Two surgeries. One recovery.
The 'mommy makeover' is not a single procedure but a combination designed around the specific changes childbirth produces: abdominal wall stretching (diastasis recti), skin excess below the navel, breast deflation and descent, and residual fat deposits that don't respond to post-partum diet and exercise. Combined in one surgical session, these procedures address the full spectrum of post-partum body changes with a single recovery rather than several sequential ones.
The typical mommy makeover combination is tummy tuck with diastasis repair + breast augmentation, breast lift, or both, often with liposuction of the flanks or hips for refined contouring. Every case is individualized: some patients need only breast work, some only abdominal, and many benefit from the full combination. The consultation is where the right combination is designed.
At NCSS, mommy makeover is performed by six of our affiliated surgeons. Combined-procedure cases often run four to six hours — a strong argument for the physician anesthesia and dedicated-nurse standards that define every case at our facility.
Candidacy for mommy makeover.
Mommy makeover is major surgery with a significant recovery. The right candidate has completed childbearing, is at a stable weight, and has realistic expectations about scope.
Complete with childbearing
Future pregnancy will stretch the abdominal repair and alter breast work. Most surgeons recommend completing your family before committing to a mommy makeover.
Stable weight within 10–15 pounds of your goal
Weight loss after mommy makeover shrinks the aesthetic result; weight gain stretches the repair. Weight stability at the time of surgery matters.
Diastasis recti (abdominal separation)
Common after pregnancy and typically does not fully close with core exercise alone. The tummy tuck component specifically repairs this.
Post-partum breast changes
Deflation, descent, asymmetry, or size changes from pregnancy and breastfeeding. Addressed with augmentation, lift, or both depending on presentation.
Family and lifestyle support for real recovery
Mommy makeover recovery is significant. Patients need help with young children, household tasks, and lifting for the first weeks. Planning caregiver support is essential.
Smoking status matters — and approach varies by surgeon
Every surgeon at NCSS strongly recommends smoking cessation for at least 4–6 weeks pre-operatively. Smoking significantly impairs healing at multiple surgical sites simultaneously — the risk with combined procedures is higher than with any single procedure. Some of our surgeons, Dr. Nichter among them, will not perform surgery on patients who continue to smoke.
Realistic understanding of scope
Mommy makeover is major surgery. The transformative result is real, but so is the recovery.
Every scheduled surgical patient is offered a free Rest-Assure pre-operative consultation with Dr. Rand Scott personally — medical history, medication planning, and discharge coordination before surgery day.
Three stages, one procedure.
Mommy makeover is designed around the specific procedures each patient needs. The key decisions:
Which procedures to combine
The consultation determines whether the makeover includes tummy tuck alone, breast work alone, or both together — and whether liposuction is added for contouring.
Breast: augmentation vs. lift vs. both
Deflated but well-positioned breasts often need augmentation only. Descended but not deflated breasts need a lift. Descended and deflated breasts — the most common post-partum pattern — benefit from augmentation with lift.
Tummy tuck: full vs. mini vs. extended
Full addresses the entire abdomen and repairs diastasis; mini addresses only the area below the navel (limited candidacy); extended continues around the flanks for post-weight-loss patients.
Concurrent liposuction
Flanks, hips, and outer thighs are commonly liposuctioned during mommy makeover for refined contouring. Fat harvested this way can occasionally be used for fat transfer to breast in the same session.
Single-session vs. staged approach
Most mommy makeovers are performed as a single combined session. Very extensive work — or medical considerations — occasionally warrants staging over two sessions.
Time and anesthesia investment
Combined cases run four to six hours. Physician anesthesia coverage throughout is essential; endocrinology is on call for our surgical patients.
Every mommy makeover at NCSS is performed under physician anesthesia — no CRNAs, no exceptions — in our AAAHC-accredited operating rooms.
Two sites. One recovery.
Mommy makeover recovery follows the more demanding component — usually the tummy tuck timeline. Combined recovery from both abdominal and breast work at once is challenging but manageable with appropriate support.
Discharged the day of surgery to a caregiver-supervised recovery setting. Compression garment worn continuously. Drains in place. Walking in a slightly-bent posture. Restricted arm movement from breast component.
Drains typically in place. No showering until drains come out. Compression garment continues. Surgical bra worn continuously. Need substantial help with basic tasks — this is where caregiver support matters most.
Progressive return to normal activity. Standing fully upright. Return to desk work at 3–4 weeks depending on job demands. Restricted lifting continues.
Increasing light exercise, initially walking. No core or upper-body work yet.
Return to full exercise once your surgeon confirms complete healing at all surgical sites.
Final results emerge as swelling resolves and scars mature. Breast implants (if used) settle into final position.
Results are durable with stable weight and no future pregnancy. The mommy makeover is a substantial one-time investment in restoration; maintenance procedures are uncommon.
Every mommy makeover patient at NCSS is covered by our Rest-Assure program: physician anesthesia on the day of surgery, one nurse from arrival through discharge, and post-operative direct access to your surgeon — not an answering service.
Six surgeons. Combined-case expertise.
Mommy makeover requires fluency in both abdominal and breast surgery simultaneously. Each of these surgeons brings that full-continuum capability.
Dr. Toohey
Mommy Makeover · Practice FocusAll-UC training; three decades of body and breast work; mommy makeover is a signature category.
View surgeon →Dr. Hendricks
Body Contouring · Whisper RuleTriple-boarded; regionally recognized for refined body work; often adds Renuvion for skin tightening.
View surgeon →Dr. Bernett
Female Surgeon · Full ContinuumUC Irvine trained; female surgeon offering the full continuum for post-partum patients; in our building.
View surgeon →Dr. Nichter
Body & Breast · Pacific CenterFour decades in Newport Beach; mommy makeover as part of a full aesthetic practice.
View surgeon →Dr. Andre
New Generation · Combined PracticeCoast-to-coast training; modern approach to mommy makeover combining tummy tuck and breast work.
View surgeon →Dr. Castaldo
Female Surgeon · New GenerationUMASS trained; award-winning research background; combined body and breast work grounded in surgical safety.
View surgeon →The right starting point is a conversation.
Every consultation at NCSS begins with time — time to understand your goals, your health history, and which of our affiliated surgeons is the right fit for your specific situation.
Call (949) 644-8182Monday–Thursday, 8am–3pm · Friday by appointment only.
Related procedures.
Breast Augmentation
The most common breast component — implant-based restoration of post-partum breast deflation.
Learn more →Pubic Lift
Frequently incorporated into the tummy tuck component when mons changes accompany abdominal changes.
Learn more →