Mommy Makeover What It Is, What It Is Not, and How Surgeons Think About It

In this episode of Beauty and the Beasts, plastic surgeons Dr. Sam Jejurikar and Dr. Salvatore Pacella take a practical look at the mommy makeover and explain why the term is often misunderstood by patients.

Rather than being a single procedure, a mommy makeover typically refers to combining breast surgery and abdominal surgery to address the physical changes caused by pregnancy. The discussion focuses on how surgeons decide which procedures make sense for each patient and why efficiency, safety, and realistic expectations matter just as much as the final aesthetic result.

Dr. Jejurikar and Dr. Pacella walk through common breast options such as augmentation, lift, fat transfer, and reduction, along with abdominal procedures ranging from liposuction to mini, traditional, extended, and circumferential tummy tucks. They explain what actually happens to the abdominal muscles during pregnancy, why muscle tightening is often necessary, and how that repair impacts posture, strength, and recovery.

The episode also addresses some of the most common patient questions, including recovery timelines, fatigue and swelling, exercise and weight loss expectations, and concerns about scarring. The surgeons share how they counsel patients about scars, why they cannot be avoided in most tummy tuck procedures, and how thoughtful incision placement allows scars to be easily hidden.

This episode is designed for patients considering a mommy makeover, anyone researching tummy tuck or breast surgery after pregnancy, and clinicians interested in how experienced surgeons think about combined procedures, safety, and patient education.