Long-term psychosocial benefits after combined abdominoplasty and breast surgery in postpartum women: A prospective 12-month study.

Abstract

The combined surgical correction of abdominal wall laxity and breast ptosis-commonly referred to as the "mommy makeover"-has gained widespread popularity among postpartum women. Although esthetic benefits are well recognized, the procedure's long-term psychosocial impact remains insufficiently characterized. We prospectively evaluated the effects of combined body contouring surgery on health-related quality of life and psychological well-being in postpartum patients. A prospective observational study was conducted at the Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital (Rome) between September 2023 and October 2024. Thirty-six postpartum women with diastasis recti underwent abdominoplasty in combination with breast surgery (augmentation, reduction, or mastopexy). Validated patient-reported outcome measures-including the Short Form Health Survey, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Psychological General Well-Being Index, short form-were administered at baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 12 months (T2) postoperatively. Outcomes were modeled using linear mixed-effects models across T0-T1-T2; paired contrasts (T2 vs. T0; T1 vs. T0) are also reported. Significant improvements were observed at 12 months postoperatively across multiple SF-36 domains, including Physical Functioning (+10.1; p = 0.045), Energy/Fatigue (+11.4; p = 0.031), Pain (-4.9; p = 0.040), Social Functioning (+1.9; p = 0.020), and General Health Perception (+10.2; p = 0.028). Self-esteem scores increased significantly (mean change: +4.53; p < 0.001), as did PGWBI-S domains related to Self-Control and Positive Well-Being (p < 0.001). No major complications were reported and all patients completed the follow-up protocol. The mommy makeover is associated with substantial and sustained gains in physical and psychological quality of life in postpartum women. These findings support the procedure's role as a holistic, patient-centered intervention that extends beyond cosmetic restoration to include measurable psychosocial recovery. Larger controlled studies are warranted to further validate these results and refine patient selection criteria.