What are the risks of having a mommy makeover surgery?

The Mommy Makeover is a combination of procedures to bring a woman’s body back to the way she looked prior to pregnancy. Most commonly some variation of a #TummyTuck and #BreastSurgery are performed. Additional procedures can include liposuction, umbilical hernia repair.  The most common #breastprocedures include #mastopexy or #breastlift, #breastaugmentation, or #breastreduction.    All surgical procedures carry some degree of #risk. Always discuss your issues and concerns with the Plastic Surgeon during and following your consultation. Information that you read online may not apply to your personal situation. The suitability of your procedures and any specific risks may be determined during you #consultation.

#Combining these procedures decreases anesthetics, costs, and recovery time.  Most importantly, your procedures should be performed by a #PlasticSurgeon who is board-certified and has a great deal of experience specializing in cosmetic #surgery. You will then greatly improve your chances of getting the result you desire, and, without the need for a revision surgery. It is suggested that you look at before and after photos of the surgeons actual patients, and read patient reviews. Gathering all of this information will help you make a well-informed decision. All surgical procedures carry some degree of #risk. Always discuss your issues and concerns with the Plastic Surgeon during and following your consultation. Information that you read online may not apply to your personal situation.It is imperative you select a plastic surgeon who is #board-certified and has a great deal of experience with the procedures included with a Mommy Makeover. . Aside from checking board-certification, it is suggested that you look at before and after photos of the surgeons actual patients, and read patient reviews. Gathering all of this information will help you make a well-informed decision.

All operations carry the risk of infection, hematoma, and wound healing issues. Most of these are minor with mommy makeover procedures. In longer operations such as abdominoplasty pulmonary embolism is a rare but dreaded complication. Fluid collections such as seromas are hematomas are also unwanted postoperative sequelae.

Our goal is to minimize your risks, but certain risks such as deep venous thrombosis (DVT) are associated with longer procedures. Having an excellent anesthesia team and an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon will ensure you get the optimum care during and after your procedure. A good anesthesia/surgeon team will make sure you stay warm during surgery, and use calf or foot compression sleeves to decrease your risk of DVT. According the the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the risk of dying from anesthesia for a healthy person, ASA I classification (normal healthy patient), is one in 100,000. 

   The best you can do as a patient is to find a board certified plastic surgeon who has demonstrated excellence in training and in the quality of the work performed.  I always limit multiple procedures to around 5 hours or fewer in the OR.  The risk of not waking up is about 1 in 100,000 in a healthy patient.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Mommy makeover surgery typically involves a combination of procedures like breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and liposuction. Like any surgical procedure, it carries certain risks, including:
1. Infection: There is a risk of infection at the surgical site, which can be treated with antibiotics.2. Bleeding: Excessive bleeding can occur during or after the surgery, which might require further treatment.3. Scarring: Scars are an inevitable part of surgery, and their appearance can vary based on genetics and the surgeon’s skill.4. Anesthesia risks: General anesthesia carries its own set of risks, including allergic reactions and complications.5. Blood clots: There’s a risk of blood clot forming, potentially leading to more serious conditions like pulmonary embolism.6. Seroma or hematoma: Accumulation of fluid (seroma) or blood (hematoma) under the skin may require drainage.7. Changes in sensation: Numbness or altered sensation in the treated areas can occur temporarily or, in rare cases, persist.8. Unsatisfactory results: There’s no guarantee of achieving the desired outcome, and revision surgeries may be necessary.9. Complications: Rare but severe complications like tissue necrosis and organ damage can occur.10. Emotional impact: Patients may experience emotional and psychological effects during the recovery period.
It’s important to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can provide guidance and discuss the specific risks associated with your mommy makeover surgery. Be sure to weigh the potential benefits against these risks and carefully consider your decision.

Safety is important with any type of procedure. It is important to know the expertise of your plastic surgeon, your anesthesiologist, and surgical team. The usual risks of surgery, such as bleeding and infection, apply here as well. In addition, with any moderately lengthy surgery, as when procedures are combined, there is an increased risk of clots in the legs which can result in dangerous pulmonary emboli (clots in the lungs). All possible precautions should be taken pre-operatively and intra-operatviely to reduce this risk. You absolutely need to have this conversation with your plastic surgeon as well.

You are wise to ask about safety. Not all physicians, or facilities are created equal. You must be confident about the training, expertise of your plastic surgeon, your anesthesiologist, surgical team and surgical facility. 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 undergraduate 3) Formal surgical training from prestigious medical universities. The minimum number of years of surgical training for plastic surgeons to be bord certified in five years. Some physicians have as many as ten years of formal surgical training. There simply is no substitute for stelar academic and practical surgical training. 4) Very experienced surgeons with meticulous surgical technique and natural looking outcomes will have photgraphic evidence of their work. Patients should be able to view many photos of the surgery of interest, photgraphed 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.When choosing a plastic surgeon it is imperative to select a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Often, plastic surgeons who perform a great deal of aesthetic or cosmetic surgery will also be members of ASAPS. Although many capable aesthetic surgeons are not ASAPS members, searching for a plastic surgeon who is a member of ASAPS is an indication that a surgeon has significant interest in aesthetic plastic surgery.Selecting a plastic surgeon should always start with board certification but it doesn't end there.

You are very wise and considering the risks involved in elective surgery. Fortunately in healthy and well selected and compliant patients the complication rate is low. Potential complications depend on the procedures involved in the Mommy Makeover.A Mommy Makeover is a term used to described the performance of multiple procedures done at the same time to correct some of the unwanted side effects of pregnancy and breast feeding. Normally some type of abdominal recontouring is a key component of this combination. If significant stretch marks are present a full abdominoplasty will likely be needed. Sometimes only liposuction of the abdomen or a mini tummy tuck is all that is needed. Typically a mommy makeover consists of some type of breast reshaping such as an augmentation to restore volume, a breast lift to tighten the breast skin or a combination of both. If the breast size is too large a breast reduction may be necessary. Most women also benefit from some liposuction in the area of the hips and thighs. Risks common to all of these procedures are such things as postoperative bleeding, infection and poor wound healing. Most surgeons will expect their patient's to refrain from substances which can thin the blood and cause bleeding for at least two weeks preoperatively. This includes such things as aspirin ibuprofen herbal supplements and some vitamins. To prevent infection it is important to be in good health on the day of surgery and comply with all of the directions regarding wound care.It is known that smoking diminishes the blood supply to the skin and can lead to death of the affected skin and significant wound healing problems.  This is especially true for tummy tucks and breast lift.Consequently many surgeons insist that you refrain from  smoking for up to 6 weeks preoperatively and 4 weeks postoperatively. More serious and potentially life-threatening complications include blood clots and possible pulmonary embolism. If a blood clot develops postoperatively a portion could break off and travel to the lungs causing what is known as a pulmonary embolism. Many doctors employ a risk assessment program to determine your particular risk of this selective nerve surgeoncomplication preoperatively. If it appears that you risk is higher than normal you may be placed on some type of blood thinner during the postoperative period to help prevent this problem. Even if your risk is not higher than normal it is important to walk and move around to keep the blood flowing postoperatively. Your chance of death from anesthesia is extremely low. Today's medical technology allows your anesthesiologist to constantly monitor the level of oxygen in your blood, your blood pressure, your heart rate and other vital statistics.It is important for you to select a surgeon board certified by the American Board of plastic surgery and experienced in the performance of combined procedures.  Your surgeon can help selecta good anesthesiologist for you.  It is also important that your procedure be performed in a properly accredited facility.  Good luck.

Thank you for your question!  I commend you on taking your surgery so seriously.  Risks of complications after a mommy makeover will be discussed with your surgeon in detail.  They include deep venous thrombus and pulmonary embolism.  These risks can be decreased tremendously by following post-operative instructions very closely.  It is very important to stay hydrated after your surgery and to ambulate (walk) the night of the surgery and ever few hours for the next month.  You do not have to wake up to walk in the middle of the night.  Nor do you have to walk a marathon.  Slow deliberate careful walking around the house for 10-15 minutes will decrease the chances of having problems.  I also give all my patients Lovenox to start taking 12 hours after surgery for a 21 day course.  There are other risks, but these are the most serious.  Best of luck.--Dr. Mussman

Any surgery involves risks, even dental ones. They  run from minor complications to death.The advantage of plastic surgery is that the patient is in the best of  health conditions when is accepted by the surgeon for a procedure,  this minimizes the  risks. The patient is studied and if health conditions are not good surgery will not be performed.Also there are many measures to diminish events and complications that are taken by the plastic surgeon like doing one or two procedures at a time to lower the risks.Statistics of death and complications are very low in plastic surgery.