The "Mummy makeover" is a combination type of surgery that aims to restore the body of the mother, which has changed due to pregnancy and the postpartum period, to its prepartum (before pregnancy) condition. The Mummy makeover usually involves breast augmentation, tummy tuck and liposuction. The exact type of surgeries performed for these body parts are subject to inter-patient variability. The female body is associated with enlargement of breast tissue, deposition of fat in the abdomen, formation of stretch marks and increased fat accumulation in the lower back, back and legs secondary to weight gain during and after pregnancy.

Mummy makeover typically involves a tummy tuck, breast augmentation and liposuction. Stretch marks may occur in the abdominal skin secondary to pregnancy. These marks are also an indication of poor skin quality. Moreover, the abdominal muscles may weaken and separate (rectus diastasis) during the pregnancy. When a mummy makeover is performed, excess abdominal skin is removed and abdominal muscles are re approximated. The result is that the patient’s abdomen will look firm, fit and athletic. In addition, the waist circumference will be reduced with liposuction performed on the flanks, back and lower back. As a result, the waistline will be narrower and look athletic and beautifully curved.

In mummy makeover surgery, the breast region is also operated on. Certain changes occur in breasts as a result of pregnancy and breastfeeding. The breasts gain volume due to hormonal reasons during the pregnancy period and they change again when the breastfeeding period ends.

Breasts can be larger compared to their sizes before pregnancy, they may lose volume and appear smaller and sagging might occur or they may return to their shapes and volumes before pregnancy. If breasts remain larger than their normal sizes at the end of pregnancy, breast reduction surgery can be performed. If the volume of breasts decrease after pregnancy, breast augmentation surgery can be performed with breast implant and if both volume loss and sagging occur, breast lift and prosthesis surgery can be performed. There are a variety of options which are tailored to the inidividual patient.

Mummy makeover procedures can be performed 1 year after delivery at the earliest. Completion of the breastfeeding period is crucial especially for breast procedures. The most suitable time for breast procedures is 8-9 months after completion of breastfeeding. If breast surgery is performed in an earlier period, the volume of breast cannot be exactly evaluated as the mammary ducts in the breast are active and breast tissue becomes vulnerable to infections. In short, the body should return to normal in terms of hormonal balance, breast milk production in the breasts should have stopped 1 year ago and the mothers who are candidates for surgery should have almost returned to their normal bodyweights for mummy makeover procedures.

The mummy makeover basically involves three procedures, including tummy tuck, breast augmentation and liposuction. Combining abdominoplasty, also called a tummy tuck, with liposuction for flanks, upper back and lower back will ensure the slim waist that patients desire. Liposuction or extra surgical procedures can be performed for arms and legs in a mummy makeover. However, we usually recommend postponing the procedures for arms and legs to a second session in order not to prolong the surgery which can lead to complications. Moreover, breast surgeries are a popular part of the mummy makeover.

Here, options include breast reduction, breast lift and breast augmentation or combination of breast lift and augmentation depending on patient’s needs. If breasts are too large as a result of pregnancy, breast reduction can be performed. If the volume of breasts is almost normal, but breasts are sagging, a breast lift is preferred. If the volume of the breast has decreased following lactation, breast prosthesis can be used or if loss of breast volume is accompanied with sagging of the breasts, breast lift can be combined with augmentation.

Patients should have restored usual body weight to the maximum extent possible before a mummy makeover. It should always be keeping mind that a mummy makeover is a body recontouring procedure rather than a slimming surgery. Mothers should have stopped lactation (breastfeeding) at least one year prior to undergoing the mummy makeover especially if a breast procedure is involved. Swelling and volume increase arising out of both breastfeeding and hormonal factors will normalize and milk ducts will close, resulting in a lower risk of postoperative infection. Moreover, patients should have restored prepartum (before pregnancy) hormonal homeostasis before the surgery.

Patients who smoke should quit smoking 4 weeks before the surgery and they should also avoid smoking for at least 4 weeks after the surgery. Moreover, people with co-existing disease should be consulted with relevant specialities to clarify whether they can undergo the surgery or not.

Since this is a combination surgery, blood counts should be slightly above physiological ranges. Otherwise, two surgical procedures can be planned, provided there is at least a 6-month interval between two procedures.

The mummy makeover is a surgical procedure that takes approximately 5 to 6 hours and can be performed under general anaesthesia. A series of routine preoperative workups are performed and the patients are assessed by an anaesthesiologist. Fully informed consent is obtained from all patients before the surgery and patients’ pre-operative photographs are taken in a standardised format.

On the morning of the day of surgery, surgery is planned and markings are made on the regions to be operated. Although the course varies from patient to patient, the mummy makeover procedure usually always starts with liposuction. After fat removal is performed with the liposuction procedure, abdominoplasty is carried out. Finally, breast surgery is performed. Drains are placed in regions where liposuction is performed, breast regions and abdominoplasty sites during the surgery.

The aim of placing these drains is to drain the blood and fluids that can accumulate at the surgery site and help with elimination of edema. Wound dressings are performed and patients are fitted with compression garments at the end of the surgery. After the patient completely recovers from anesthesia, the patient is transferred to the inpatient clinic.

When the surgery is completed, the patient is transferred to an allocated room and the patient is slowly allowed to eat. After the patient begins to eat, they are first placed in a sitting position in the bed. If all appears well, the patient is slowly mobilized. Since the mummy makeover procedure is a combined surgery performed under general anesthesia, patients are recommended to stay at the hospital for at least 2 nights.

Blood counts and blood pressure levels are monitoring throughout the hospitalization period. Painkillers are administered so that the patient can move without pain after the surgery. The patients are checked at 2 day intervals after they leave the hospital. Drains placed in breasts are removed approximately 1 to 2 days later. Drains in liposuction and abdominoplasty areas are removed 5 to 6 days after the surgery on average. Sterile tapes are attached on surgery sites. Patients can take shower 2 days after all drains are removed.

Patients should be physically active to the maximum extent after mummy makeover procedures. The longer patients walk without overexerting themselves, the faster postoperative recovery is. Lower consumption of sugar and salt after the surgery will ensure quicker regression of swelling and oedema. Since patients have undergone abdominoplasty, they should not carry or lift heavy objects for 6 weeks. Patients, who undergo breast surgery, are recommended not to raise their arms too much for 6 weeks.

It is necessary to use compression garments for body parts corrected with abdominoplasty and liposuction after a mummy makeover. Here, the aim is to put pressure on the skin at the surgical site, prevent collection of fluid and blood in operated body parts and to help skin areas, where fat tissue is removed, adapt more easily and quickly. Compression garments should be worn for at least 6 weeks after a mummy makeover. Moreover, breast tape and sports bra are recommended to be used again for 6 weeks for patients, who have undergone breast surgery. Here, the aim is to reposition the breast to its normal location and create a natural look using the weight of breasts.

Incision lines are covered with special tapes, called steristrips, after mummy makeover. These tapes are left on the incision lines for 3 weeks, but patients can take a bath even if they are not removed. These tapes are removed 3 weeks after the surgery. In other words, no extra wound dressing is required for patients who do not have wound healing problem.

As is the case for all surgical procedures, scars after mummy makeover procedure are permanent; however, it is possible to fade these scars and make them invisible. Our patients start to use silicone gel or silicone drapes to fade these scars 3 weeks after the surgery. It is recommended that silicone gel or covers are used for at least 3 months. The scars look drastically better 1 year after the surgery. We sometimes recommend our patients to get a skin coloured tattoo on the scars, which is called powdering technique, one year after the surgery if they wish to obscure the scar further.

Patients can start doing cardio exercises such as jogging 4 weeks after the mummy makeover procedure. Patients who do exercises or go to gym regularly can return to their normal work-out routines 6 to 8 weeks after the surgery.

Lymphatic massage is crucial especially for the liposuction sites. Patients can have a smoother and curvier waist with lymphatic massage applied especially on abdominal and lumbar regions. I recommend that lymphatic massage is started immediately after the surgery and applied for at least 10 sessions.

Patients should start walking as soon as possible after the mummy makeover. Although mobilization may be difficult for several days due to drains, it is so crucial to walk in this period. Drains are removed 5 to 6 days after the surgery on average and patients can move more easily thereafter. Bending the body slightly forward while walking will alleviate strain in the abdomen in the first 1 week especially after abdominoplasty. Patients can walk easily in the upright position thereafter. Patients can return to usual daily life 2 weeks after the mummy makeover. Patients are recommended to avoid lifting heavy objects and raising their arms too much for approximately 6 weeks after the surgery.

This question is commonly asked also for abdominoplasty procedures and the answer is yes. Patients may conceive again after a mummy makeover or abdominoplasty. If a person falls a pregnant following a mummy makeover, the pregnancy will provoke new changes and therefore, revision surgeries can be required. Accordingly, we recommend our patients to undergo these surgeries when they decide not to conceive anymore. Thus, the beautiful shape of their body, which is created in this surgery, can be maintained for a longer time.

Mummy Makeover prices vary depending on type and number of surgical procedures. You can contact us immediately to get information about Mummy makeover pricing.