My Confidence Journey: Why I Decided to Get a Mommy Makeover

How Motherhood Changed Me

I never imagined becoming a mom would change so much more than my body.
Somewhere between diapers, sleepless nights, work, and trying to keep everyone else afloat, I stopped recognizing the woman staring back at me in the mirror.
Motherhood is one of the greatest gifts of my life, but it’s also the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The toll it can take—physically, mentally, and emotionally—is something we don’t talk about nearly enough.
Motherhood has pushed me to become the best version of myself for my children. I’m taking care of my mental health by going to therapy and working through past experiences and learning healthier ways to care for myself. I am slowly trying to get back to an improved version of myself.

The Physical Changes I Wasn’t Prepared For

Physically, post-partum has made me feel the worst I’ve ever felt about my body. I am grateful for the beautiful and strong body that birthed my babies, however, I also feel extremely insecure and uncomfortable. I have diastasis recti so my belly still looks pregnant even 2 years after having my last baby. This has put my pelvis in a weird position and has just given me a nice big FUPA. I also (like many of you, maybe) can’t laugh too hard or sneeze without a little tinkle coming out (If you’re a mom reading this, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about).

I look at pictures before I had kids and can’t believe it was me. I don’t recognize myself anymore.

This Didn’t Start After Pregnancy

Pre-babies I was petite and around 116-125 lbs. But even though I was skinny, I’ve always felt self-conscious about my body. I’ve always had very prominent hip dips and have never been able to wear certain types of clothing because they stick out like a sore thumb (think bodycon). I’ve mulled over the idea of getting fat grafted to this area for a long time. I had actually scheduled a fat transfer surgery in 2020 to undergo a BBL with fat grafting to fill my hip dips, but then…I got pregnant. Obviously, the surgery appointment was canceled. Fast forward to 2021, this was the year I became a mami. 2024 is when I had my second baby. My husband and I spent a long time talking about whether our family was complete. We eventually realized that, for us, two children feels right.

Losing Myself Along the Way

Also, while motherhood has been an amazing journey so far and I am eternally grateful for my babies, it has also been exhausting and no one really likes to talk about the real life struggles motherhood can bring. Since becoming a mom, I’ve lost myself in motherhood and along the way I’ve gained weight, lost weight, gained weight again, felt ugly, stopped going out, stopped taking care of myself like I used to. I don’t have many pictures of myself with my daughters because of how self-conscious I’ve felt about my looks. And that realization broke my heart. I don’t want my girls to grow up looking back and wondering why Mom was never in the pictures.  I haven’t felt pretty; and when I’ve tried to feel pretty by buying myself new clothes, I immediately feel bad after trying the clothes on because I don’t like the way they look on me. I feel overwhelmed every day. I don’t have a village of support, it is just my husband and I taking care of our kids. I feel burned out and too exhausted to do anything for myself.

What I’ll Be Sharing

I’m fully aware this is major surgery and it comes with real risks. I’ve spent months (really, years) researching surgeons, reading recovery stories, and making sure this is the right decision for me. This wasn’t something I booked on a whim. I’m ready to increase my self-esteem while I go on this confidence journey.

I’m obviously team “do what you want, it’s your body” but what do you all think (be nice)? Have you ever had or considered having a mommy makeover?

My goal throughout this process is to document my journey as much as possible to help others get an idea of what the journey may be like.

Over the next several months I’ll be sharing:

• My Mommy Makeover Consultation Experience
• Everything I Bought for Recovery
• My Honest Mommy Makeover Cost Breakdown
• Surgery Day: What Happened
• Week 1 Recovery
• My 3-Month Results

Whether you’re considering a mommy makeover yourself, supporting someone who is, or you’re just curious about the process, I hope my experience helps you feel a little more informed and a little less alone. I would love for you to follow along!

Disclaimer: I’m sharing my personal experience and the decisions that are right for me. This article isn’t medical advice. Always consult with a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your own goals, risks, and options.