Mommy Makeover

Why Choose Wake Plastic Surgery?

Abdominoplasties and breast augmentations are the top two surgeries Dr. Stoeckel performs. Unlike most surgeons, Dr. Stoeckel completes the surgery using MAC anesthesia, also known as Twilight Anesthesia, which does not require the need for general-anesthesia gases, airway tubes, or ventilators. The benefits of using Twilight Anesthesia are that recovery is quicker, anesthesia related nausea and vomiting is minimized, no risk for sore throat or chipped teeth, and the risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolus (PE) is decreased. Dr. Stoeckel does not use drains for the typical tummy tuck surgery. He was one of the first surgeons in the area to adopt the drainless tummy tuck surgery in his practice and taught his technique to other surgeons. During your comprehensive consultation, Dr. Stoeckel will make certain that you understand the risks and benefits of abdominoplasty and breast surgery to help you make the best possible choices for yourself. Finally, we are grateful that many of Wake Plastic Surgery’s patients allow us to share before and after photos in our office, and on the website to help others. All gallery photos are Dr. Stoeckel’ s actual surgical results. We do not use stock internet photos for examples, nor do we alter patient photos, except for removing tattoos per patient request.

Who is a good candidate for a Mommy Makeover?

The ideal mommy makeover patient is already in good physical condition. Mommy makeover surgery is not considered a weight loss procedure and the best results are obtained when patients have already reached their weight loss goals. We want you to have the best possible results with the fewest potential risks. After careful review of the literature and our own results over the last decade, we have found that patients with a body mass index (BMI) less than 30 have a significantly lower risk of post operative complications with abdominoplasty surgery and mommy makeovers than those whose BMI is higher than 30. As a result, we use this benchmark for most patients realizing that there are sometimes exceptions to almost any rule. Being at a healthy weight, avoiding smoking, and maintaining a healthy diet are just a few things that you can do to optimize your results.

How difficult is the recovery process?

A mommy makeover will improve how the contour of your body looks but is a complex surgical procedure that requires downtime sufficient for recovery. We typically have patients taking postoperative narcotic medication for only 3-5 days after surgery. Patients are up and walking around the day of surgery, but are restricted from bending over, engaging in vigorous exercises and heavy lifting, pulling or pushing of objects greater than 10 pounds for a period of 4-6 weeks.

What about scarring?

Most patients are concerned about the scarring that is involved with the tummy tuck surgery, and for good reason. Some patients’ scars heal incredibly well and almost fade away after about a year or so, but others remain either darkened or widened and are quite noticeable. The scar with a tummy tuck is placed under a significant amount of tension, even when quilting sutures are used, and different patients respond differently. And different skin types and ethnic skin varieties are more or less susceptible to poor scarring. However, when the surgery is performed properly, the scar should be easily hidden with normal undergarments.

If a patient is having a breast augmentation, or a breast lift without implants, this can change the placement of the scars on the breast. For a breast augmentation, breast implants can be placed using one of several incision locations, but the breast crease incision has the most benefits. Many women are concerned about visible breast scars, but when placed properly, the breast crease incision is difficult to see. Breast lifts are very effective for many patients that want to improve the appearance of sagging or drooping breasts that can be caused by pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight loss, but it has its limitations and its drawbacks. The most obvious is the scar associated with the surgery. The only way to tighten the skin envelope of a “droopy” breast is to remove some tissue (mostly skin). Doing so requires the placement of a scar. The good news is that the scar typically heals much better than most women assume. The scar associated with the breast lift technique required by most patients is one that is comprised of a vertical component below the areola and a circular one around the areola. Many people refer to this as a lollipop lift or vertical breast lift.