I’ve always been happy with my breasts. For most of my adult life, I had perky, full 36Cs that I thought fit my body and made me feel good. I got pregnant in 2018, gave birth in 2019, and breastfed and pumped for just over a year afterward. In that timespan, my breast size fluctuated drastically; they grew during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and once I finished pumping and nursing, they were smaller than ever before.
Gradually, the rest of my postpartum body started changing again too: As my daughter became more independent, I was able to find more time to take care of myself through exercising and meal planning. I lost over 70 pounds from the weight I was when I gave birth, and you can be sure that my breasts reflected that monumental shift too.
I started feeling more self-conscious, compensating for my—let’s face it—deflated and saggy chest with padded push-up bras and all the Skims and Spanx I could muster. My milestone fortieth birthday was approaching, and I wanted to do something for myself. So I started to consider the “mommy makeover,” which traditionally includes a breast lift, with or without implants, and a tummy tuck or stomach liposuction.
My first mommy makeover consultation was back in 2023. I saw two different surgeons but was still on a weight loss and health journey at that point, so I decided I wasn’t yet ready to go under the knife. But in 2025, once my daughter had graduated kindergarten, the time felt right, so I picked up the process again.
Over the course of a few months, I consulted and met with five additional surgeons in New York City and New Jersey, getting their opinions on implant recommendations (saline vs. silicone, which brand to go with, which sizing based on my proportions and measurements) and whether they thought I could benefit from a tummy tuck—an often-standard part of the mommy makeover package.
Plastic surgery is always a personal decision. If you love and accept your body as it is, that’s amazing! (And I did for many years.) If an elective aesthetic procedure can help you feel more confident, that shouldn’t be criticized either. In the end, I chose to do my surgery with Melissa Doft, MD, a double board-certified plastic surgeon in Manhattan. Together, we came up with a plan for a modified mommy makeover that worked best for my body, comfort level, and goals: I got a mastopexy (breast lift) and 320cc Motiva implants.
