Ask five friends what a mommy makeover involves and you may hear about five different operations. Some of that variety is accurate, since the procedure changes from patient to patient. Some of it comes from secondhand stories that do not match how surgeons plan the surgery.

Dr. Leo Lapuerta, a triple board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 30 years of experience and more than 30,000 surgical and non-surgical procedures, publishes a detailed description of the operation for patients in the Houston area. Set against five common beliefs, that description corrects most of them.

Belief: a mommy makeover is one standard package

The record: the term covers a combination of procedures chosen for one person. Dr. Lapuerta’s practice describes the most common pairing as breast surgery plus abdominal surgery. On the breast side, that can mean implants, a lift, both together, or a reduction for breasts that grew too large. Some patients add an internal bra, a soft tissue scaffold placed during surgery to support implants.

On the abdomen, a tummy tuck removes loose skin and tightens the muscles, and liposuction removes stubborn fat. The practice notes that he often includes liposuction of the flanks, and sometimes the thighs or hips. A plan can also include buttock enhancement, and in some cases a thigh lift or an arm lift. Two patients can both have a mommy makeover and leave with different operations.

Belief: it means days in the hospital and months away from work

The record: the practice states that most mommy makeovers are same-day outpatient surgery, performed under general anesthesia in an accredited facility. Patients with complex medical problems, or those having a large amount of liposuction, are advised to stay overnight in the hospital for observation.

Operating time runs between four and ten hours, with a typical case lasting about seven. To help patients recover at home, Dr. Lapuerta injects a time-released local anesthetic into the abdominal surgery site that keeps the area numb for three days, so oral pain medication can manage the discomfort.

Most women return to work within two to three weeks, depending on the job. Full recovery takes about six weeks, and the practice expects final results to show at eight to 12 weeks, once swelling and bruising settle.

Belief: having one rules out more children

The record: the practice states that the surgery does not limit a woman’s ability to become pregnant. According to the practice, a later pregnancy is not expected to harm the mother or the child. It would likely reverse the results, which is why the practice recommends the procedure for women who have finished having children.

Timing rules also apply on the front end. A woman who has given birth must wait at least six months after delivery, or six months after she finishes breastfeeding, before surgery.

Belief: enough discipline at the gym would do the same work

The record: the practice describes its best candidates as women who cannot reach their pre-pregnancy shape through diet and exercise. Pregnancy can stretch skin past the point where it recovers and can separate the abdominal muscles. Exercise does not remove excess skin, and a tummy tuck addresses both the skin and the muscle.

The operation does not replace healthy habits either. The candidate list asks for good overall health and a stable weight, and smokers must quit for at least six weeks before surgery to lower the chance of complications. Candidates also need realistic expectations, a support system at home, and at least two to three weeks they can take off from work.

Belief: past a certain age, it is too late

The record: the practice says the ideal window is soon after a woman finishes breastfeeding her last child. In the practice’s view, younger skin is more elastic, which makes it easier to reshape, and younger patients tend to recover faster. The practice also says older patients can still benefit from the procedure. Age is one factor the surgeon weighs during the exam, along with skin quality and overall health.

Each of these points comes with a caveat that only a consultation can resolve. Every procedure carries risks, and the combination that suits one patient may not suit another. The practice’s own list of who makes a good candidate is the most useful thing to bring to that first appointment, item by item.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Results vary from patient to patient. Consult a board-certified plastic surgeon or your physician about your own situation. Written in partnership with Joseph Lambert, a publicist working with Leo Lapuerta, MD Plastic Surgery.