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A mummy makeover, by a BAAPS plastic surgeon.

Combined post-pregnancy surgery - abdominoplasty with muscle repair, breast augmentation, lift or reduction, and optional liposuction - done properly, in a CQC-registered theatre, with an honest conversation about single-session versus staged.

A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What a private mummy makeover costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our BAAPS-registered surgeons.

In short

A combined mummy makeover in our UK network: £15,000–£30,000, with a hospital stay of one to two nights.

Procedure Indicative range
Combined mummy makeover (abdominoplasty + breast) £15,000–£30,000
Abdominoplasty (full, with muscle repair) £8,000–£14,000
Mini abdominoplasty £6,000–£9,000
Breast augmentation (implants) £6,000–£9,000
Breast lift (mastopexy) £6,500–£9,500
Breast reduction £7,000–£10,000
Liposuction (per area, add-on) £1,000–£3,000
Consultation only £200–£400

Prices vary by surgeon, by hospital, by the combination of procedures, by implant choice, and by whether the case is single-session or staged.

The problem

The right surgeon, the right combination, at the right time.

Mummy makeover surgery is easy to book badly - a marketing-led aesthetic clinic, an over-ambitious single-session package, or work done before your body has settled. We fix all three before you commit.

  • Not sure if you are ready?

    Weight not stable, breastfeeding recent, or family not complete. We say wait when waiting is the right answer.

  • Worried about the risk?

    Single-session cases are longer and carry a real clot risk. Staged surgery may be the safer option - we discuss it honestly.

  • Want it done properly?

    A named BAAPS plastic surgeon, a CQC-registered hospital, a mandatory cooling-off period and full informed consent.

When it helps

The post-pregnancy changes a mummy makeover addresses.

The changes we see most, plus the one red flag that means waiting - not booking - is the right answer.

  • Diastasis recti (muscle separation)

    The abdominal muscles split during pregnancy in around a third of women. A tummy tuck with muscle repair is the only durable fix.

  • Loose abdominal skin and stretch marks

    Redundant skin below the navel and low-abdomen stretch marks are excised with the tissue during abdominoplasty.

  • Deflated or ptotic breasts

    Breasts that have lost volume, dropped after lactation, or become asymmetric - addressed with augmentation, mastopexy or both.

  • Over-large post-lactation breasts

    Breasts that stayed large, heavy or symptomatic after breastfeeding - reduction is a well-established option.

  • Localised fat deposits

    Love handles, outer thighs or upper abdomen that no longer respond to diet or exercise - liposuction as an adjunct, not a substitute.

  • C-section scar revision

    A tethered, thickened or overhanging C-section scar can be revised at the same time as an abdominoplasty.

  • Optional labiaplasty or fat transfer

    For some patients, small adjunctive procedures are done at the same visit - always discussed against the risk of a longer operation.

  • Red flag: not finished having children

    A future pregnancy undoes the abdominal muscle repair and can distort the breast result. If your family is not complete, we say wait.

Procedure options

The components - and how they combine.

What each part of the mummy makeover actually involves, and which fits which post-pregnancy change.

  • Full abdominoplasty

    Skin and fat excision hip-to-hip, muscle repair for diastasis, navel repositioning, drains for one to two weeks and a compression garment for four to six weeks.

  • Mini abdominoplasty

    A smaller lower-abdomen excision with no navel work - for women with mild skin excess and no significant muscle separation.

  • Breast augmentation with implants

    Silicone or saline implants, teardrop or round, smooth surface increasingly preferred in the UK following BIA-ALCL concerns with textured devices.

  • Breast lift (mastopexy)

    Reshapes and lifts breasts that have dropped without significant volume loss - no implants used.

  • Combined augmentation-mastopexy

    For ptosis with volume loss. Technically demanding, higher revision rate - often better staged in two operations.

  • Breast reduction

    For breasts that are overly large or heavy after lactation - removes tissue, reshapes, and repositions the nipple-areola complex.

  • Liposuction adjunct

    Adds contour to flanks, thighs or upper abdomen. Not a weight-loss procedure and never a substitute for skin excision.

  • Single session vs staged

    Single session: one anaesthetic, one recovery, longer OR, higher clot risk. Staged: safer for extensive work, three to six months between operations.

Safety and recovery

What to expect - honestly.

Mummy makeover surgery is major cosmetic surgery. It has real risks and real recovery - worth planning around, not glossing over.

  • Blood clot risk is real

    A combined mummy makeover under GA carries an elevated DVT and PE risk. LMWH injections, calf compression and early mobilisation are non-negotiable.

  • Bruising and swelling

    Expect two to six weeks of visible bruising and swelling. Compression garments are worn day and night for four to six weeks.

  • Drains for the abdominoplasty

    Small suction drains sit in the wound for one to two weeks. The nurse teaches you how to empty and measure them at home.

  • Scars fade but never disappear

    The hip-to-hip abdominoplasty scar, breast scars and any liposuction ports fade over twelve to eighteen months - they are permanent.

  • Smoking makes wounds break down

    Smoking is the single biggest driver of wound failure and skin necrosis. Stop at least six weeks before and stay stopped afterwards.

  • Implants have a finite lifespan

    Breast implants are not lifetime devices. Most need replacement or revision within ten to fifteen years.

  • Future pregnancy undoes the work

    Another pregnancy will re-separate the abdominal muscles and can distort a breast result. The procedure assumes your family is complete.

  • Revision surgery is not rare

    Between five and fifteen per cent of patients need some form of revision - for asymmetry, capsular contracture, scarring or contour irregularity.

  • Red flags

    Calf pain, breathlessness, chest pain, fever, spreading redness or a rapidly enlarging haematoma are emergencies - call the hospital or 999.

Reading your operation note

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever combination was performed, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant plastic surgeon reviewing a patient’s operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Procedures performed and combination

    Exactly which operations were done - abdominoplasty (full or mini), which breast procedure, whether liposuction was added - and in which order.

  2. 02 Technique

    Muscle repair, implants and liposuction

    Whether diastasis was repaired, which implants (make, volume, shell, placement) were used, and how many millilitres of fat were removed from each area.

  3. 03 Findings

    Intra-operative findings and blood loss

    Any incidental hernias repaired, condition of the muscle layer, estimated blood loss and whether transfusion was needed.

  4. 04 Impression

    Recovery, restrictions and review dates

    Read this first: drain removal, when to stop the LMWH injections, garment schedule, driving and lifting restrictions, and follow-up appointments.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Mummy makeover surgery is cosmetic and is not normally covered by UK private health insurance.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about the mummy makeover.

Quick answers on suitability, single-session versus staged, cost, insurance, recovery and future pregnancies.

  • What is a mummy makeover?

    A combined cosmetic surgery package that addresses the abdominal and breast changes many women experience after pregnancy. It typically pairs an abdominoplasty (with muscle repair) with breast surgery - augmentation, a lift, or a reduction - and sometimes liposuction. It is done in one session or staged over two operations.

  • Am I a suitable candidate?

    Suitability usually means a family that is complete, stable weight for at least six months, finished breastfeeding for at least six months, BMI under thirty in most cases, a non-smoker or willing to stop for six weeks, no untreated hernia or pelvic floor problem, and realistic expectations about scarring and recovery.

  • Should I have it as one operation or two?

    Single-session surgery means one anaesthetic and one recovery but a longer operation and a higher clot risk. Staged surgery over two operations three to six months apart is safer for extensive work. Your plastic surgeon will make an honest recommendation based on what you need done.

  • How much does a mummy makeover cost privately in the UK?

    A combined mummy makeover typically costs £15,000–£30,000. Abdominoplasty on its own is £8,000–£14,000, and each breast procedure is £6,000–£10,000. Liposuction adds £1,000–£3,000 per area.

  • Does insurance cover it?

    Mummy makeover surgery is cosmetic and is not normally covered by UK private health insurance.

  • How long is recovery?

    Expect two to six weeks of bruising and swelling, compression garments for four to six weeks, drains out at one to two weeks, back to office work at two to four weeks, driving from two to four weeks, no lifting over five kilograms for six to eight weeks, and the final result at three to six months.

  • Will I be able to have another baby afterwards?

    Physically yes, but a future pregnancy will re-separate the abdominal muscles and stretch the abdominal skin, undoing the tummy tuck. It can also distort a breast result. Mummy makeover surgery is undertaken on the understanding that your family is complete.

  • What are the main risks?

    The most serious are blood clots (DVT and PE), which are elevated with combined GA surgery. Others include seroma, haematoma, wound breakdown, skin or nipple necrosis, capsular contracture around implants, contour irregularity from liposuction, poor scarring, altered sensation, cosmetic dissatisfaction, and the need for revision surgery in five to fifteen per cent of cases.

  • When should I contact the clinic urgently?

    Calf pain or swelling, breathlessness or chest pain, heavy or spreading bleeding, a fever, rapidly worsening pain, or a wound that starts opening are all reasons to call the hospital the same day - or dial 999.