Does a Mommy Makeover Include a BBL?

What to know about combining procedures

A mommy makeover is a combination of procedures chosen to address changes after pregnancy, commonly breast surgery, tummy tuck and liposuction. A Brazilian butt lift can be added to that combination, but it is not part of it by default.

Pregnancy and early motherhood change the breasts, the abdominal wall and the distribution of fat. A mommy makeover is a set of procedures selected to address those changes.

The standard combination does not treat the buttocks. That is what a Brazilian butt lift does, and it is why patients ask whether the two can be combined.

What is a mommy makeover?

A mommy makeover is not a single procedure. It is a combination of operations selected for the individual patient.

The procedures most often combined are:

Breast augmentation	Uses implants to restore breast size and fullness that decreased after pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Breast lift	Lifts and reshapes the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue, raising the breast to a higher position on the chest.
Tummy tuck	Also known as abdominoplasty. Removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and repairs the abdominal wall. Plication is performed in almost all postpartum cases.
Liposuction	Uses cannulas to remove localized fat that diet and exercise do not reduce. Common areas include the hips, flanks, back, arms and abdomen.

The combination is tailored to the individual case.

Is a BBL typically included?

A Brazilian butt lift is not a standard part of a mommy makeover.

A mommy makeover focuses on the breasts and the abdomen, with liposuction of adjacent areas. A BBL specifically changes the shape and volume of the buttocks. It is an elective addition.

Some patients want to add it. Dr. Smith makes a recommendation based on the individual case and on whether the combined operation is safe to perform in one session.

Adding a BBL to a mommy makeover

It is possible to include a BBL as part of mommy makeover surgery. There are three things that change when you do.

1. Longer surgery and recovery

Adding a BBL can increase the length of surgery by several hours. That makes the operation longer and more complex, and it lengthens recovery. Patients need to plan for a longer period away from normal responsibilities.

2. Conflicting recovery instructions

A BBL requires avoiding pressure on the buttocks for several weeks. Recovering simultaneously from abdominal and breast procedures makes that harder, because the positions that protect the buttocks are not the positions that are comfortable after abdominal surgery. Patients may need more help at home. The combined operation also increases overall pain, swelling and bruising.

3. Additional cost

Adding a BBL adds surgical and anesthesia time and changes the recovery supplies you may need. A mommy makeover with Dr. Smith starts at $40,000; your quote depends on the procedures in your plan. Our mommy makeover cost guide explains what shapes the quote, what is included and financing.

Dr. Smith will advise whether a BBL belongs in the same operation or a separate stage. Read how he approaches a combined or staged mommy makeover.

How a BBL works

A Brazilian butt lift changes the shape and size of the buttocks using the patient's own fat. It is performed in three stages within one operation:

1. The surgery starts with liposuction to harvest fat from other areas of the body. Common donor sites include the abdomen, flanks, back, thighs and knees. The donor areas are chosen based on the patient's goals and where fat is available.
2. The harvested fat is processed and purified to isolate the fat tissue, which supports graft survival. The purified fat is then reinjected into specific areas of the buttocks through small cannulas.
3. Small fat grafts are placed throughout the buttock within the subcutaneous tissue above the gluteal fascia, not in or beneath the muscle. Joint plastic-surgery society guidance supports real-time ultrasound to help keep fat delivery in this plane.

Because the volume comes from the patient's own tissue, the result feels like the patient's own tissue. Implants are not used.

Recovery involves rest, compression garments, limited sitting, and avoiding pressure on the buttocks. The contour becomes visible gradually as swelling resolves. Where trauma is minimized and the recipient site is well perfused, reported graft volume retention reaches as high as 90 percent.

Recovery after combining procedures

Recovery from a mommy makeover alone takes several weeks, with the first 1 to 2 weeks the most restrictive. Adding a BBL changes the following:

1	You cannot sit directly on the buttocks for the first weeks after a BBL. This requires a positioning pillow or lying prone.
2	Pain, swelling and bruising from the combined procedures are greater, and recovery is longer.
3	Compression is worn for 4 weeks after liposuction, and a body suit for 4 weeks after abdominoplasty.
4	Follow Dr. Smith’s individual walking and positioning instructions. Movement and restrictions on pressure to the buttocks need to be planned together.
5	The final result is not visible until swelling resolves and tissues settle, which takes 3 to 6 months.

Follow-up visits are scheduled the next morning, then at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Dr. Smith leads post-operative care and is present for every major visit.

Use the mommy makeover recovery guide to help plan work, childcare and follow-up. When a BBL is included, your team will give you instructions for the complete combination; a tummy-tuck-and-breast-surgery timeline does not replace those instructions.

Is a mommy makeover with BBL right for you?

Candidates for combining a mommy makeover with a BBL include:

1. Patients in good general health, without conditions that impair healing. Medical clearance and labs are required before surgery under anesthesia, with an EKG for patients over 40.
2. Patients using no nicotine. Nicotine impairs healing and increases the risk of complications. No nicotine in any form for 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. The practice tests for nicotine.
3. Patients at a stable weight. Weight fluctuation before or after surgery changes the result. Weight should be stable for 3 months before operating.
4. Patients who do not intend to have more children. Pregnancy can reverse the changes a mommy makeover makes.
5. Patients with realistic expectations for their surgical result. Understanding the procedures, the recovery and the risks is part of the decision.
6. Patients able to follow post-operative instructions. The result depends heavily on care during recovery, and you will need help with daily tasks in the first weeks.

At consultation, Dr. Smith will assess whether you are a candidate for the combined procedures. Discuss your medical history, goals and lifestyle so the plan fits your case.

Should you add a BBL to your mommy makeover?

It is possible to add a Brazilian butt lift to a mommy makeover, but a BBL is not a necessary component of the combination. It is an additional elective procedure that treats a different area.

Operating time, recovery and cost all increase when these procedures are combined, so the decision depends on your goals and on whether the combined operation is appropriate for you.

Next steps

Dr. Darren M. Smith is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and practices at The Ritz Tower, 111 East 57th Street, Ground Floor, New York, NY 10022. He operates in his own QUAD A accredited outpatient surgical facility inside the office, and works only with board-certified anesthesiologists.

Contact the office to schedule a consultation. The consultation fee is $500 and is applied toward any procedure. It is never waived.