Mommy Makeover in Dunwoody,
Sandy Springs & North Atlanta
A mommy makeover is not one operation. It is a combination chosen around what pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding actually changed for you — which is why two of them rarely look alike.
A Combination, Not a Procedure
Pregnancy changes the abdomen and the breasts in ways that diet and exercise cannot reverse, because the changes are structural rather than a matter of weight.
- Stretched abdominal muscles — including diastasis recti, where the muscles have separated down the midline.
- Loose abdominal skin — skin that has stretched and will not retract on its own.
- Sagging or deflated breasts — volume and position both change with pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Stubborn fat — deposits that persist regardless of diet and exercise.
- The combination of all of them — which is the actual reason for planning one surgery rather than three.
Diastasis recti can be repaired. Where the abdominal muscles have separated, the tummy tuck component tightens them — which is a structural repair rather than a cosmetic one, and is not something exercise can achieve.
What Yours Might Include
Dr. Stephenson assesses your concerns, your goals and your physical condition, then builds a plan from these components. You may need one of them, or several.
Tummy Tuck
Removes loose abdominal skin and tightens the muscle wall beneath, including repair of diastasis recti where the muscles have separated.
Breast Lift
Repositions the breast where it has descended, without necessarily changing its volume.
Breast Augmentation
Restores volume where pregnancy and breastfeeding have deflated the breast.
Liposuction
Targeted fat removal, including Lipo 360 around the full circumference of the midsection.
Why they are done together
Combining the procedures into a single surgery means one anesthetic and one recovery instead of two or three. That is the practical argument for a makeover over staging the work, and it is why the plan is built as a whole rather than assembled from separate decisions.
Timing, and who it suits
You are a candidate if you are in good general health and it has been at least six months since your last child. Beyond that it is a question of what changed and what you want back, which is what the consultation is for.
Your written quote
A mommy makeover starts at $17,775. That figure varies considerably with which procedures are included, so it is a starting point rather than a quote — after your consultation our Patient Coordinator prepares a written quote for the specific plan you and Dr. Stephenson agree. Pricing and financing options are set out in full.
What Recovery Looks Like
This is the longest recovery of anything offered here, and it needs planning for — particularly around childcare.
| Stage | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Light activity | Around two weeks. |
| Full return to activity | Between four and six weeks, depending on the extent of the surgery. |
| Back to work | Two to four weeks depending on the nature of your job. Avoid strenuous activity until you are fully recovered. |
| Drains | Yes — they prevent fluid collecting, which is what causes a seroma. They come out in our office after seven to ten days, with minimal discomfort, and we will show you how to care for them. |
| Preparing beforehand | A healthy lifestyle, stopping smoking, avoiding certain medications, and arranging help at home for the recovery period. |
| Scars | Placed, where the anatomy allows, within the lines of the underwear or swimwear you prefer. |
Scarring is inevitable with any surgery, and healing varies between people given identical technique. Some patients develop more prominent healed incisions, or hypertrophic scars — wide healed incisions, with or without pigment. Dr. Stephenson uses the techniques that minimise and conceal scars, but no surgeon can promise how yours will heal.
The recognised risks of this surgery are infection, bleeding, scarring, and complications related to anesthesia.
Before & After
Each patient’s makeover was a different combination of procedures, which is the point — these are not one operation photographed three times.
Before & after photographs
These are surgical photographs of actual patients, and they are unclothed. Open them when you are ready to.
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Photographs are of actual patients of ESJ Aesthetics, published with their consent. Results vary from patient to patient.
Mommy Makeover FAQs
What procedures are typically included?
Commonly a breast lift, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and liposuction or Lipo 360 — and sometimes facial work alongside. Which of them you need is decided at your consultation.
How is it customised for me?
Dr. Stephenson assesses your specific concerns, your goals, and your physical condition, and builds a surgical plan around them. Two mommy makeovers rarely involve the same combination.
How do I know if I am a good candidate?
Good general health, at least six months since your last child, and a clear sense of what you want restored. Whether it suits you is confirmed at consultation.
Can it repair diastasis recti?
Yes. A tummy tuck, which is often part of the makeover, repairs abdominal muscle separation by tightening the muscles — something exercise cannot do.
What is the recovery time?
It varies with the extent of the surgery. Light activity is generally possible at about two weeks, with a full return to physical activity between four and six weeks.
How long before I can return to work?
Depending on your job, usually two to four weeks — and avoid strenuous activity until you have fully recovered.
Will I have drains?
Yes. Drains prevent fluid collecting and the seroma that can follow, so they are part of a smooth recovery. They are removed in our office after seven to ten days, with minimal to no discomfort, and we will guide you through caring for them.
Will I have scars?
Scarring is inevitable with any surgery. Dr. Stephenson uses techniques that minimise and conceal them, placing incisions within the lines of your preferred underwear or swimwear where the anatomy allows. Healing varies between people even with identical technique, and some develop more prominent or hypertrophic scars.
What are the risks?
As with any surgery: infection, bleeding, scarring, and complications related to anesthesia. These are discussed specifically to your plan at consultation.
How should I prepare?
A healthy lifestyle, stopping smoking, avoiding certain medications, and arranging help at home during your recovery.
How much does it cost?
A mommy makeover starts at $17,775. Because it is a combination, the final figure varies considerably with which procedures are included, and you receive a written quote after your consultation.
Is financing available?
Yes. The practice offers financing and payment options, set out in full on the pricing page.
Further Reading
Discuss Your Options
An hour with Dr. Stephenson, an examination, and a written quote for the plan you agree together.