Defined as a combination of surgical procedures – breast implants, tummy tuck, liposuction and more – mummy makeovers were developed to return women’s bodies to their pre-pregnancy condition. The mummy makeover takes its name from its key target market: those women wanting a single operation that enhances and restores their bodies to their pre-childbirth and pre-pregnancy condition.
Pregnancy can take a toll on a woman’s body. In 2005, the BBC reported the results of a survey of 2,000 mothers by Mother & Baby magazine in the UK. A majority of new mothers taking part in the survey (86%) said they had felt more attractive before pregnancy. A similar number (82%) were unhappy with their shape after pregnancy. Many (77%) claimed to have been shocked by the changes to their bodies.
These women felt that pregnancy and childbirth radically changed their stomachs, arms, legs, breasts and bottoms for the worse. The most common complaints included a flabby stomach (83%), stretchmarks (62%), droopy breasts (51%), flabby legs (31%), cellulite (30%), flabby arms (23%), a saggy bottom (20%) and puffy ankles (7%). Two thirds of the women admitted that everyday feelings about their bodies didn’t change, regardless of their current size.
Mummy makeovers allow women to feel like their pre-pregnancy selves again, both physically and emotionally. The makeover can boost self-confidence by making women feel more sexy and attractive, and can contribute to an overall feeling of wellbeing and satisfaction.
According to Sydney plastic surgeon Dr Kourosh Tavakoli, up to 30 per cent of his female patients long to improve their bodies after childbirth. “These women do not want to create something new. They simply want to restore what they had previously,” says Dr Tavakoli. “They have 50 or 60 years ahead of them and want to look their best.”
Popularity of the mummy makeover is growing worldwide. RealSelf reports that online searches for mummy makeovers increased by 13 per cent over the past year. Over 98 per cent of the women who undertake them consider the surgery worth the cost. They also report a boost in self-confidence, attractiveness, and satisfaction with their sex life.
According to Dr Phillip Haeck, President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), “Today, women wish their bodies looked the way they did before their first pregnancies. And they’re not afraid to acknowledge that they may need a little help beyond a healthy diet and exercise.”
In the past, mummy makeover candidates tended to be in their 50s. “But today we are seeing young mothers in their 30s coming in for procedures such as tummy tucks and breast lifts,” says Dr. Haeck. “They don’t want to wait years to re-establish how they used to look. They want their pre-baby bodies back now.”
Breast enhancement, abdominoplasty and liposculpture are the top three procedures mothers want in their makeovers.
For more information on mummy makeovers, including cost, things to consider and what to expect, please read our complete procedure guide to the mummy makeover.