mommy
makeover
maternity
While it is absolutely incredible what the female body does to nourish and nurture her baby during pregnancy, every mother experiences changes in her body, many of which are irreversible by diet/lifestyle. Many women talk about trying to lose their "baby weight," but this is a misnomer; it's not only about weight. Postpartum women may notice significant changes in their breasts and belly--breasts seem deflated while the belly bulges (despite ab exercise).
Motherhood is deeply rewarding and challenging in itself; however, these physical changes can be extremely frustrating and dramatically impact one's self-confidence. Even women who were fit and exercised throughout pregnancy notice these changes! Dr. Lisa Hwang will help you formulate the mommy makeover plan that is right for you. Her goal is to help you revitalize your post-pregnancy body and to rebuild that svelte physique.
Post-Pregnancy problems & solutions
breast.
With pregnancy, both with and without breastfeeding, breasts become engorged with breast milk. Many women love the fullness of their breasts during that time, but after cessation of breast feeding, their breasts seem to be even more deflated than before! Some women also notice sagging of the breasts with the nipple hanging low.
Breast augmentation can fill out deflated breasts while breast lift can restore a perkier nipple position. These procedures can be combined to achieve both goals!
belly.
Postpartum women may notice a bulging belly, loose skin with stretch marks, and excess fat. They may no longer be able to hold their bellies in a tight and flat position, with loss of their waistline; below the surface, there is actually separation of the abdominal muscles. That's why abdominal exercises alone cannot correct this problem.
Tummy tuck addresses all three problems: extra skin, fat, and rectus diastasis (muscle separation)! It can be combined with liposuction for improved body contouring of the waistline.
mommy makeover
Surgery.
Surgery is performed at a surgery center under general anesthesia. Depending on the plan that you have formulated with Dr. Lisa Hwang, surgery can include any combination of breast and body procedures; thus, surgery time can vary widely, but usually ranges from 3 to 7 hours. Alternatively, you can choose to stage the procedures and have them performed separately.
Recovery.
After surgery, patients can expect soreness, swelling, and bruising. Generally, bruising should resolved by 2 weeks, but swelling may take up to 3 months to resolve for tummy tucks. As mommy makeover is a major surgery consisting of multiple procedures, your body will be exhausted, and you will want to sleep and rest. Nevertheless, we encourage you to walk regularly! This will help prevent blood clots in your legs and lungs.
Activity.
Most importantly, walk around and listen to your body! Your body will tell you what is too strenuous to be safe. Avoid any heavy lifting over ten pounds or other vigorous activities for at least 3 weeks. Patients can resume activities gradually, and as tolerated. By 6 weeks, you should be healed. Doing too much too soon can actually cause a setback in your recovery.
Risks & Complications.
All surgeries have risk of bleeding and infection. In addition, breast augmentation has risks of capsular contracture, implant rupture, implant malposition, asymmetry, and possible need for future surgery. Breast lift has risks of changes or loss in nipple sensation and wound healing problems. Risks of tummy tuck and liposuction include contour irregularity, delayed wound healing, asymmetry, scarring, and prolonged swelling. These risks may sound intimidating, but Dr. Lisa Hwang will discuss everything in more detail in preparation for your surgery.
Results
VIDEO
Mommy Makeover
Mommy Makeover
Mommy Makeover
Tummy Tuck / Liposuction
Breast Augmentation with Lift & Lipo360 - On-table Result!
REVIEWS
"I'm 6 months post op from a mommy makeover now (tummy tuck and breast augmentation) and I LOVE IT. I have a flat stomach and amazing breasts. I can't believe I look like this and I have no regrets whatsoever." — Patient Review on Yelp
"I'm just over a week post-op from a tummy tuck by Dr. Lisa Hwang. I can't believe how lucky I am to have had her as my plastic surgeon. She is kind, intentional, and most importantly an expert in her field. She was able to do extensive repair to my diastasis recti from a twin pregnancy. My recovery has been smooth and I can already tell the results are better than I could've imagined. There is not one thing I would change about my experience and it's all because of Dr. Lisa Hwang." — Patient Review on Yelp
"After interviewing many plastic surgeons in the Bay Area, I met Dr. Hwang and knew she was the right surgeon. She made me feel very safe in her knowledge of plastic surgery. I am two weeks into my recovery and I could not be happier with my results! My skin was extremely stretched from pregnancy, and now I feel so confident because it looks really natural. My friends and family agree that my stomach looks so good. I'm so happy I chose her as my surgeon and would definitely go back if I were to have another procedure done. Thanks again to Dr. Hwang for giving me confidence for the first time in years!" — Patient Review on Yelp
FAQS
What is a "Mommy Makeover"?
A Mommy Makeover is a personalized combination of breast and body procedures designed to restore and enhance a woman’s figure after pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. These treatments address the physical changes many women experience, such as:
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Breast volume loss or sagging due to milk engorgement or breastfeeding
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Abdominal muscle separation (rectus diastasis), abdominal wall laxity, and skin excess, stretch marks, and laxity from pregnancy
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Stubborn fat deposits that persist despite a healthy lifestyle
Common procedures in a Mommy Makeover may include:
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Breast:
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Breast Augmentation
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Breast Lift
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Breast Augmentation & Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
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Body:
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Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty)
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Liposuction
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Buttock Augmentation (BBL, Fat Transfer to Buttocks)
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Labiaplasty
Depending on which combination of procedures you elect to undergo, we may plan on staging the procedures in 1-2 surgeries to reduce your surgical risk. Each plan is tailored to your unique anatomy, concerns, and goals to help you feel confident and strong in your body again!
How much time should I take off of work for recovery?
The amount of time you’ll need off work depends on the procedures performed and the physical demands of your job.
Sedentary, desk jobs:
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Breast procedures (augmentation and/or breast lift): Plan to take about 1 week off work.
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Tummy tuck (and/or BBL): Plan to take 2–3 weeks off.
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Around 1 week post-op, most patients can begin to stand more upright, and walk around independently, but slowly.
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By 2 weeks, you should be walking more briskly and easily
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Swelling takes 6 weeks to 3 months to resolve, so you may feel “tight"
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Physically demanding jobs (lifting over 30–50 lbs, physical contact, athletics): You may need 3–6 weeks off, depending on your recovery and job duties. Scars strengthen significantly after 3 weeks, and develop maximum strength by 3 months. Since you may be deconditioned after surgery, I would advise returning to work with activity restrictions if you can’t take sufficient time off.
Pain Management and Activity Restrictions:
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Most patients take narcotic pain medication for 2–5 days.
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Do not drive while taking narcotic medications. Resume driving only when you're alert, off narcotics, and feel safe behind the wheel.
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Avoid lifting anything over 10 lbs for the first 3 weeks.
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From 3–6 weeks, you may resume light exercise and gentle weightlifting.
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Between 6 weeks and 3 months, you can gradually return to your normal fitness routine, or even build a stronger physique!
Always listen to your body and follow personalized guidance from your surgeon. Your recovery is a gradual process—and your safety comes first.
How long will surgery results last? Will I need any revisions in the future?
Surgery is designed to create a long-lasting, often permanent transformation. In our practice, we strive for excellence during your initial surgery and are proud to maintain a very low revision rate.
During body contouring procedures, tissue is permanently sculpted, repositioned, or removed. Fat cells are finite—once removed through liposuction, they do not regenerate, and your body’s fat distribution is permanently altered. However, remaining fat cells can still expand with excess caloric intake, which may lead to future weight gain. After liposuction or tummy tuck, weight gain is often redistributed in unfamiliar ways, which may go unnoticed until approximately 10 pounds or more are gained. For this reason, we recommend regular weight monitoring—either weekly or monthly—to help maintain your long-term results.
In cases of breast augmentation with implants, it’s important to understand that implants are not lifetime devices. While they don’t have an absolute shelf-life, we thoroughly review their potential long-term considerations with you, including FDA-recommended routine screening and risks and complications that may require the need for future surgery.
Preserving Your Results Long-Term
One of the most important factors in preserving your surgical outcome is weight stability. Many patients experience a “reset” in appetite and hunger cues after surgery. With continued commitment to healthy nutrition, exercise, and sustainable lifestyle habits, many go on to feel and look their best in the months and years following surgery.
While no surgery can stop the natural aging process, you can support your results by:
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Maintaining a stable weight through healthy lifestyle choices.
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Wearing supportive garments during exercise (especially stabilizing sports bras after breast surgery)
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Practicing sun protection and using medical-grade skincare
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Scheduling periodic check-ins as needed
Although additional procedures are not typically expected, future surgeries may be considered, depending on your anatomy, lifestyle, aging, or evolving goals.
Can you explain the pros and cons of combining tummy tuck, breast lift/augmentation, and liposuction?
When deciding whether to combine surgical procedures, the main considerations include optimal outcomes, total surgery time, overall surgical risk, and recovery experience. The best results are often achieved when surgeries are performed for the first time, before any scar tissue has formed — hence, procedures such as tummy tuck with liposuction 360, and/or fat transfer to buttocks are frequently performed together.
In Dr. Lisa Hwang’s practice, safety and surgical precision are top priorities. For patients undergoing more extensive surgeries, such as extended abdominoplasty with larger volume liposuction, she often recommends staging longer breast procedures (i.e. breast augmentation and lift) at least 3 months after body contouring surgery. This approach allows for a smoother recovery, reduces surgical risk, and supports more refined aesthetic outcomes.
In general, longer, more extensive surgeries can increase risks such as blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), fluid imbalance/dehydration, or other complications, and may result in a more strenuous recovery and cause difficulty with pain control and mobilization. We take great care in surgical planning to optimize your results while minimizing risk, always tailoring recommendations to your anatomy, goals, and overall health.
What credentials does Dr. Lisa Hwang hold?
Dr. Lisa Hwang, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in aesthetic surgery. She is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and has completed extensive training, including full residencies in both general surgery and plastic surgery, followed by an aesthetic surgery fellowship endorsed by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
Dr. Hwang is an active member of several esteemed professional societies, including ASAPS, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the California Society of Plastic Surgeons (CSPS, and the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Her practice reflects a commitment to surgical precision, artistic vision, and compassionate, personalized care.
What does a Mommy Makeover cost?
Costs can vary based on your individual goals. Reach out to us with the details of what you’re considering, and we’ll provide a ballpark estimate.