Mommy Makeover in Abu Dhabi
A Mommy Makeover is a combination of procedures carried out under one anaesthetic after pregnancy: usually abdominoplasty with repair of the abdominal muscles, with a breast procedure or liposuction where the examination indicates them. In Abu Dhabi, it is performed at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) by Dr Thomas Colson, Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery.
Indications for a Mommy Makeover
Pregnancy and breastfeeding produce anatomical changes that diet and exercise do not reverse: stretched skin of the abdomen, redistributed fat, and separation of the two rectus abdominis muscles along the midline, a condition called diastasis recti.
The Mommy Makeover is planned around the examination, not around a catalogue. A patient with muscle separation and no skin excess does not receive the same plan as one with skin excess and no separation.
- At least six months after the birth, and at least six months after breastfeeding has finished
- Separation of the abdominal muscles, excess abdominal skin, or both
- A breast that has lost volume or descended, where a breast procedure is considered
- A stable weight, and no further pregnancy planned
Mommy Makeover: what the combination can include
The Mommy Makeover is not a single operation but a combination of procedures carried out under one anaesthetic, selected according to which findings are present.
Abdomen: abdominoplasty and diastasis repair
Abdominoplasty removes the excess skin and repairs the diastasis. This is usually the central component. A protruding abdomen after pregnancy is frequently muscle separation rather than fat: the repair uses non-absorbable internal sutures to bring the muscles back to the midline, which flattens the abdominal wall and restores tension to the core. This repair has a functional component, and it is assessed as such.
Breast
Where the breast has lost volume or descended, a mastopexy restores position, and an implant or fat transfer restores volume. Which applies is assessed on the breast itself, and is set out on the page for breast aesthetic surgery.
Flanks and other areas
Liposuction addresses localised fat deposits that remain after weight has stabilised.
One anaesthetic, one recovery
Combining the procedures means one anaesthetic and one recovery period rather than several. Dr Colson limits the operating time according to the patient’s general health, and the extent of the combination is decided on that basis. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols are used, including long-acting local anaesthetic and early lymphatic drainage.
Recovery timeline after a Mommy Makeover
The expected course is tightness of the abdominal wall rather than sharp pain. Its pace depends on which procedures were combined.
| Period | What is usual |
|---|---|
| First days | Walking slightly bent for the first days, to protect the muscle repair. A compression garment and early lymphatic drainage. |
| Two to three weeks | Initial recovery before returning to light desk work. |
| Following weeks | Swelling settles over weeks. The return to strenuous exercise is set individually at follow-up. |
| 12 to 18 months | The scars continue to change over this period, after which they remain visible. |
Risks of a Mommy Makeover
Every operation on this page is carried out under general anaesthesia and carries the risks common to any surgery: bleeding and haematoma, infection, delayed wound healing, collection of fluid under the skin, venous thromboembolism, and reaction to the anaesthetic. These are discussed individually before consent, with the factors that raise them — smoking, diabetes, obesity, and a personal or family history of thrombosis.
- The risks of each component: for the abdominal repair, fluid collection under the skin, areas of altered sensation on the abdominal wall, and healing difficulty at the incision, which is longer here than in an isolated procedure
- For the breast component, the risks set out on the page for breast aesthetic surgery
- A longer operating time, which is itself a factor in thrombotic and anaesthetic risk
For that reason the extent of the combination follows from the assessment of general health, rather than from the list of requests.
What should prompt a call to the department
Contact the department without waiting for the next appointment in case of: fever, a calf that becomes painful or swollen, shortness of breath, sudden increase in swelling or pain on one side, discharge from the incision, or a wound edge that separates.
Choosing a surgeon in Abu Dhabi: verifiable criteria
The criteria below apply to any surgeon and can be checked independently. They are listed to help a patient ask the right questions, not to compare practitioners.
- Licence: a surgeon operating in Abu Dhabi holds a Department of Health Abu Dhabi licence, and its number can be requested and checked. Dr Colson is licensed as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon under licence GD47532.
- Specialist certification: board certification in plastic surgery, with the issuing board named. Dr Colson is double board certified by SOFCPRE (French Board) and EBOPRAS.
- Hospital setting: where the operation takes place, and what support is on site. Dr Colson operates at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), a government tertiary hospital within the SEHA network, with anaesthetic, imaging and inpatient support on site.
- Consultation and consent: an examination by the surgeon who will operate, and a consent discussion that covers the risks, the alternatives and the limits of the operation, with no promise of a particular result.
- Follow-up: who sees the patient after surgery, and how the team is reached if a complication occurs. At SKMC, follow-up takes place in the Department of Plastic Surgery.
Frequently asked questions
When can I have a Mommy Makeover after giving birth?
At least six months after the birth, and at least six months after breastfeeding has finished. That interval allows hormone levels to return to baseline, the uterus to return to its size, and the breast tissue to reach its settled state. Operating before that means operating on tissue that is still changing.
What does a Mommy Makeover include?
It is a combination planned on the examination. Abdominoplasty with repair of the abdominal muscles is usually the central component; a breast procedure and liposuction of localised deposits are added where the examination indicates them.
Can I have another child after a Mommy Makeover?
It is possible, but a further pregnancy will stretch the abdominal wall and the skin again, including the muscle repair. For that reason the operation is generally deferred until a patient does not plan a further pregnancy.
Is it safe to combine several procedures in one session?
Combining procedures lengthens the operating time, and operating time is itself a factor in thrombotic and anaesthetic risk. Dr Colson assesses general health and limits the duration of the session accordingly; the extent of the combination follows from that assessment rather than from the patient’s list of requests.
Are before and after photographs shown?
No. In compliance with UAE MOHAP regulations on patient privacy and modesty, breast and body results are not displayed on this website. A medical portfolio is reviewed during a private consultation at SKMC.
Who performs the Mommy Makeover, and where?
Dr Thomas Colson performs the operation at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) in Abu Dhabi, where he is Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery. In the UAE, consultations and surgery take place exclusively at SKMC.
Related pages
Consultation
In the UAE, consultations and surgery are performed exclusively at SKMC, Abu Dhabi.
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Educational disclaimer
The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified surgeon or health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.