Dr. Liu and his team are experienced San Francisco plastic surgeons that offer a unique combination of plastic surgery procedures designed to restore a woman’s physical appearance following child bearing. This advanced, custom treatment is often referred to as a mommy makeover in San Francisco, and often includes breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck and liposuction.
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Who is a candidate for a Mommy Makeover in San Francisco
The best candidates for a mommy makeover are women who are unhappy with stretched, distorted breasts, bulging stomachs, unsightly stretch marks, and weight gain in the hips following childbirth. Although exercise and dieting following pregnancy are strongly recommended and may lead to weight loss, often the only treatment to restore stretched skin and enhance the appearance of the body is surgical intervention. However, a mommy makeover is not recommended immediately following childbirth or for women who plan to have more children and are breastfeeding.
What makes a mommy makeover "customized"?
How Procedures Are Combined
No two mommy makeovers look the same because no two bodies change the same way after pregnancy. At SVIA® Plastic Surgery, Dr. Jerome Liu and Dr. Tom Liu begin every mommy makeover with a consultation focused on understanding which areas bother a patient most, then build a surgical plan around those priorities rather than a fixed package of procedures.
During consultation, your surgeon will assess:
- Breast changes — volume loss, sagging, or asymmetry following pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Abdominal changes — loose skin, stretch marks, and separation of the abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) that don't respond to exercise
- Stubborn fat deposits — areas like the flanks or thighs that diet hasn't fully addressed
From there, procedures are selected and sequenced to match those findings. According to ASPS, a mommy makeover typically centers on a breast procedure, augmentation, lift, or reduction, paired with an abdominal procedure like a tummy tuck, with liposuction frequently added to refine the waist and surrounding areas.
A few common combinations Dr. Liu and Dr. Tom Liu see in practice:
- Breast augmentation + tummy tuck + liposuction — for patients who've lost breast volume and abdominal tone, with liposuction contouring the waistline
- Breast lift + tummy tuck — for patients whose primary concern is sagging rather than lost volume
- Breast reduction + tummy tuck + liposuction — for patients seeking both a smaller, lifted bustline and a flatter abdomen
Depending on a patient's health, goals, and the extent of correction needed, these procedures can be performed in a single operation or staged across multiple sessions for safety.
What Does a Mommy Makeover Consist of?
Breast Lift
After pregnancy and nursing, breasts may lose firmness, and nipples can sag. A breast lift, often combined with augmentation, can restore a youthful profile. If done alone, incisions are made around the areola, along the breast fold, or in an anchor shape from the areola to the crease.
Breast Augmentation
After childbirth, many women experience a loss of breast volume, affecting clothing fit and body confidence. Breast augmentation with silicone or saline implants can enhance the bust, correct asymmetry, and restore pre-pregnancy shape. During your confidential consultation, our team will discuss implant types, sizes, textures, incision points, and placement techniques to help you make an informed decision.
Liposuction
This is one of the safest and most often performed cosmetic procedures designed to streamline the torso, creating more elegant curves and doing away with unsightly fat deposits that don’t respond to diet and exercise. Lipo can be performed on the arms, buttocks, hips, thighs, stomach or back. Our team excels at a variety of cutting edge techniques, including tumescent liposuction, VASER lipo using ultrasonic waves, and SmartLipo, using advanced laser technology.
Abdominoplasty
A tummy tuck cannot only trim away excess fat and skin from the belly, it can also tighten weakened six-pack muscles that have separated during childbirth. Although abdominoplasty is not typically suggested as a weight loss technique per se, it can address that infamous irritating pooch that never responds to countless crunches or sit-ups. During surgery, an incision is made from hip to hip, which allows the scar to be hidden within the bikini line.
Recovery
Recovery varies depending on the combination of procedures performed. Generally, patients can expect:
- Initial Recovery of 1-2 weeks off work and daily activities
- Resuming Exercise with light activities after 4-6 weeks
- With full routines typically resumed after 8 weeks.
It's crucial to follow your surgeon's post-operative instructions for optimal healing
RNR® Mommy Makeover aftercare in the Bay Area
Our cutting-edge RNR® aftercare regimen helps to accelerate healing, reduce reliance on opiates and pain narcotics, and eliminate the need for surgical dressings, bras, and drains. Patients enjoy unrestricted movement and enhanced comfort, resuming their normal, busy schedules faster and with less stress.
Diet and Exercise vs. Surgery: When Is a Mommy Makeover Actually Necessary?
Diet and exercise can improve overall fitness and reduce some fat, but they cannot correct two of the most common post-pregnancy changes: stretched skin and separated abdominal muscles.
Stretched skin
Stretched skin loses elasticity once it's been expanded significantly, as happens during pregnancy. Unlike fat, skin doesn't respond to caloric deficit or muscle training — once collagen and elastin fibers have been overstretched, no amount of diet or exercise restores the skin's original tightness. Only surgical excision, performed during a tummy tuck, removes that excess skin.
Diastasis recti
Diastasis recti, the separation of the left and right abdominal muscles that occurs to accommodate a growing uterus, is a structural issue rather than a strength issue. Core exercises can strengthen the remaining muscles, but they cannot pull a true separation back together. During a tummy tuck, Dr. Liu and Dr. Tom Liu surgically repair this separation by suturing the muscles back into their natural position — something no amount of planking will accomplish.
This distinction matters because it helps set realistic expectations: for patients whose primary concerns are stretched skin or muscle separation, a mommy makeover isn't a shortcut around fitness; it's addressing a physical change that fitness alone cannot reach.
Why Board Certification Matters When Choosing Your Mommy Makeover Surgeon
A mommy makeover typically combines multiple procedures in a single operation, which raises the surgical complexity and the importance of choosing a surgeon with the training to manage that complexity safely.
Board certification through the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) means a surgeon has completed extensive, verified training beyond medical school. According to ASPS, ASPS Member Surgeons complete more than six years of surgical training after medical school, including at least three years specifically in plastic surgery, before sitting for comprehensive written and oral board examinations.
Mommy Makeover FAQ
Can I Have a Mommy Makeover if I Have Scars From a Previous Surgery?
Will a Mommy Makeover Improve Stretch Marks?
How Should I Prepare My Home for a Mommy Makeover?
Can I Return to Work After a Mommy Makeover?
Will a Mommy Makeover Leave Visible Scars?
Can I Have a Mommy Makeover if I Have Scars From a Previous Surgery?
Yes. Previous surgical scars do not necessarily prevent you from having a mommy makeover. During your consultation, your surgeon can evaluate existing scars and incorporate them into the surgical plan when possible. The location and extent of prior incisions will be considered when determining the safest approach.
Will a Mommy Makeover Improve Stretch Marks?
A mommy makeover can improve the appearance of some stretch marks, particularly those located on skin that is removed during a tummy tuck. However, stretch marks outside the area of excised skin will generally remain. Your surgeon can discuss which areas are likely to improve based on your individual anatomy.
How Should I Prepare My Home for a Mommy Makeover?
Preparing your home before surgery can make the early postoperative period more comfortable. Arrange a comfortable recovery area, place frequently used items within easy reach, and plan ahead for meals and household responsibilities. You should also arrange for someone to assist you during the initial recovery period.
Can I Return to Work After a Mommy Makeover?
The timing of your return to work depends on the procedures performed, the physical demands of your job, and how your body is healing. Patients with physically demanding jobs may need more time away than those with primarily desk-based responsibilities. Your surgeon can provide more specific guidance based on your surgical plan.
Will a Mommy Makeover Leave Visible Scars?
Scarring is an expected part of procedures such as a tummy tuck and breast surgery. Surgeons carefully place incisions when possible so scars can be concealed beneath clothing or swimwear. Scars typically change in appearance as they mature, and your postoperative instructions will include recommendations for caring for your incisions.
