Mummy Makeover

Mummy makeover patients are some of the happiest patients in my practice. While magazines and Instagram show pictures of celebrity mums showing off their toned post-baby bodies, real life is often very different. Combining breast and body surgeries allows women to get back to what they looked like before pregnancy – and often even better – all in one single operation with one recovery.

Motherhood is one of the most rewarding things a woman can do, but it also can have a dramatic effect on your body. Pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and child rearing can all cause less than desirable effects to your body shape and contour. Breasts lose volume and sag, nipples and areolas enlarge and droop, tummy skin becomes loose with stretched muscles underneath, and fat starts to settle where it never used to before. There is often no amount of diet and exercise that can repair and restore your body back into pre-pregnancy shape. That’s why so many Perth women ask for Dr Colbert’s help to not only restore, but often enhance their breasts and bodies back into pre-pregnancy shape.

What is a Mummy makeover?

A ‘mummy makeover’ is a combination of procedures that focuses on restoring and rejuvenating your body after the changes brought about by pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.

This combination of procedures is customised to fit your own body and your personal goals, but for most Perth women it usually involves these three surgical procedures:

Breast surgery: often this is a breast augmentation, or a breast lift with implants, or may be a breast lift, or a breast reduction.
Tummy surgery: this is usually a tummy tuck operation, which includes removal of loose and stretched excess tummy skin and repair of your stretched muscles (diastasis recti repair).
Liposuction is used to improve the contour and shape of your body, usually as part of the tummy tuck, but can include liposuction to other areas as well.

The main benefit of a Mummy makeover operation is it that this dramatic improvement in your shape and contour all occurs during the same surgical operation.

Is Mummy makeover surgery for me?

You might be a candidate for ‘Mummy makeover’ surgery if:

You are interested in improving your body shape or contours after pregnancy.
You are in relatively good health, including being a non-smoker.
You are not having any further children, and you finished breastfeeding at least six months ago.

Deciding to have ‘Mummy makeover’ surgery is a personal choice, and can be a difficult decision to commit to. An initial consultation with Dr Colbert is a great place to find out further information that is customised to your body and your personal goals, in a stress free and warm environment.

How soon after childbirth can I have Mummy Makeover surgery?

Pregnancy, childbirth, and breast feeding can all have dramatic effects on your body, and it takes time for everything to return to its normal state.

For those reasons it’s recommended to wait until twelve months after childbirth, and six months after breastfeeding, before having Mummy makeover surgery.

What is the recovery after Mummy makeover surgery?

At a glance, Mummy makeover surgery involves:

Time in surgery: 3 – 5 hours.
Time in hospital: 2 – 3 nights.
Time off work: 2 – 3 weeks.
Time before driving: 1 – 2 weeks.
Time wearing a supportive garment: 6 weeks.
Time before exercise including gym: 6 weeks.

The recovery from Mummy makeover surgery is different for every patient, mainly depending on the number and type of procedures that you’ve chosen. Immediately after your surgery you’re cared for by a dedicated nurse on the ward, with Dr Colbert reviewing you each day that you’re in hospital. Your wounds are dressed with a waterproof dressing, and supportive garments are worn to help with recovery and comfort. Often there are small temporary silicon drain tubes used to help remove any extra fluid your breast and abdomen.

To help ensure proper healing it is important to take your time before returning to activities. Light activities (e.g. office job or light duties) can be recommenced after one to two weeks, while more strenuous activities and exercise can be gradually restarted after four to six weeks.

What scars can I expect after Mummy makeover surgery?

Scarring after Mummy makeover surgery in Perth is a common question.

Breast and tummy surgery results in scars at the incision sites, however Dr Colbert places your scars in locations that are hidden by clothing and swimwear.

The scars improve with time, and for most women they settle into pale fine scars that are not obvious or noticeable.

What are the risks associated with Mummy makeover surgery?

The risks of any surgery will vary depending on what procedures are involved. Mummy makeover surgery can be associated with the following risks:

Infection: sometimes inflammation or infection of the incisions may occur, and if so this is usually superficial infection that can be treated with tablet antibiotics.
Bleeding or haematoma: this refers to a collection of blood underneath the skin that may require removal in the operating theatre, and is very rare.
Thick scars: some sections of your scar may be lumpy or thicker that what is normal for a scar, however this usually improves with time.
Suture ‘spitting’: all the incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures, and these can sometimes irritate the skin before they are dissolved.
Seroma: this refers to a collection of fluid underneath the skin, and if occurs it can be
Breast implant associated risks: risks of using implants can include infection, implant rupture, capsule contracture, malposition.
Delayed wound healing: some areas of the wound can take longer to heal. This is usually treated with dressings, or rarely more surgery may be required.
Blood clots: clots may form in the veins of the leg (deep vein thrombosis) and travel to the lung (pulmonary embolism) – while this is serious, it is thankfully very rare.
Mummy makeover surgery is like any surgical procedures in that it carries risks – therefore before having any operation you should always speak to an appropriately qualified health practitioner about these potential risks.

Why should you see Dr Colbert for your Mummy makeover?

Many Perth women see Dr Colbert for Mummy makeover surgery because they want expert care by a fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon.

Dr Colbert MBBS FRACS (Plastic Surgery) is an Australian trained and fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon.
Dr Colbert is one of only a few Specialist Plastic Surgeons in Australia who focuses exclusively on breast and body surgery.
Dr Colbert personally performs all surgery and aftercare himself, and doesn’t get surgical assistants or nurses to treat you during or after your operation.
Dr Colbert and his staff are renowned for their amazing patient care, delivered in a comfortable and stress-free environment.

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How much does a Mummy makeover cost in Perth?

Costs associated with Mummy makeover surgery in Perth can be confusing, especially considering the different combinations of surgical procedures that can be offered. To try to make things clearer we’ve listed the the following fees that make up the final cost.

Surgical fee: the cost of surgery will depend on what breast and tummy surgeries you undergo. Some parts of your procedures may be partially covered by Medicare and your private health fund, however this is not usually the case. Indicative price ranges of some of the procedures are listed below:
- Breast augmentation: $12000 (includes implants, anaesthesia, and hospital fee)
- Breast lift without implants: $5000 – $7000.
- Tummy tuck: $5000 – $8000.
- Liposuction: $3000 – $5000.
Other fees: apart from breast augmentation costs listed above, the other procedures also have additional fees for anaesthesia and hospital admission. If a part of your procedure is covered by Medicare and your private health fund then they may also subsidise your anaesthesia and hospital fee, however this is not usually the case. A truly accurate quote can only be provided after a consultation with Dr Colbert.

Where can I find out more?

To arrange to speak to Dr Colbert about Mummy Makeover surgery in Perth please contact our friendly office staff.

Alternatively you can leave a message in our contact form.