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Having children takes a toll on every mother's body. Although many of the changes that occur to a woman’s physique return to a pre-pregnancy state after the child is born, some of them don’t, and this can leave a mother frustrated at losing the body of her youth.
Joseph T Cruise, MD, in Orange County, C,A understands how emotional the physical results of bearing children can be – on one hand, your child is precious and worth every sacrifice, but on the other hand, you miss the body you used to have. Joseph T Cruise, MD, has developed a solution: a customizable Mommy Makeover that allows you to combine the right breast rejuvenation and abdominoplasty or liposuction procedures to get back – or enhance – the body you used to have.
Dr. Joseph T. Cruise, one of the top mommy makeover surgeons in Orange County, wants all women to be informed about the breast lift and tummy tuck options available to them. He and the staff at his Newport Beach plastic surgery practice have created these pages to give you the most comprehensive information you need if you’re considering mommy makeover surgery. Making an informed decision begins by finding the answers to your questions, and by reviewing before and after pictures of breast surgery and tummy tucks to see the results you can expect from Joseph T Cruise, MD, and Cruise Plastic Surgery.
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A mommy makeover is a customized surgical plan that typically combines breast and body procedures to address post-pregnancy changes.
Common components include a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) to remove loose skin and repair stretched abdominal muscles, liposuction to remove resistant fat, and breast augmentation and/or breast lift to restore fullness and shape after breastfeeding. While every woman’s experience with pregnancy is different, a mommy makeover allows Dr. Cruise to address multiple areas in one surgical setting—helping you reclaim your body and feel more like yourself again.
During your consultation with Joseph T Cruise, MD, he will work with you to determine the best surgical plan to obtain your desired result. He will take into consideration the "Look You Have" and the "Look You Want." He addresses all mommy makeover patients individually with a customized approach to evaluating the breasts and body.
What to expect at your Consultation and Physical Exam
All mommy makeovers are performed under general anesthesia at an accredited outpatient facility in Newport Beach, which specializes in cosmetic procedures. Joseph T Cruise, MD, only works with the top anesthesiologists and surgical centers. We do recommend an overnight stay at a recovery center, however, in most cases, it is not mandatory if you have a good support system at home.
A mommy makeover is fully customized to address each patient’s concerns. Common issues following pregnancy include:
In order to accommodate your growing child, your abdomen stretches considerably during pregnancy. All of your organs, including your muscles and skin, are affected by this stretching, and after birth, they may have trouble returning to their pre-pregnancy size.
In some women, the abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy and do not reconnect afterward, which permanently weakens stomach muscles and isn’t corrected by exercise. Skin with weak elasticity may not “snap back” to its original size, and women may be left with stretch marks or loose abdominal skin.
In order to correct these problems, some women choose to undergo cosmetic surgery to rejoin stomach muscles (muscle suspension) and to remove excess skin.
Knowing that patients want pleasing visual plastic surgery results, Joseph T Cruise, MD, keeps his abdominoplasty incisions as low as possible, providing each patient a very natural-looking belly button so no one will notice she’s had a Mommy Makeover.
Joseph T Cruise, MD, Newport Beach, illustrates muscle tightening and tummy tuck procedure in the following examples.
Women often complain about a loss of breast volume after childbirth. Particularly, many women are frustrated that the changing shape of their breasts throughout pregnancy and nursing results in sagginess and an ultimately unsatisfying size and shape. Breast skin stretches and can bear stretch marks as well. Some women believe that a breast augmentation will correct this sagginess and return their breasts to a more youthful, perkier position. For women with minor sag, this may be true, and breast implants may be able to restore their breast position to a pre-pregnancy look.
Breast Rejuvenation with a Breast Lift
Because the loss of breast volume is often in the upper and inner part of the breast, those areas must be addressed to achieve fuller cleavage and a more upright nipple position in many women. Therefore, some women consider a full breast lift as part of their Mommy makeover, depending on their particular concerns.
A breast lift is a specialized procedure that should always be performed by a plastic surgeon experienced in performing them, especially as a part of your Mommy Makeover. Your breast lift may have very particular requirements as it deals with specific concerns of breast tissue after having children. Make sure to take a look at breast lift before and after pictures to see what kind of results you can expect, and read Joseph T Cruise, MD’s page on Dr. Cruise’s Breast Lift Philosophy where he explains what makes his procedure predictably successful.
“Breast lifting after childbirth requires specific attention to several areas. Specifically, the upper part of the breast is often hollow and needs to be filled out. Midline cleavage needs to be enhanced to regain a youthful appearance. In addition, the hanging breast tissue needs to be elevated and converted into a youthful, rounded shape that does not hang below the bottom of the breast. All this needs to be done with minimal incisions that are hard to see.” Joseph T Cruise, MD
The major benefit of rejuvenating your breasts and abdomen at the same time is that it allows for a single recovery. This is important for both working and stay-at-home mothers who have a lot of responsibilities and cannot afford multiple downtimes. You must understand, however, that the recovery period for combined procedures is more difficult and requires that a good support system is in place.
From an aesthetic standpoint, combined abdominal and breast procedures create a particularly dramatic transformation. The improvement is not linear but exponential. Adding volume and cleavage to the breasts, combined with flattening of the abdomen and enhancing the waistlin,e is very powerful. It is the most effective single surgical approach to regain (or even improve) the pre-pregnancy appearance.
The benefits of a properly performed abdominoplasty are significant. The most impressive of which is the removal of the loose, flabby abdominal skin that most patients thought would never go away. The procedure dramatically flattens the abdomen, creating a sleeker, more attractive figure. An added benefit is that the skin removed is usually the skin that contains stretch marks.
Summary of Tummy Tuck Benefits:
There are many benefits to breast enlargement. These range from the way clothes fit you to how you feel about yourself. In general, there are two categories of women who benefit most from breast augmentation. The first has naturally small breasts and has always wanted to have them larger.
The second category is the woman who had some breast volume prior to pregnancy and has lost it after pregnancy. She may, or may not, have some breast sag. Breast augmentation can correct only minor amounts of breast sag. If there is too much sag, then a breast lift is required. This can be done with or without an implant. This depends on how much breast tissue is left and what the patient wants. If the sag is minimal, then a breast augmentation alone can provide the necessary breast lift. By increasing the breast volume with an implant, the nipple/areola complex will elevate slightly. This is demonstrated very well in the profile Before and After below.
37-year-old female with minimal breast sag corrected by breast implant alone.
Outlined below is a summary of benefits from breast augmentation:
Aging and the effects of childbirth can have significant consequences on breast appearance that can only be corrected with a breast lift with or without an implant. The most dramatic improvements of a breast lift are repositioning the nipple to a more youthful position and regaining cleavage and upper breast fullness.
The benefits of breast lifting can be summarized as:
What makes a woman a good candidate for a "mommy makeover"? Remember, the Mommy Makeover is not a single procedure. It is a combination of two procedures: breast and abdominal surgery. The reason is quite clear. These are the two areas most affected by pregnancy. Of course, they do not have to be done at the same time. In fact, there are reasons why they should be done separately, especially if you are not healthy enough for a long procedure. For the most part, younger mothers are in great health and can easily tolerate the two procedures in one setting. One note regarding safety from Joseph T Cruise, MD: it is wise to limit the amount of time you are under anesthesia for cosmetic surgery. Joseph T Cruise, MD, limits the maximum amount of time to six hours. Fortunately, this allows him to perform even the most difficult tummy tuck and breast surgery together easily within this time frame.
Good candidates for a mommy makeover are just as you may imagine. Mothers who are not happy with both their breasts and their abdomen. The exciting part about doing them together is that the combined results are dramatic. The key is to do the right procedure on the right patient. This takes significant experience on the part of the plastic surgeon. This is especially true when it comes to breast lifting with or without augmentation. You are invited to go to the breast augmentation, breast lift, and tummy tuck sections to see what the possibilities are and which situation describes you best.
The most significant determinant of a good candidate for abdominoplasty is the amount of loose skin that one has below her belly button. Often, this loose skin is caused by significant weight loss or pregnancy. In both of these cases, the abdominal skin has been stretched beyond its ability to shrink back. If you can easily grab excess skin, and pinch a large amount, it is likely that an abdominoplasty would provide a highly noticeable improvement. If, on the other hand, the skin feels very thick, and is not particularly loose, it is likely that an abdominoplasty is not the procedure of choice. In this case, liposuction may be more appropriate. Often, Joseph T Cruise, MD, will decide to combine liposuction with abdominoplasty. This allows him some element of artistic sculpting in addition to skin and fat resection. A visual evaluation is necessary in deciding which procedure is right for the individual.
You may consider breast rejuvenation if:
The interactive diagram below was created by Joseph T Cruise, MD, to help you identify what you don't like about your body right now. This provides both you and Joseph T Cruise, MD, a clear visual of what is bothering you and will help him formulate a customized treatment plan to address your concerns.
Click the images below to select your concerns in each category. If you would like to submit the form for review, one of Joseph T Cruise, MD's patient care coordinators will review your selections and contact you to discuss further.
No Love Handles
Excess skin only below belly button. Skin above belly button is tight.
With Love Handles
Excess skin only below belly button. Excess fat in love handles (flanks).
No Love Handles
Excess skin below and above belly button. Most obvious when bending forward.
With Love Handles
Excess skin below and above belly button. Excess fat may make skin appear tighter than it is.
Very Little Fat
Loose skin extends over hips. This skin can easily be grabbed and has "muffin top" effect with tight clothes on. Stretch marks often present.
With Love Handles
Excess skin extends over hips. Excess fat may make skin appear tighter than it is. With liposuction, this skin will likely become loose. Stretch marks often present.
With Little Fat
Excess skin goes completely around to back. Stretch marks often present. Not removing all excess skin will not create tight, shapely result.
With Excess Fat
Excess skin goes completely around to back. Excess fat will make skin appear tighter than it really is. Not removing all excess skin will not create tight, shapely result.
Significant Excess Fat Circumferentially
Two operations will be necessary. The first one is liposuction to remove the excess fat and the second is to remove the excess skin. Doing everything at once would be unsafe. A better option is to lose the excess weight with diet and exercise if possible.
Understanding the anatomy of the abdomen will help you visualize what bothers you so you can accurately explain it to Joseph T Cruise, MD. With mommy makeovers, the front, side, and back of the body are evaluated to ensure the result looks good from a 360-degree view.
Click the graphic below to find and select the image which most closely represents the "Look You Have" now. You will then be given an idea of which procedure you may need. Get started now!
Above is the Cruise Breast Classification system created by Joseph T Cruise, MD to determine the type of breast procedure needed based on the position of the nipple in relation to the breast fold. The greater the breast sag, the more involved breast lift procedure needed. For women with no breast sag to moderate sag, a breast augmentation alone may be all that is needed.
Joseph T Cruise, MD, has found that when patients have access to pictures they better understand the healing process and what to expect.
This allows patients to assess whether the effects they are experiencing after their mommy makeover are typical, and they can quickly discuss any concerns with a staff member at Cruise Plastic Surgery.
The liposuction, tummy tuck, and breast lift timelines below demonstrate what to expect at each stage of the healing process.
Recovering After Liposuction Surgery
"80% of your results come from surgery, 20% from aftercare"
Recovering After Tummy Tuck Surgery
"80% of your results come from surgery, 20% from aftercare"
Recovering After Breast Lift Surgery
"80% of your results come from surgery, 20% from aftercare"
While early results are visible within weeks, final outcomes emerge over several months as swelling resolves and incisions heal.
Most patients see dramatic improvements in breast shape, abdominal tone, and body contours—results that feel like a true reflection of the energy and strength they carry post-motherhood. With stable weight and a healthy lifestyle, results are long-lasting. Clothing often fits better, body confidence returns, and many patients feel empowered in a whole new way.
Dr. Joseph T. Cruise is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Newport Beach who specializes in comprehensive body contouring. His approach is meticulous, artistic, and deeply personalized, ensuring that each mommy makeover is tailored to meet your individual needs and goals.
Joseph T Cruise, MD, is very patient about the mommy makeover procedure because he truly understands the emotional and physical toll body changes resulting from pregnancy, childbirth, and weight fluctuations can take on a woman's overall well-being.
When considering a mommy makeover, it can be very helpful to hear from others who have already had the procedure. Real Self, the number one online resource for learning about elective cosmetic procedures, is a great resource. You can even talk to others to get answers to your questions, receive emotional support, as well as get tips and advice.
Below are some common questions asked by prospective mommy makeover patients.
As with any surgery, a mommy makeover does come with inherent risks and potential complications. It is important to seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon who performs surgery in an accredited outpatient surgery center. An overnight stay at a recovery facility is highly recommended. In certain situations, it may be advisable to break the surgery up into two stages. The patient must be healthy with no medical issues that may put the person in a higher risk category.
Whether or not a tummy tuck is considered medically necessary depends on each person's individual health care plan. While it is not typically covered, extreme cases may be covered such as those following weight loss surgery.
A mommy makeover is not considered a weight loss procedure. It is typically the combination of a breast procedure and abdominoplasty with or without liposuction. Patients can typically expect to notice a more slender body shape as a result of the abdominoplasty, which may result in clothing fitting better.
The bulk of the recovery after a mommy makeover takes about 3 months. The body is still healing and fine-tuning for up to one year.
It is more about the total time of the surgery than it is about how many procedures can be done at one time. A person's health and age are also taken into consideration. A mommy makeover often consists of 5 procedures and can take up to 6-8 hours.
The cost of a mommy makeover varies from region to region and surgeon to surgeon. It will also vary depending on which procedures are needed. On average, a mommy makeover costs $19,000 - $28,000
The most common procedures included in a mommy makeover are a breast procedure, such as a breast lift and/or breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, and liposuction. It has become more common to add a Brazilian butt lift when liposuction is part of the surgery.
Mini, standard, extended, and circumferential.
Whether or not you need liposuction in conjunction with your tummy tuck is determined by how much excess fat is present in relation to excess skin. The vast majority of women do require some liposuction to adequately sculpt the body. Liposuction is frequently performed on the abdomen and flanks (hips).
The type of breast lift you need is determined by the relation of your nipple to the breast fold and the amount of breast sag.
Yes. If you have little to no breast sag, breast augmentation alone may be all that is needed. If there is some breast sag present, the answer will be determined based on the size of the breasts you want after surgery.
Dr. Cruise uses extreme surgical precision along with advanced techniques to ensure his patients have a tummy tuck incision that is low enough to be concealed even in low-cut jeans and bikini bottoms.
This will depend on two major factors: 1) Do you want to completely hide the fact that you had facelift surgery? 2) Does your job require strenuous activity? If you don't want anyone at work to know you had work done, we recommend taking up to four weeks off. If your job requires strenuous activity, you may need to take 4-6 weeks off unless your job will let you come back with modified work duties until you are fully cleared for physical activity.
Because mommy makeovers are major surgical procedures, the risks and complications can include bleeding, infection, or unsightly scarring.
This will vary from patient to patient depending on the type of mommy makeover and how well the recovery is going.
Absolutely not. Pregnancy, childbirth, and weight fluctuation create changes to your body that are out of your control. It is not vain to want to get back to the way you used to be.
The answer to this difficult question requires you to evaluate your life as a whole. The way you feel plays a large role in how you interact with your spouse and children. If you feel good about yourself, your entire outlook on life improves.
Breast procedures can be done at any time. Future pregnancies do not hurt the result significantly.
