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Surgical procedure Β· Melbourne, VIC

Mommy makeover in Melbourne.

A mommy makeover is a combined surgical procedure that typically pairs abdominoplasty with breast surgery (augmentation, lift, or both) to restore body contour after pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is a marketing term rather than a single defined operation, and the right combination is highly individual. Performed under general anaesthetic in an accredited hospital and regulated under the AHPRA July 2023 cosmetic-advertising guidelines.

Mommy makeover in Melbourne, VIC β€” editorial illustration introducing AHPRA-registered cosmetic surgery clinics. Decorative; not a depiction of patients or results.

By the numbers β€” Melbourne

Mommy makeover in Melbourne β€” at a glance

Mommy makeover β€” Melbourne infographic Programmatic infographic showing the typical cost, recovery, clinic count and risk profile for mommy makeover in Melbourne. Data only; not a depiction of any patient or outcome. SURGICAL PROCEDURE Β· MELBOURNE Mommy makeover Β· Melbourne TYPICAL AUSTRALIAN COST $25,000 – $50,000 Range scaled to $50k ceiling RECOVERY (FIRST 4 WEEKS) 35 days +7 AHPRA-LISTED CLINICS 45 DOCUMENTED RISKS 10 covered in our editorial guide AHPRA-compliant directory C cosmeticsurgeryclinics.com.au

Numbers reflect this directory's coverage of Melbourne, VIC at build time. AHPRA-compliant illustration only β€” no patient depiction.

Clinics offering mommy makeover

45 clinics in Melbourne

Premium and verified clinics appear first, then everything else. Each card links to the clinic's full profile.

Procedure guide

What is mommy makeover?

'Mommy makeover' is a marketing term for any combination of post-pregnancy body-contouring procedures β€” most commonly abdominoplasty plus breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast augmentation-mastopexy. Other components may include flank liposuction, mons-pubis lift, or vaginoplasty. The right combination is highly individual and depends on your specific anatomy, goals, and medical history. The combined operative time can reach 5–6 hours, which has implications for thromboembolic and wound-healing risk.

How mommy makeover works

Performed under general anaesthetic. The breast component is typically performed first while the patient is supine, followed by the abdominal component. Drains are placed as required. Hospital stay of 1–3 nights is standard for combined cases. Compression garments are worn 24/7 for 4–6 weeks. Thromboprophylaxis (mechanical and often pharmacological) is used during and after surgery.

Who is mommy makeover for?

Patients with stable weight, completed family planning, no active smoking, BMI typically below 30, and no significant cardiovascular comorbidities. Patients with body dysmorphic disorder are not appropriate candidates. The seven-day AHPRA cooling-off period is mandatory.

Melbourne context

Mommy makeover in Melbourne: market context

Melbourne's cosmetic and plastic surgery market is the second largest in Australia by both practitioner count and procedure volume. The market is anchored by long-established FRACS plastic surgery practices around East Melbourne, Collins Street, and Richmond, many of which have a strong reconstructive caseload alongside aesthetic work. South Yarra, Toorak and the inner-east are the main concentration of cosmetic-only and combined surgical-and-non-surgical clinics. Non-surgical injectable clinics are well distributed across the inner suburbs and major shopping districts. Victoria's Department of Health has historically taken a stricter approach to private day-hospital licensing than most other states, which has the side-effect of making Melbourne's day-surgery facilities particularly well-credentialed.

Where surgery is performed in Melbourne

Common surgical venues in Melbourne include Epworth Eastern in Box Hill, Epworth Freemasons in East Melbourne, Cabrini Hospital in Malvern, St Vincent's Private Fitzroy, and The Avenue Hospital in Windsor. Several specialist plastic surgery groups operate purpose-built day-surgery suites β€” typically ACHS- or QPS-accredited β€” in Richmond, Hawthorn, and Toorak. Public-private affiliations matter for revision and complex cases: ask whether your surgeon has appointments at one of the major teaching hospitals (The Alfred, The Royal Melbourne) so you have continuity of care if you need hospital-grade follow-up.

Travel and access

Melbourne attracts patients from Adelaide, Hobart, regional Victoria, and Tasmania more broadly. Pricing is roughly comparable to Sydney for surgical work but tends to be slightly lower for non-surgical injectables. Several Melbourne plastic surgeons run a dedicated 'interstate care' coordinator who will book post-operative reviews, organise overnight short-stay accommodation if your insurance does not cover hospital nights, and provide written discharge plans for sharing with a GP back home. As with any interstate cosmetic travel, confirm what the surgeon will charge for video reviews vs in-person at week 6 and beyond.

Practical notes for recovery in Melbourne

Tullamarine Airport is 30 minutes from the inner-city clinic clusters in light traffic. The CBD, East Melbourne and South Yarra are walkable from each other and well served by Melbourne's tram network and the Cranbourne–Pakenham railway lines. Box Hill and Doncaster practices are best reached by tram or vehicle. Parking in inner-east Melbourne can be limited β€” check whether the clinic has on-site bays or validated commercial parking. For overnight stays after surgery, the area immediately around East Melbourne and Richmond has multiple medical-stay accommodation options.

Cost factors

What drives the cost of mommy makeover

Typical Australian cost ranges from $25,000 (abdominoplasty + augmentation) to $50,000+ (extended abdominoplasty + augmentation-mastopexy + liposuction). Quotes should be itemised. Stage-vs-combine considerations may shift the total cost but rarely halve it.

What mommy makeover costs in Melbourne

Itemised view of where the $25,000 – $50,000 typically goes. Quoted prices vary by surgeon experience, hospital, and case complexity β€” these shares are indicative.

Component Typical share Indicative range
Surgeon fee 50% $12,500 – $25,000
Anaesthetist fee 12% $3,000 – $6,000
Hospital or day-surgery fee 25% $6,250 – $12,500
Garments and supplies 3% $750 – $1,500
Follow-up and reviews 5% $1,250 – $2,500
Pathology, imaging, and other 5% $1,250 – $2,500
Total 100% $25,000 – $50,000

Source: editorial estimates based on Australian Medical Association advisory notes and publicly disclosed clinic schedules. Actual quotes will vary; ask your surgeon for an itemised written quote before paying any deposit.

Mommy makeover recovery timeline (Melbourne)

A typical recovery curve. Individual recovery varies β€” confirm specific milestones with your surgeon's post-operative plan.

Day 0 Day 9 Day 18 Day 35 Day 70
  1. Day 0

    Procedure day.

    No work No exercise
  2. Day 9

    Early recovery.

    No work No exercise
  3. Day 18

    Halfway point.

    Desk work OK Light only
  4. Day 35

    End of standard recovery window.

    Work OK Light only
  5. Day 70

    Final result and return to all activities.

    Work OK Normal

Recovery + practitioner

Recovery and downtime

Hospital stay 1–3 nights. Compression garments 24/7 for 4–6 weeks. Drains typically removed at 5–10 days. Most patients return to desk work at 3–4 weeks. Strenuous activity restricted 8–12 weeks. Lifting toddlers restricted for 6 weeks β€” plan child care accordingly.

Choosing a surgeon in Melbourne

Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) registered with AHPRA, with high-volume experience in both component procedures. Confirm the procedure is performed in a fully accredited private hospital with overnight observation capability. Ask about thromboprophylaxis protocol. Ask to see un-retouched photos of combined results at 6+ months.

Before you book

Red flags

Risk profile for mommy makeover

How the most-discussed risks for mommy makeover sit on a frequency-by-severity grid. All cosmetic procedures carry risk; the goal of this view is to help you ask better consent questions, not to dismiss any single complication as unlikely.

Frequency \\ Severity MildModerateSerious
Common β€” β€” β€”
Uncommon β€”
  • All risks of each component procedure (abdominoplasty + breast surgery)
  • Wound healing complications
  • Seroma
  • Visible scarring in multiple areas
  • Asymmetry
  • Need for revision surgery
  • Risks of prolonged general anaesthesia (typically 4–6 hours total)
β€”
Rare β€” β€”
  • Bleeding and haematoma
  • Infection
  • Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (risk increased by combined operative time)

Frequency and severity classifications are editorial summaries based on Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons consent literature and TGA / AHPRA guidance. Your surgeon should explain each risk individually as part of the formal informed-consent process β€” this matrix is a starting point for the conversation, not a substitute.

How to verify any cosmetic surgeon on AHPRA

AHPRA registration is the baseline credential check for any cosmetic procedure in Australia. The five steps below take roughly two minutes and are the single most important due-diligence step before paying a deposit.

  1. 1

    Open the AHPRA register

    AHPRA publishes a free public register of every registered medical practitioner in Australia. Open the official register β€” never rely on a third-party "verification" site.

  2. 2

    Search by name and "Medical Practitioner"

    Search by the practitioner's full name and select Profession: Medical Practitioner. The register returns active registrations only β€” if the name does not appear, do not proceed.

  3. 3

    Confirm the specialty (or its absence)

    Look at the "Specialty" field. A FRACS specialist plastic surgeon will list "Specialist Surgery β€” Plastic Surgery". Anyone who calls themselves a "cosmetic surgeon" without a recognised specialty is a general medical practitioner under AHPRA β€” that is a meaningful difference for surgical work.

  4. 4

    Check for conditions, undertakings, or restrictions

    The register flags any conditions on a practitioner's registration, including AHPRA undertakings or restrictions. Treat any flag as a reason to ask the practitioner directly what it relates to before booking.

  5. 5

    Verify hospital privileges separately

    Hospital privileges are issued by the hospital, not AHPRA. For surgical procedures, ask which accredited hospital or licensed day-procedure centre the operation will take place in, and verify the surgeon has admitting rights there.

FAQ

Common questions about mommy makeover in Melbourne

Should I combine procedures or stage them?

Combining reduces total anaesthesia exposure, recovery time and overall cost β€” but extends operative time and increases the risk of certain complications (especially venous thromboembolism). Staging spreads risk and recovery but doubles many fees. The right answer depends on your medical history, BMI, and the specific procedures involved. A genuinely cautious surgeon will sometimes recommend staging.

Should I wait until I'm done having children?

Yes. Pregnancy after abdominoplasty undoes the muscle repair and stretches the skin. Pregnancy after breast surgery alters volume and shape. Most surgeons strongly advise completing your family first.

Is any of it Medicare-rebatable?

Generally not. Post-pregnancy abdominoplasty and breast surgery for cosmetic reshaping are not Medicare-funded. Diastasis-recti repair is no longer Medicare-rebatable. Massive-weight-loss patients may qualify for Medicare item 30177 abdominoplasty if all criteria are met.

How long is the recovery, really?

Most patients describe weeks 1–2 as significantly more demanding than they expected β€” particularly arranging child care, since lifting toddlers is restricted for 6+ weeks. Return to desk work at 3–4 weeks. Strenuous exercise restricted for 8–12 weeks.

Who should perform mommy makeover surgery?

Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) experienced in both component procedures, with hospital privileges at an accredited facility offering overnight stay capability and Specialist Anaesthetist coverage. Avoid unaccredited rooms or day-only facilities for combined procedures of this scale.

Compare nearby

Mommy makeover elsewhere in Victoria

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