Two recoveries that overlap

A mommy makeover usually brings together a tummy tuck, a breast lift or augmentation and liposuction, which means healing from more than one operation at the same time. That is the whole point of combining them — one anesthetic, one stretch of downtime — but it also means the aftercare for each part applies at once. Knowing it in advance makes a household far easier to plan around. Dr. Chang Soo Kim performs the surgery at Bellava in Bedford Hills, about 13 minutes without traffic from Cross River and 16 from South Salem, by Route 35.

What the breast part asks of you

A support bra or compression garment, worn for several weeks.
No push-ups, chest presses or weightlifting until at least six to eight weeks have passed.

What the tummy part asks of you

You keep slightly bent at the waist, standing and sitting, for roughly the first week, to protect the muscle repair.
A compression garment is fitted at the end of the operation and worn for around six weeks.
Drains, where Dr. Kim uses them, usually stay for seven to ten days and are taken out at a short office visit.
Heavy lifting and strenuous activity wait at least six weeks; planks and crunches wait at least twelve.

Each surgical site is dressed with gauze before you leave, and if you have drains, their care is written down for you to take home.

Planning the household

Driving generally resumes around two weeks after surgery, so somebody else covers school runs and errands until then.
Lifting is where most families need a plan. A small child who still wants to be carried needs another pair of arms for at least six weeks.
Time overall runs between two and six weeks of recovery, depending on what was combined, with the result going on refining for several months.
Follow-up visits are back in Bedford Hills, in the building where you had surgery, a short run along Route 35.

The surgeon

Dr. Kim has performed hundreds of mommy makeovers. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, studied at the Yale School of Medicine and trained in plastic surgery at Yale–New Haven Hospital. Every operation is outpatient, in Bellava’s own suite accredited by The Joint Commission, and clinical staff monitor you throughout. About Dr. Kim.

Lewisboro mothers ask

Would it be easier to have the procedures separately? You can, but each one then brings its own recovery. Combining means one, and whether combining is safe for you is something Dr. Kim decides after reviewing your health history.

When will I see the difference? Improvement shows within weeks and keeps refining over several months as the swelling settles.

Who is a good candidate? Women who have finished having children, are in good health and hold a stable weight, and whose loose skin, separated muscles, changed breasts or stubborn fat have not responded to diet and exercise.

How do I start? Press Request a Consultation, or call or text; Bellava’s patient coordinator calls back to arrange a free, private consultation. Read the full mommy makeover page and browse Dr. Kim’s before and afters first.

Mommy Makeover for Lewisboro, NY