What is a mommy-makeover?

A mommy-makeover is surgery of the abdomen and breast to reverse the changes in a women's body after pregnancy.

How long is the recovery?

Recovery depends on whether the abdominal surgery involves a tummy tuck or just liposuction. Typically a women can drive and do light work in a week or two. Light exercise is usually started after a few weeks and after a month activity is increased as tolerated.

Do I have to go into the hospital?

No, most patients are treated in the Rosato Plastic Surgery Center as an outpatient.

Am I a good candidate for surgery?

The ideal patient has lost most of the weight gained during the pregnancy and she is no longer breast feeding.

How to choose a surgeon?

Check your surgeons credentials, their experience, and do they have a good safety record. Your family physician or OB/GYN can direct you to a surgeon. Obtain more than one consultation if you are not sure. You can also ask your local medical society or the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for reference. www.plasticsurgery.org

Dr. Rosato has extensive experience combining breast and abdominal surgery. He presented his surgical results documenting patient safety at the Innovations in Plastic Surgery Meeting in Ft Lauderdale sponsored by the Cleveland Clinic in 2004 and 2005. He was trained at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland Ohio. He has 20 years of experience in Vero Beach and the Rosato Plastic Surgery Center is a state licensed ambulatory surgery center with an excellent safety record.

Lets talk about Lifestyle Lifts

What is it?

A lifestyle lift is a facelift performed by a lifestyle lift surgeon. The scars are usually around the ear and the procedure is performed in the office usually under local anesthesia with oral sedation.

Is it a unique procedure or can my Plastic Surgeon do it?

Yes, a board certified plastic surgeon can do it. The procedure is not unique. You should remember that every patient has different areas of concern; one operation cannot adequately treat everyone. Your surgeon should individualize your treatment plan for your concerns.

If it is done under local anesthesia in the office there must be few problems and early return to normal activity, right? 

Complications are possible with all surgeries, the skill of the surgeon and operating room team are the most important factors in determining your risk of problems. All lifts require healing time; less surgery usually means a faster recovery. The skill of the surgeon is the most important factor in healing. Many patients are back to work after 7 to 10 days after full face lifts, smaller lifts have faster healing times.

Do patients that have the lifestyle lifts have the same results as regular facelift patients?

You know that all surgeons do not have the same results.  Even excellent surgeons can have results that are not ideal. A review of the patient rated web blog Realself.com rated the Lifestyle lift as "worth it" 53 % of the time as compared to traditional facelift patients who felt in was worth it 86% of the time. Always check your surgeon’s credentials and get references from their patients and your local physicians.

The lifestyle lift is cheaper that a face lift?

This is usually true. Remember that you get what you pay for.

Is local anesthesia safer that anesthesia with a board certified anesthesiologist?

It may be, however consider what would happen if while having your procedure and you become anxious? Or the surgery is painful. You can have more local injections, but wouldn't it be nice to be sleeping during the procedure. With the aid of an anesthesiologist most patients are under a twilight sleep for their cosmetic surgery not general anesthesia. Minor revisions and mini lifts can be done under local with minimal oral sedation but these procedures are usually less than an hour long.