Becoming a mother is one of life’s most rewarding experiences, but pregnancy and breastfeeding can leave lasting yet unwelcome changes to your body you may wish to reverse. Many women turn to a Mommy Makeover — a combination of personalized breast and body procedures — to restore their confidence and feel more like themselves again. One of the most common questions asked by patients is about the most ideal timing for a Mommy Makeover. While the answer depends on several personal, medical, and lifestyle factors, careful planning ensures you achieve the safest and most satisfying results.

Waiting Until You’re Done Having Children

One of the most important timing considerations involves family planning. A Mommy Makeover is designed to address permanent changes after pregnancy, such as stretched abdominal muscles, sagging breasts, and stubborn fat. If you become pregnant again after surgery, your surgical results may be compromised. While another pregnancy is certainly safe and possible, patients should keep in mind that it can undo the improvements made with a Mommy Makeover. For this reason, our board-certified plastic surgeon in Santa Barbara recommends waiting until you’re confident that you’re finished having children before moving forward.

Allowing Your Body Time to Heal Postpartum

Even after you’ve decided your family is complete, your body needs time to recover from pregnancy and childbirth. Most surgeons advise waiting at least six months to one year after giving birth before considering surgery. This allows your uterus to shrink back to its normal size, your hormones to stabilize, and for natural weight fluctuations to level out. For mothers who breastfeed, it’s important to wait until at least three to six months after weaning so the breast tissue can stabilize.

Achieving a Stable Weight

Weight stability is another crucial factor in the timing of a Mommy Makeover. If you’re still in the process of losing postpartum weight or you’re planning to start a new fitness program, it’s best to reach a healthy, stable weight first. Significant weight changes after surgery may cause additional skin laxity especially in areas like the abdomen and breasts. Maintaining a stable weight before surgery helps ensure your outcome lasts longer and looks more natural.

Considering Your Childcare Needs

Recovery after a Mommy Makeover requires rest and limited physical activity, especially when lifting or bending. Mothers of young children should plan ahead for support and childcare at home, particularly during the first two weeks of recovery. Dr. Schooler recommends enlisting help with child supervision, household responsibilities, and possibly transportation. Coordinating this support in advance can be essential for a smoother recovery and greater peace of mind.

Work and Lifestyle

Your schedule, job, and lifestyle also play a role in timing. Most women need at least two to three weeks off work after a Mommy Makeover, depending on the extent of procedures performed. If your job is physically demanding, you may need even more time. Planning surgery around slower periods at work, holidays, or when you can arrange extended leave can help reduce stress and improve your overall experience.

Emotional Readiness

Beyond physical considerations, emotional readiness matters too. Typically composed of some combination of a tummy tuck, liposuction, breast lift surgery, and/or breast augmentation, a Mommy Makeover is a major decision and a significant investment in yourself. It’s important to feel mentally prepared for the changes ahead, including the recovery, downtime, and the emotional impact of seeing your transformed body. Taking the time to feel confident in your decision will help make the journey more rewarding.

Ultimately, the best timing for a Mommy Makeover is different for every woman, but key factors include completing your family, allowing your body to heal after pregnancy and breastfeeding, reaching a stable weight, planning for childcare and recovery, and ensuring you’re mentally and emotionally ready. With thoughtful planning and the guidance of a board-certified plastic surgeon, you can opt for the timing that aligns with your health, lifestyle, and goals.

Dr. Wesley Schooler personalizes Mommy Makeovers according to the unique considerations and preferences of each patient, allowing every person who visits our practice to bring their aesthetic desires to life. If you’re thinking about a Mommy Makeover or if you’re unhappy with how your body has changed post-pregnancy, reach out to our Santa Barbara practice for customized solutions today.

A tummy tuck can significantly improve the look of your abdomen and may remove stretch marks in the lower belly, but it’s not a universal stretch mark removal solution. Stretch marks develop when the skin stretches due to weight gain, pregnancy, or the natural aging process, causing visible tears in the dermis. While stretch marks can appear anywhere, they are most often found on the abdomen, hips, thighs, breasts, and buttocks.

A common aesthetic concern for post-pregnancy women, many patients wonder whether a tummy tuck can effectively remove stretch marks and restore a smoother look on the surface of the skin. Santa Barbara plastic surgeon Wesley Schooler, MD, FACS outlines what to expect from the tummy tuck procedure and reveals when abdominoplasty is capable of eliminating stretch marks on the midsection.

What’s the Goal of a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck is a body sculpting procedure designed to:

• Remove excess skin and fat from the abdominal area
• Tighten the underlying muscles
• Create a smoother, flatter, and more toned midsection

During the procedure, Dr. Schooler makes an incision low on the abdomen, removes excess skin, and repositions the remaining skin for a more youthful contour. If stretch marks are affecting your confidence, a tummy tuck may help remove them or improve their appearance — particularly stretch marks in the lower abdomen.

When Can a Tummy Tuck Remove Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks that fall within the area of skin removed during surgery — most often, tissue below the belly button — can be permanently eliminated. In cases of significant skin laxity, such as after pregnancy or major weight loss, additional skin may be removed, which may be able to get rid of more pervasive stretch marks if necessary. Once Dr. Schooler evaluates your concerns, he will be able to more definitely guide you in whether the body contouring procedure can address your stretch marks.

Stretch marks located above the belly button generally remain after surgery, although they may be shifted lower on the abdomen and appear smoother or less noticeable. The amount of improvement depends on the skin’s quality and the type of tummy tuck performed. A mini tummy tuck removes less skin, so it eliminates fewer stretch marks than a full tummy tuck.

Considerations Regarding Stretch Mark Removal

The possibility of removing stretch marks with a tummy tuck depends on certain factors, such as the type of tummy tuck technique performed and the elasticity of your abdominal skin:

• Partial vs. Full Tummy Tuck: A mini tummy tuck removes less skin, so it may not be able to remove stretch marks as thoroughly as a full tummy tuck.
• Skin Quality: If your skin is very thin or has poor elasticity, some stretch marks may still be visible even in the lower abdomen after tightening.

Non-Surgical Alternatives

For remaining stretch marks, non-surgical treatments like fractional laser resurfacing, radiofrequency (RF) microneedling, and topical retinoids can help improve the skin texture and fade their appearance. Many patients choose to combine these treatments with a tummy tuck for more comprehensive results.

Knowing what to expect from the final results of abdominoplasty is an important part of the process and Dr. Schooler is passionate about educating patients on the various treatment options that can help them achieve their goals. Contact Santa Barbara Plastic Surgery Center today for more information or to book your initial consultation. 

As time passes, many women begin to notice changes in the shape, positioning, and firmness of their breasts. One of the most common and natural changes involves breast ptosis, more commonly known as breast sagging. While a normal part of aging, sagging breasts can also affect self-confidence, body image, and comfort. Fortunately, effective solutions are available — including surgical procedures like a breast lift, which is considered the gold standard for correcting breast ptosis.

Below, Santa Barbara plastic surgeon Wesley Schooler, MD explores common signs of breast ptosis, potential causes, and the most effective options for restoring youthful, perky breasts.

What is Breast Ptosis?

Breast ptosis is the medical term for sagging breasts. It occurs when the breast tissue and skin lose their elasticity and the breast begins to drop on the chest wall. Ptosis can range from mild to severe, depending on the position of the nipple relative to the inframammary fold (the crease under the breast).

Grades of Breast Ptosis

Plastic surgeons typically classify breast ptosis into three main categories:

• Grade I (Mild): The nipple is at the level of the inframammary fold.
• Grade II (Moderate): The nipple is below the fold but still above the lower contour of the breast.
• Grade III (Severe): The nipple is significantly below the fold and points downward.

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Ptosis

Recognizing the signs of breast ptosis can help you determine when it may be time to consider corrective measures. The most common signs of breast ptosis include:

• Downward-pointing nipples
• Nipples falling below the breast crease
• Loss of upper breast fullness
• Flattened or elongated breast shape
• Loose, stretched skin
• Skin irritation or chafing under the breasts
• Difficulty finding well-fitting bras

Causes of Breast Ptosis

Breast ptosis is a part of the natural aging process, but rarely caused by a single factor. Usually, it’s a combination of several external and internal forces. Some of the most common causes include:

• Aging: As you age, the skin and ligaments that support your breasts naturally lose collagen and elasticity.
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: The breasts expand and contract significantly during pregnancy and nursing, which stretches the skin and tissues.
• Weight Fluctuations: Gaining and losing weight can stretch the skin and lead to loss of volume, which can both contribute to sagging.
• Genetics: Your skin quality, breast size, and natural elasticity are often inherited traits that influence your likelihood of developing ptosis.
• Smoking: Smoking breaks down elastin in the skin, accelerating the loss of firmness and elasticity.
• Large, Heavy Breasts: Larger breasts are more susceptible to the pull of gravity, leading to faster and more pronounced sagging.

While some non-surgical methods like a supportive bra or losing weight may temporarily improve the appearance of the breasts or strengthen the pectoral muscles beneath them, none can significantly reverse true breast ptosis — especially when sagging is moderate to severe.

Solutions: Breast Lift Surgery

The most effective and reliable way to correct sagging breasts is through breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy. A breast lift is a surgical procedure designed to raise and reshape sagging breasts by removing excess skin, tightening the surrounding tissue, and repositioning the nipples to a more youthful positioning. In some cases, it can be combined with breast implants during breast augmentation to restore lost volume.

Whether alone or performed in combination with other treatments, a breast lift can:

• Elevate the breasts to a youthful position
• Reposition the nipples and areolas
• Restore firmness and contour
• Improve breast symmetry
• Boost self-confidence and comfort in clothing

Breast ptosis is a natural and common occurrence, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with sagging breasts if they affect your confidence or comfort. While non-surgical methods may offer minor aesthetic benefits, breast lift surgery remains the most effective and lasting solution for restoring a youthful, lifted contour.

If you have any questions about a breast lift, please contact Dr. Schooler at our Santa Barbara practice today.

Most people feel a desire to gain a flatter, more toned belly in order to enhance their silhouette and boost confidence, especially after pregnancy, weight changes, or the effects of aging. Unfortunately, the factors that often cause the stomach to bulge outward — such as reduced skin elasticity, stubborn fat buildup, and stretched out musculature — are not corrected with dieting and exercise alone. For this reason, Santa Barbara plastic surgeon Wesley Schooler, MD offers effective solutions for addressing exercise-resistant fat, loose skin, and weakened muscles that can’t be improved through a healthy lifestyle alone. 

Subcutaneous Fat vs. Visceral Fat: Understanding the Difference

Subcutaneous fat and visceral fat are two distinct types of body fat — each of which differ in their location, function, and impact on one’s health. Subcutaneous fat lies just beneath the skin’s surface and is known as the soft, pinchable fat in areas like the abdomen, thighs, and arms. It serves as insulation and energy storage. Visceral fat, on the other hand, is stored deeper within the abdominal cavity, surrounding internal organs such as the liver, intestines, and pancreas. While subcutaneous fat can be removed through cosmetic procedures like liposuction, visceral fat typically requires lifestyle changes, such as an improved diet and regular exercise, to reduce. Understanding the difference between these two types of fat is important when considering the most effective body contouring treatments to flatten your stomach.

Treatments to Flatten the Belly

Surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures can be tailored to give you a smoother, slimmer, and more sculpted abdominal profile within the context of your individual goals. At Santa Barbara Plastic Surgery Center, options include:

• Tummy Tuck: Over time, factors like pregnancy, weight changes, or aging can stretch the skin and separate the abdominal muscles, leading to a protruding or sagging belly. During a tummy tuck, Dr. Schooler repairs and tightens these muscles, trims away loose skin, and may also reposition the belly button for a more natural look. The result is a firmer, flatter, and more toned abdominal profile. While not a weight loss procedure, a tummy tuck can significantly enhance your body contour, especially when combined with liposuction.
• Liposuction: Liposuction helps flatten the belly by removing stubborn fat deposits from beneath the skin. It specifically targets areas of fat that are resistant to dieting and exercise, especially around the lower abdomen, flanks, and waistline. During the procedure, a surgeon inserts a thin tube called a cannula through small incisions to break up and suction out excess fat, resulting in a slimmer and more contoured look. Unlike a tummy tuck, liposuction does not remove loose skin or tighten muscles, but it can be highly effective for patients with good skin elasticity who are looking to reduce localized fat and achieve a flatter belly.
• Mommy Makeover: For many patients, a dual approach to achieve both skin tightening and fat reduction can be ideal. More often than not, the belly bulges outward due to a combination of loose, crepey skin and excess fat. A Mommy Makeover offers an all-encompassing solution to address the skin, fat, and underlying musculature for a total transformation of your body contours. Needless to say, this treatment option can be very popular for Santa Barbara patients who want to improve changes caused by pregnancy and major weight loss. 
• BodyTite^®: While non-surgical treatments cannot achieve a dramatic transformation in your body contours, BodyTite^® can be an effective minimally invasive approach to tightening loose abdominal skin. Treatment can also help reduce excess fat deposits in the belly, providing more comprehensive enhancement when compared to other non-surgical technologies. Dr. Schooler is among the only plastic surgeons in the Santa Barbara region who offers RF skin tightening and fat reduction with BodyTite^®. 

Body contouring procedures can be essential in mitigating the cosmetic effects of pregnancy, weight gain, and breastfeeding as you age. For more information on developing a custom treatment plan curated to achieve your desired results, don’t hesitate to contact our Santa Barbara practice today. 

Premature signs of aging not only make you look older than your actual age, but they also tend to communicate feelings that may belie your true emotions. It’s not uncommon for men and women to take on a stressed, fatigued, or angry visage due to reduced collagen and elastin production negatively affecting skin quality. These emotions are often communicated unintentionally through the development of:

• Frown lines
• Sagging or drooping skin along the forehead
• Creases along the brow, which may appear while the face is in motion or at rest
• Fine lines surrounding the corners of the eyelids, also known as “crow’s feet”

If you believe you constantly look exhausted or angry even while feeling fully rested, you may consider utilizing aesthetic treatments to bring your inner vitality to the surface. Dr. Wesley Schooler, an acclaimed board-certified plastic surgeon in Santa Barbara, provides both surgical and non-surgical solutions to help you look as refreshed and energetic as you feel. Potential treatments include: 

• Brow lift: As the most effective and long-lasting option to soften signs of aging in the upper face, brow lift surgery can be an excellent way to lift drooping brows and restore them to a more youthful, rejuvenated position. Frown lines and horizontal brow creases are also reduced in the process, giving patients the long-term facial rejuvenation they desire. 
• BOTOX^® Cosmetic: If you’re not ready for a procedure or you simply prefer to avoid surgery, BOTOX^® Cosmetic may be ideal. These quick, in-office injections temporarily relax overactive facial muscles, thereby smoothing frown lines and other wrinkles making you appear tired or displeased. 

Dr. Wesley Schooler understands the desire to continue looking rested and energetic as you age and offers several surgical and non-surgical treatments to alleviate a stressed, fatigued, or angry appearance. Contact Santa Barbara Plastic Surgery Center today for more information about our services or to schedule a consultation. 

Cleavage refers to the visible space between your breasts, typically seen when the breasts are pushed together. It’s most noticeable when the breasts are fuller and closer together, often accentuated by specific outfits, bras, and swimsuits. Patients can lose cleavage over time due to several factors related to aging, hormonal changes, and lifestyle. As women age, the skin and ligaments that support the breasts (Cooper’s ligaments) lose elasticity, causing the breasts to sag or flatten. Additionally, the production of collagen and elastin decreases, leading to reduced firmness in the breast shape. If you feel like your breasts have aged or lost volume over time, cosmetic procedures may be able to help you restore cleavage and reclaim a more voluptuous, sensual silhouette. 

In many cases, cleavage can be enhanced using breast implants. Saline and silicone implants have the ability to enhance volume and fullness in the breasts, improving projection and creating a rounder, more youthful breast shape in the process. Patients who also deal with sagging may consider a breast lift with implants — a combination breast augmentation and mastopexy procedure — to simultaneously increase cleavage and rejuvenate the positioning of the breasts. That said, it’s important to remember that achieving visible cleavage also depends on anatomical factors, such as the nature of your body frame and how widely your breasts are spaced apart. A wide distance between the breasts is often observed in women who have gone through menopause, and may inhibit patients from gaining the increased cleavage they desire. Dr. Schooler will let you know what’s possible with regard to enhancing cleavage during your consultation. 

Dr. Wesley Schooler has a thorough understanding of the aesthetic procedures that can help you achieve your goals, and he would be happy to discuss potential treatment options with you based on your hopes for the outcome. Contact Santa Barbara Plastic Surgery today for more information about breast surgery, or to book a consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon. 

Pregnancy, weight fluctuations, or simply the effects of aging can leave behind a “pooch” of excess skin and fatty tissue in the abdomen. Despite living a healthy, active lifestyle, many patients find that this shelf of excess tissue is resistant to exercise, dieting, and other efforts to tone and tighten the belly. This aesthetic concern is not uncommon, but Santa Barbara plastic surgeon Wesley Schooler, MD understands how unflattering contours in the abdomen can negatively impact a patient’s confidence, self-esteem, and body image. Fortunately, stubborn regions of fat buildup and skin laxity don’t have to last forever. 

After having children and/or weight loss, a tummy tuck is often considered the most effective, long-lasting solution to improve the tone and texture of the abdomen. Often called abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck addresses excess skin, fat accumulation, and separated internal musculature to achieve a leaner, slimmer, and more sculpted look — effectively smoothing a belly pooch. Before-and-after photos of previous patients’ tummy tuck results can help highlight the transformative power of the procedure. 

While a tummy tuck is by far the most beneficial treatment to reduce a belly pooch, other non-surgical services may still be able to provide improvement. If you’d rather avoid surgery, Dr. Schooler also offers BodyTite^®, a minimally invasive skin tightening technology, to recontour the abdomen via radiofrequency (RF) energy-assisted fat removal. Through a process known as Radio-Frequency Assisted Lipolysis (RFAL), BodyTite^® can help remove excess fat while simultaneously tightening loose skin. Following a discussion of your overall goals, Dr. Schooler can recommend an ideal treatment plan to resculpt your abdomen. 

Dr. Wesley Schooler offers a range of body contouring solutions tailored for your unique needs at Santa Barbara Plastic Surgery. Don’t hesitate to contact our team today for more information about a tummy tuck, or to book a consultation. 

There are many factors that can cause the look and feel of the breasts to change over time, from genetic predisposition and weight gain to menopause and pregnancy. Eventually, patients in Santa Barbara and beyond may notice their breasts beginning to flatten, or observe early signs of ptosis (breast drooping). While Dr. Wesley Schooler — our board-certified plastic surgeon — understands that the loss of your youthful breast contours can be distressing, you don’t have to live with these changes forever. Modern advances in cosmetic surgery have made it safe, effective, and predictable to treat age-related changes in the breasts with a number of advanced procedures:

• Breast Lift: As the “gold standard” of breast rejuvenation for many patients, mastopexy removes excess, stretched-out skin and reshapes breast tissue. Combined, these enhancements achieve a firmer, more projected, and “perkier” breast profile.
• Breast Augmentation: Implants fill the upper poles of the breasts and add volume, making the breasts look fuller and more youthful. They also enhance the contour of the breasts, giving them a more rounded look and creating the illusion of firmer breasts.
• Breast Lift with Implants: In cases of significant sagging, breast implants can be combined with a breast lift (mastopexy) procedure. These surgeries may or may not be completed at different stages to increase the longevity of the final results, but this dual enhancement can remove excess skin and tighten surrounding tissues to provide a more lifted appearance.

The best treatment for you depends on your needs, goals, and anatomic indicators, which is why we advise scheduling a personal consultation with Dr. Schooler so he can listen to your concerns and develop the best surgical plan to help you regain firmer breast contours. These procedures can also be performed as part of a full-on Mommy Makeover to address multiple areas at once, if desired.

Dr. Wesley Schooler offers a myriad of effective solutions to combat the effects of aging on the breasts and restore more youthful contours. Don’t hesitate to contact Santa Barbara Plastic Surgery Center today for more information on our breast surgery options, or to book a consultation.

As you get older, you may notice a more fatigued or exhausted expression in the face due to signs of aging around the eye contours. Loose skin, dark circles, under-eye bags, and “hooding” — wherein excess drooping tissue obstructs a patient’s line of sight — can cause you to look more tired and aged, even when you’re feeling perfectly rested. To reclaim a more youthful and rested appearance, men and women in Santa Barbara usually find success in effective procedures like blepharoplasty, which is designed to smooth your upper and lower eyelids. Upper and lower blepharoplasty can address tired-looking eyes with powerful results by:

• Smoothing puffiness and eye bags underneath the lower eyelids
• Reducing wrinkles and fine lines around the corners of the eyes
• Tightening loose, excess skin in the upper eyelids causing “hooding” or a tired, aged look
• Alleviating the appearance of dark shadows underneath the eyes

If the signs of aging around your eyes are more mild, Dr. Schooler may recommend a less invasive treatment to attain a brighter appearance. Cosmetic solutions like BOTOX^® Cosmetic and Morpheus8^® skin rejuvenation can improve frown lines and loose skin around the eye contours, allowing you to look more lively and youthful. At our Santa Barbara practice, Dr. Schooler can recommend the best possible treatments to achieve your goals after listening carefully to your aesthetic concerns.

Dr. Wesley Schooler is highly skilled in performing the treatments and procedures that can reduce dark circles, loose skin, puffiness, and other signs of aging around the eyes. Don’t hesitate to contact Santa Barbara Plastic Surgery Center & Medi Spa to review personalized solutions to your concerns, or if you’re ready to book your appointment. 

Losing weight can be an uphill battle, but the confidence of improving your health and achieving your aesthetic goals is incomparable. When it comes to cosmetic procedures after weight loss surgery, comprehensive research before your procedure(s) is vital. While finding the right plastic surgeon to achieve your goals can be daunting, we encourage you to follow these tips to help narrow down your potential options:

• Select an extensively experienced board-certified plastic surgeon in Santa Barbara: Make sure your cosmetic surgeon is accredited by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), as plastic surgeons who are board-certified generally have the highest caliber of training in aesthetic body lifting procedures like brachioplasty, abdominoplasty, and mastopexy.
• Research their reputation and online reviews: In many cases, a doctor’s reviews can be a telling indication of the level of patient care you can expect to receive. Exploring these online reviews by previous patients can help you determine whether you feel comfortable entrusting a prospective surgeon with your goals.
• Review before-and-after photos: Ultimately, the photos in your plastic surgeon’s portfolio should mirror the types of results you wish to achieve. That said, we encourage you to explore his/her patient gallery to assess whether the outcomes depicted align with your goals.
• Visit their practice for a consultation: Feeling comfortable and confident under a plastic surgeon’s care can make your plastic surgery journey much easier. Book a consultation with a surgeon you’re interested in to not only speak about your goals more personally, but also to get a feel for the environment at their practice.

Post-weight loss procedures can help resculpt areas affected by residual hanging skin after significant weight loss, resulting in a slimmer and leaner look. For many individuals, body contouring surgeries like a tummy tuck, breast lift, thigh lift, and arm lift are often the last step in their aesthetic transformations.

If you’re looking for solutions to get rid of hanging skin, Dr. Wesley Schooler understands that you likely have many questions. He can evaluate your concerns and listen to your goals to develop the best possible treatment plan for your needs. Contact our Santa Barbara practice for more information about our body lift procedures or to book a consultation.