Mommy Makeover surgery is designed to restore and refine areas most affected by pregnancy, often by combining tummy tuck, liposuction, and breast procedures into one coordinated plan. Because every pregnancy changes the body differently, the best results come from tailoring the approach to your anatomy, priorities, and timeline so your outcome looks natural and balanced rather than “one-size-fits-all.”
At Cosmetic Surgery Specialists of Memphis, your plan is guided by Dr. Peter Aldea and Dr. Patricia Eby, both certified and re-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Aldea trained at institutions including Columbia and is known for an analytic, detail-driven approach to surgical planning, while Dr. Eby brings extensive plastic surgery experience and a careful aesthetic eye focused on proportion and restoration. Together, they use your consultation to match the right combination of procedures to your goals, then transition into the specific options for abdomen and breast restoration.
What Is A Mommy Makeover?
A Mommy Makeover refers to restorative cosmetic surgery following pregnancy, using one or more procedures tailored to your specific concerns. Common combinations include:
- Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
- Liposuction
- Breast lift (mastopexy)
- Breast augmentation (implants)
- Breast augmentation with lift
Because pregnancy affects women differently, there is no “single” makeover plan that works for everyone. Your consultation focuses on selecting the procedure(s) that best address your specific post-pregnancy changes.
Abdomen Changes After Pregnancy
Many women notice a “mommy tummy,” bulge, or pooch that does not respond to diet or exercise. In addition to stretching skin, pregnancy can cause a permanent separation of the rectus abdominis (“six pack”) muscles called diastasis recti. While exercise may create mild improvement, this structural separation cannot be fully corrected without surgery.
Abdominal Wall Basics
The abdominal wall includes:
- Two paired rectus muscles in the center, connected by the linea alba
- Three overlapping side muscles (external oblique, internal oblique, transversus abdominis)
The side-wall structure is naturally strong. The midline rectus muscles, however, can separate during pregnancy.
Signs Of Diastasis Recti (At-Home Self Check)
There are two common ways patients notice separation.
- Mirror “hammock sign” check: Face sideways to a long mirror, bend at the waist with arms extended forward, relax the abdomen fully, then look for a visible midline bulge.
- Floor check: Lie on your back with knees bent. Place your fingers on the midline just under the belly button. Lift your head slightly and feel for a gap between the rectus muscles, often extending above the belly button.
Surgery Options For A Flatter Abdomen
An abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) can remove lower abdominal skin excess, flatten overhang, and bring displaced abdominal muscles back toward the midline. In cases of mons pubis droop, it may be lifted to a more youthful position during surgery.
A tummy tuck can also be combined with other operations, including gynecologic surgery (such as hysterectomy) or liposuction of the hips and thighs.
Timing Considerations
To help results last, we advise pursuing abdominoplasty after you are finished having children, since a future pregnancy can stretch the abdomen and affect the repair.
Breast Changes After Pregnancy
Pregnancy, with or without breastfeeding, often enlarges breast volume and stretches the skin envelope. When hormone levels stabilize, breast volume may decrease, leaving breasts deflated, sagging, and downward-pointingz.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
A breast lift removes excess breast skin and restores a perkier shape by better matching the skin envelope to your existing breast volume.
Breast Implants With Or Without A Lift
If you want more fullness than your natural volume provides after pregnancy, implants can increase volume. In that situation, augmentation may be combined with a lift to improve both fullness and position while maintaining a natural look.
Results And Patient Experience Notes
The vast majority of Mommy Makeover patients LOVE their results and wished they had done it sooner. Same goes for their spouses.
By addressing common post-pregnancy concerns such as changes to the abdomen, breasts, and body contours, a Mommy Makeover can help patients feel more confident, comfortable, and refreshed. Patients frequently enjoy greater confidence in clothing and swimwear, along with a renewed sense of self, both physically and emotionally.
A Patient Perspective
One patient described working hard to lose weight after childbirth but still seeing loose skin, abdominal muscle bulging, and a misshapen belly button. After surgery, she described restored shape, improved confidence, and feeling that her gym efforts finally matched what she saw in the mirror.
Cost Of Mommy Makeover Procedures
The cost of surgery varies based on the procedures included in your treatment plan and the complexity and length of the operation. Our practice is committed to providing competitive pricing within the Memphis metro area while delivering high-quality care from experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons.
In many cases, our procedure costs compare favorably to national averages. Flexible financing options may also be available to help patients achieve their aesthetic goals.
Why Choose Cosmetic Surgery Specialists Of Memphis For Mommy Makeover?
Choosing the right surgeons matters most when you’re combining procedures into one comprehensive plan. Dr. Peter Aldea is certified and re-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and trained at top institutions, including Columbia, bringing extensive body contouring experience and a highly methodical approach to creating balanced results across the abdomen, waist, and overall silhouette. Dr. Patricia Eby is also certified and re-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, with advanced training and decades of surgical experience focused on natural restoration, particularly in breast reshaping and post-pregnancy proportional balance.
Both physicians are active members of elite professional societies, including ASPS, ISAPS, and SESPRS, and have earned recognition from respected third-party organizations such as Castle Connolly, U.S. News & World Report, and Three Best Rated®. Just as important, their practice culture emphasizes attentive, family-oriented care and individualized planning from consultation through recovery.
Start Your Mommy Makeover Journey In Memphis.
A Mommy Makeover can address post-pregnancy changes by combining procedures such as tummy tuck, liposuction, and breast surgery into a plan tailored to your body and priorities. For results that align with your goals and are guided by extensive surgical training and experience, choose Dr. Aldea and Dr. Eby. Cosmetic Surgery Specialists of Memphis, Memphis, TN – (901) 752-1412. Schedule a consultation today.
