After giving birth, many women struggle with their appearance and consequently, their self-confidence. A mommy makeover is a plastic surgical approach to the breasts and body which restores form and brings back that undeniable confidence!

According to RealSelf.com, the Mommy Makeover has a 95% “Worth It” rating stemming from more than 17,000 reviews. But don’t just take their word for it – hear from some of our actual patients who have undergone this incredible transformation:

How Much Does A Mommy Makeover Cost?

We can accurately say that the average Columbus, Ohio Mommy Makeover cost ranges between $18,000 and $26,000. This price covers all aspects of the procedure, including consultation, operating room time, anesthesia, recovery garments, follow-ups and more.

This is one of the most difficult procedures to assign an average price tag to simply because it really depends on which procedures a patient opts in for. For example: A patient undergoing a breast lift and liposuction is going to have a different quote than a patient looking for a tummy tuck, breast augmentation and labiaplasty.

The Greatest Benefit: Multiple Life-Changing Procedures At Once For A Lower Cost

A mommy makeover combines procedures into a single operation to reduce overall cost and minimize recovery time.  This leads to a faster return to work and to parenting (also known as work).

Mothers may consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to determine whether a mommy makeover is the right solution.

Another Deciding Factor: Frustration With Slow-Moving, Natural Results

Many women feel less attractive after pregnancy. Most turn to diet and exercise to shed excess weight, but these steps do not address loose skin, stubborn fat, stretched labia or sagging breasts. While some women are blessed with the enviable genetic ability to “rebound” as if it never happened, most struggle with lingering problem areas. When a mother sees partial progress in nutrition and fitness, but is still unhappy with specific parts of the body, a mommy makeover might be worth it!

The Potential Components of a Mommy Makeover

As mentioned, Mommy Makeover surgery is a catch-all term for several different procedures rolled into one. This surgery can include one or more of the following:

• Breast augmentation
• Tummy tuck
• Liposuction
• Breast lift
• Labiaplasty

These treatments target the areas of the body that are most commonly affected by a pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.

About The Author

Jeffrey Donaldson, MD is one of the nation’s most esteemed Mommy Makeover experts. He has helped hundreds – if not thousands – of women feel more comfortable in their own skin and confident in their daily life by combining multiple life-changing surgical procedures into one day in the operating room.

Note: This article was updated on Sept. 27, 2022, to reflect more accurate pricing information and updated reviews.

The simple answer to the question, “does breast augmentation hurt?” is yes, usually a little. Each patient responds to the procedure differently, but certain measures can be taken to help. Fortunately, the pain associated with breast augmentation is often minimal compared to other types of operations.

Surgical Technique

There are many ways to perform breast augmentation, and most surgeons use slightly different techniques. Generally, the smaller the incision, the less pain. Silicone implants should rarely require an incision that is more than five centimeters (two inches) long, whereas saline implants may be placed through a three-centimeter incision. Some surgeons use a smooth, efficient and gentle technique where tissues are directly visualized and cleanly separated along natural planes with minimal bleeding, whereas others use a “blind” approach where tissues are bluntly forced apart and handled more aggressively — the former approach results in less pain afterward. Local anesthesia, such as marcaine, can be injected before making the incision so that the sensory nerves are not triggered during surgery or for several hours afterward. This causes less pain. It is worth asking your surgeon about his or her style and preferences. Ask nurses and OR personnel too — they get to directly compare surgeons in the operating room.

Patient Anatomy

Some patients have very low thresholds for pain, or have high tolerances to pain medications. These patients tend to hurt more afterwards. Generally, older patients have less pain, as do mothers who have experienced pregnancy. The body tends to hurt much less when there are significant standards of comparison. Patients who are more muscular may have more chest muscle tightness or spasms afterward, but better fitness may also predict an easier recovery.

Post-Operative Plan

Non-compliant patients have more pain. It is imperative to follow basic recommendations, such as:

1) Wear a soft, supportive bra with no underwire.
2) Take pain medications and use ice packs regularly for the first 24-48 hours.
3) Rest and drink plenty of fluids for the first 48-72 hours.
4) No strenuous exercise for the first 4-6 weeks.
5) Ask your surgeon about homeopathic options such as Arnicare, Traumeel and Bromelain.

Patients who do not follow these steps are apt to have more discomfort.

When surgical technique, patient anatomy and post-operative planning are all favorable, it is uncommon to have much pain after breast augmentation. These conditions can be optimized such that instead, more common symptoms are stiffness, swelling, tightness in the chest, itchiness, numbness and hypersensitivity. These patients say “it doesn’t hurt at all!”