Mommy makeover in Medellín

Mommy makeover is the English name. In Colombia, people also search for it in Spanish as “cirugía posparto” (post-pregnancy surgery), “cirugía después del embarazo” (surgery after pregnancy) or, more plainly, “senos y abdomen al tiempo” (breasts and tummy at once). The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) describes it as a set of procedures to restore the body's shape after pregnancy. At noon, a mommy makeover combines a breast lift or breast augmentation with a tummy tuck and liposuction, in the same surgery only when it's safe. It isn't a fixed package: it's planned around you.

Each area has its own procedure, and your surgeon decides which ones you need after examining you:

• Breasts that lack volume: augmentation with implants.
• Breasts that sag after breastfeeding: a breast lift, with or without implants. Augmentation alone doesn't correct sagging.
• Loose skin on the abdomen or separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti): a tummy tuck. If there's only a little extra skin, and only below the belly button, a mini tummy tuck is considered.
• Fat at the waist or back: liposuction.

The ASPS also includes the intimate area (labiaplasty) and the buttocks. Whether any of that is added, and when, is up to your surgeon.

Doing breasts and abdomen together saves you a second round of anesthesia, but it means a longer surgery: 4 to 6 hours. That's why at noon everything is done together only if your health allows it and the surgery time is reasonable; if not, it's split into stages. The CDC reviewed deaths of US citizens after cosmetic surgery abroad and identified obesity and having several procedures in the same operation as risk factors for embolism. Here, if your pre-op tests aren't in order, there's no surgery, and your surgeon decides what goes in the same operation.

According to the ASPS, you may be a candidate if you're in good health, at your ideal weight, have realistic expectations and are done having children. It's better to wait if:

• You're still thinking about having another baby: a later pregnancy can undo the result.
• You're still breastfeeding or your baby is very young: an ASPS article points out that your body keeps changing for months after giving birth.
• Your weight isn't stable. If you need to lose weight first, medical weight loss is an option.
• You smoke: you'll need to quit beforehand.

There's no set number of months that applies to everyone: your surgeon decides the timing.

Every surgery has risks, and this one works on several areas. The ASPS lists, among others:

• Anesthesia risks.
• Bleeding, hematoma, seroma, infection or poor wound healing.
• Loss of nipple sensation or being unable to breastfeed.
• Deep vein thrombosis, heart or lung complications and fat embolism.
• Asymmetry, contour irregularities, fat necrosis, persistent pain, unfavorable scarring or skin that loosens again.
• With implants: leakage, capsular contracture and a type of lymphoma linked to breast implants (BIA-ALCL, according to the FDA).

Before you decide, we go over each one with you, and you sign an informed consent form.

According to the ASPS, before surgery you get lab work done, review your medications with your specialist and stop smoking; aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications and herbal supplements can increase bleeding. We tell you what to stop taking and what to bring. Plan ahead for who will take care of you and your kids: the first week is relative rest with a companion. From week 2 to week 4, you continue with compression garments, massages and follow-up visits. If you feel short of breath, have chest pain or an irregular heartbeat, the ASPS says to seek medical care right away.