelihood of problems such as incision infections, fluid leakage, postoperative pneumonia, and intra-abdominal abscesses.
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A high BMI may weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to heal properly after surgery.
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Because a mommy makeover involves multiple procedures, surgeons are often more cautious when operating on patients with obesity to avoid these risks.
Optimizing the Results
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If you are near your ideal weight, you’ll have a much better chance of achieving smooth, long-lasting results.
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Mommy makeovers are not weight-loss procedures. Liposuction, when included, is intended to remove small, stubborn pockets of fat—not large volumes.
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Excess weight can make it harder to create a balanced, sculpted appearance, especially if there’s significant fat distributed in multiple areas.
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Losing weight after your procedure could stretch or sag your results, particularly in the breasts or abdomen.
BMI Can Be Misleading
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BMI (Body Mass Index) is a useful guideline, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
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Someone with high muscle mass may technically have a high BMI but still be in excellent shape.
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That’s why our surgeons evaluate your body composition, fat distribution, and overall health—not just the number on the scale.
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Curious about your BMI? Use the CDC’s BMI Calculator to find out.
What Is the Takeaway?
Most surgeons recommend having a BMI under 30 and being within 10 to 20 pounds of your ideal weight before undergoing a mommy makeover. While exceptions can be made, these guidelines help ensure you’re a strong candidate for a safe and successful procedure.
Thinking about a mommy makeover in the Salem, OR area? Schedule a consultation at Neaman Plastic Surgery and let our expert team evaluate your goals and readiness for surgery.
