In San Antonio, TX, Eric S. Schaffer, MD, FACS personalizes each Mommy Makeover rather than relying on a standard combination of surgeries. Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Schaffer has more than 30 years of experience with breast and body contouring procedures.
Allow Your Body Time to Recover
Pregnancy and childbirth create substantial changes throughout the body. Your abdominal muscles, skin, breast tissue, hormones, and weight need time to settle before you consider surgery. A cesarean section also requires adequate healing.
Waiting at least six months gives your body time to recover and allows Dr. Schaffer to evaluate your concerns more accurately. Some women may benefit from waiting longer based on their health and postpartum progress. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons also advises waiting at least six months after childbirth before invasive plastic surgery.
Finish Breastfeeding Before Surgery
Breastfeeding can temporarily affect breast size, shape, and volume. For that reason, it’s generally helpful to finish nursing and allow the breasts to reach a stable size before pursuing a breast lift, breast augmentation, or breast reduction.
The exact waiting period after breastfeeding varies. Dr. Schaffer can assess whether your breast tissue has stabilized and help determine when surgical planning would be appropriate.
Reach a Stable, Maintainable Weight
A mommy makeover is intended to contour the body, not serve as a weight-loss procedure. Reaching a healthy, sustainable weight before surgery gives Dr. Schaffer a clearer foundation for planning a tummy tuck, liposuction, or breast procedure.
Ongoing weight loss after surgery may alter the skin and body contours. You don’t need to match your pre-pregnancy weight, but your weight should be reasonably stable.
Consider Your Future Pregnancy Plans
Future pregnancy remains possible after a mommy makeover, but it may stretch abdominal skin and muscles or change breast tissue again. Many women therefore wait until they have finished growing their families to have cosmetic surgery.
Timing is personal, and consultation is the best way to determine what makes sense for you. With advanced training at Harvard and Yale and decades of plastic surgery experience, Dr. Schaffer provides thoughtful, individualized guidance. To explore a mommy makeover in San Antonio, contact us or call 210-227-3223.