by Dr. Ryan Neinstein
I am a big story person, so let me tell you a story about a mom and her mommy makeover journey with me
Before we jump into the story I know that having a scar is a big deal, we take it seriously and if we thought there was anyway of making you look and feel great without it we would do it
But with over 5,000 cases I have never once heard a mom from anywhere in the world complain or even be concerned about the scar once it fades and fades and they have their dream body.
“Id still take a flat tummy with a scar rather than the bowl of jello and wrinkly tummy skin”
-Tummy Tuck patient
A local Manhattan mom of 3 gets my email address from a friend, she thinks for about a week and then on her way out Saturday night she looks in the mirror and can’t believe the way her body looks in this new chic dress she bought and she is miserable, so she gets her phone out, does not know what to ask and is a little shy so she says:
Subject line: Hi Doc
“Serious question because I’m seriously considering getting a little work done, how long does it take to heal from a mommy makeover”
I can almost feel her frustration through the computer screen so I respond with “ I really want to learn more about what’s frustrating you about your body and what your fears and concerns are about surgery, lets set up a time next week to chat”
We do a little back and forth emailing to confirm a time for us to have a formal consultation, but she gets home later that night and emails me
“Hey Dr N I just feel like I need to share some things because I am all worked up. I love my three kids so much and I love my husband and my life. I am also not a plastic surgery person but I am just so miserable. I was a tennis player in college and always loved my body I was fit, petite, and thin and that was my genetics. I was totally find after my first kid, my body bounced right back. After the second, meh I was a little lose but no big deal but the third really did a number on me. I did all the physiotherapy that was suggested, I eat like a bird (drink a little too much tequila and wine but whatever) and do pilates 6 times a week. I feel so selfish because I have such an amazing life but I am disgusted with the skin on my belly and I cant recognize my breasts at all. I just feel like a mom but I am only 38 and I cant imagine not feeling sexy and comfortable in my own body for the rest of my life. My husband says I look great and I don’t need anything but he also wants me to be happy so he is on board. Anyways I am not a plastic surgery person but I don’t want to live the rest of my life like this so I am ready to do this and even though I haven’t met you in person enough of my girlfriends and my dermatologist told me to go to you so that’s enough diligence for me. I know this sounds ridiculous but I have a closet full of couture clothing and I am walking around in long shirts and leggings and I hate it, anyways I am so busy with the three kids and my husband works a lot so I need to know the real deal on the healing”
This story may sound familiar to you or a friend. After 20 years in Surgery I have really found my raison d’etre. Maybe it was becoming a dad and literally living with the experience moms felt every day of my life with my wife but I find deep profound meaning in helping moms overcome changes to their bodies from babies. What I have found which is SO INTERESTING is that the moms who come to see me whether it be from the upper east side, Greenwich, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Nebraska, Montana, California, Paris, London, Singapore, India, etc etc etc are all so similar and I create such a long lasting relationship. The one thing I could never have imagined is the community of moms who become friends because they embody a common vision of a meaningful life. Through our office connecting them, facebook, reddit groups there is a tribe of mommy makeover patients that connect about surgery and life and become friends throughout the world. If I am able to be a small part of creating meaningful bonds between people going through similar life situations and they find comfort in each other well I have done some good in my life and my mother will be proud.
So lets get back to the question.
Here is how people ask my questions about Mommy Makeover Recovery
- How long does it take to heal from Mommy Makeover Surgery
- How long does it take to recover from Mommy Makeover Surgery
- How long do I have to stay in New York as I am traveling from out of State
- How long until I can go back to work after Mommy Makeover Surgery
- How long until I can work out after Mommy Makeover Surgery
- How long until I can have sex after Mommy Makeover Surgery
- How long until I can fly after Mommy Makeover Surgery
I think you get the point.
So after performing over 1,000 Mommy Makeover surgeries let me share you the things I know about healing and recovery from Mommy Makeover surgery.
1. Call the grandparents and nannies because you are useless for a week. YOU NEED CHILD CARE FOR A WHOLE WEEK. The first week your goal is to get out of bed, eat, drink, and go to the bathroom. The first 48 hours you are essentially 100% dependent on others and that is why we have a full team of private after care plastic surgery nurses who are there to ensure everything goes smoothly. They pick you up from surgery and along with our nursing team take you to the hotel. They organize medications, dressings, garments, food, and monitor everything so you can focus on resting.
The Usual Timeline
- Days 1 and 2: Basically can’t do anything without someone holding you.
- Day 4 is inflection point – you come back to life.
- Day 7 – you are moving and grooving normally, meaning you are wearing your garment and you can drive and resume normal activities.
The first month is a commitment – its garments, dressings, drains, massages. I want to be clear – Mommy Makeover recovery is a big deal. It’s a huge commitment from us and the patient but its 100% worth it.
2.It’s more exhausting than painful. After 48 hours most patients are off strong pain medications and are using anti inflammatory meds but people are for sure sore for 2-3 weeks. Overall you just feel as though you are exhausted for a few weeks. Its important to let your body heal and give in to the healing. Everyone wants to heal as fast possible of course they do but our systems and processes will help you heal in a safe predictable fashion
3. The liposuction is the worse part. You are going to feel swollen for a while and this is the most annoying part.
4. Hotels, Nurses, and massages are expensive but worth it. You need a place to heal, you need help to heal, and you need to treat your body with healing services. Remember we have no financial interest in these services we simply have found that after 1000’s of cases these make huge differences in the speed, comfort, and quality of healing
5. Mini tuck does not mean mini healing. When we are in there sculpting, sewing together stretched muscles the healing does not get limited just because the scar is shorter
6. Constipation SUCKS- the reason we try so hard to get people off narcotics fast is that narcotics put a wrench in the GI system.
7. We will provide a lot of information on foods to eat, to avoid, vitamins, minerals, supplements. These help optimize healing a lot but we always learn from our mommy makeover patients because they are so smart and gracious with sharing their tricks so we can consistently get better
8. Plan on staying in NYC for a week before traveling. We ask our European, Asian, and Middle East patients to stay 10 days to two weeks
9. Plan on a month off of the gym than we will give you exercises that are mommy makeover friendly
10. Trust the process, we have made patient experience everything, its not transactional for us we create real meaningful long term relationships with our patients we are all in!
So how do Moms feel after they go through all of this?
“ It was one of the best decisions I ever made concerning my body. I have all the respect in the world for women who can proudly show off their “mommy scars” (stretch marks) and post-baby bodies, but I wasn’t one of them. I hated having saggy boobs and a flabby tummy that no amount of exercise would help! I didn’t feel sexy and didn’t want my husband to see me naked like that. I’d tell you any regrets I had if I had any, but I don’t. The husband doesn’t have any either.”
Email us your story! We want to hear from you- tell us about you, your family, your goals, and your fears we cant wait to meet you info@neinsteinplasticsurgery.com