What Is a Miami Makeover? A Surgeon Shares Her Experience as a Patient

Most plastic surgeons can tell you what a procedure is like clinically. They know what kind of anesthesia is used, where the incisions are made and how much downtime there should be. What they may not know is what it feels like to be the patient. At PURE Plastic Surgery, Dr. Natalia Vidal does.

After her first pregnancy, Dr. Vidal booked one of PURE's signature procedures, the Miami Makeover. The experience changed the way she understood a surgery she thought she knew intimately. She could anticipate the swelling and recognize every recovery milestone, but living through them gave her a new perspective that only comes from being on the operating table. 

Below, Dr. Vidal shares why she chose the Miami Makeover, how her recovery compared with her expectations, and what it was like to watch her final results take shape. But first, it helps to understand what makes the Miami Makeover different and why candidacy matters. 

The Miami Makeover: Born in Miami, Built by PURE

After pregnancy, Dr. Vidal knew she didn't need a tummy tuck. She had some loose skin, but not enough to warrant removing it or repairing her abdominal muscles. What she wanted was to restore the breast volume she'd lost and refine her midsection.

That made her a good candidate for the Miami Makeover.

So what exactly is a Miami Makeover, and how is it different from a traditional mommy makeover?

“The Miami Makeover puts a South Florida twist on the mommy makeover,” explains Dr. S. Alexander Earle, double-board-certified plastic surgeon, PURE’s founder and the procedure’s creator. “It pairs breast enhancement with high-definition liposuction to sculpt a smooth, balanced silhouette. A lot of patients get implants, but it can be any breast surgery.”

Miami Makeover vs. Mommy Makeover

The biggest difference between a Miami Makeover and a mommy makeover is how the abdomen is treated. 

Mommy makeovers include a tummy tuck to remove excess skin and repair the abdominal muscles after pregnancy, along with some liposuction of the flanks to avoid a “boxy” appearance. A Miami Makeover skips the tummy tuck portion and relies instead on liposuction to sculpt and contour the midsection, making it a better fit for patients with good skin elasticity and minimal sagging.

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If pregnancy stretched the abdominal wall or left behind significant skin laxity, a mommy makeover with a tummy tuck is often the more effective route. The amount of contouring needed for a smooth result also determines candidacy due to how much fat can be safely removed. 

“Florida law limits fat removal to 1 liter when liposuction is combined with a breast procedure or tummy tuck, so not everyone is going to be a good fit,” explains Dr. Earle. “But when we choose the right procedure for the right patient, that’s where we’re able to create really great results.” 

The Surgeon Becomes the Patient

Pregnancy changed Dr. Vidal's body in ways she understood professionally but hadn't experienced personally. Some of the most noticeable changes occurred in her breasts. 

“For most of my life, I had very full, dense breast tissue, but I lost a lot of that volume after breastfeeding,” she says. “The tissue just deflated and became very thin.”

With the volume gone, she no longer felt as comfortable as she once did in her own body. Shirts didn’t fit the way they used to and certain necklines weren’t as flattering anymore. So she made the same decision that so many of her patients do and booked a Miami Makeover with Dr. Earle.

"I trust him with my life, literally," she laughs. "I've seen him work. I've worked with him. I know the type of surgeon and human being he is. I didn't want to go anywhere else."

When Dr. Vidal sat down with Dr. Earle in the familiar Miami office to explain her goals, a common theme kept coming up: she wanted to feel like herself again. She didn’t necessarily want to go bigger or sculpt completely new contours, but wanted to return to the cup size she was before breastfeeding. 

Like many women, she wanted restoration, not reinvention. 

When Clinical Knowledge Meets the Realities of Recovery

Dr. Vidal knew what recovery was supposed to look like. She'd walked patients through it hundreds of times. But knowing what to expect and actually experiencing it are two different things.

She prepared the way she advises her patients to. Massages were scheduled in advance. Amazon orders were placed for Cerave, Pedialyte, arnica, and pineapple juice. Her mom flew in from Puerto Rico to help with her toddler. 

Then something she couldn't fully plan for changed the course of her recovery. 

Dr. Vidal had undergone Lipo 360 years earlier, and it left her with some scar tissue. During her Miami Makeover, working through that scar tissue compromised the skin’s blood supply, so she couldn’t wear her compression garment right away. Which meant more swelling, more itching, and a slower start to the recovery she’d mapped out in her head. 

"We all do everything in our power to reduce complications, but the risk is never zero," she concedes. 

Then, a few weeks later, a family medical emergency changed the plan again. Dr. Vidal had to lift her toddler before she was cleared to, causing one of her incisions to separate. It took months of wound care to heal.

For a surgeon who had spent years explaining recovery restrictions to patients, the experience offered a particularly personal lesson.

“You can plan and prepare all you want, but sometimes, life happens.”

Seeing Her Results Develop

Recovery didn't happen on the timeline Dr. Vidal had imagined, but eventually, she began to see the changes she had been waiting for.

By week six, the swelling subsided enough for Dr. Vidal to see her new contours emerging. After three months, she was out of her compression garment and feeling more like herself again. 

"Recovery is a process,” she reflects. “We all go through it, but there's an end. Then you come out on the other side, and you get to enjoy your results. Of course, I’m extremely happy now. Happy that I did it.”

With her results came a renewed sense of confidence, especially in the small, ordinary moments that most people take for granted. She could get dressed without standing in front of the mirror and second-guessing herself. She could choose her outfits based on what she wanted to wear, not what she felt she had to. 

“When those moments started to feel effortless again, that’s when I knew my decision paid off,” Dr. Vidal says.

Is the Miami Makeover Right for You?

For the right patient, the Miami Makeover can create exactly the kind of refinement Dr. Vidal was looking for herself: restored breast shape, stronger abdominal definition and a more balanced silhouette. The key is choosing an approach that fits your anatomy rather than forcing your goals into a preset plan.

At PURE Plastic Surgery in Miami, FL, our double-board-certified plastic surgeons can help you explore your options and develop a personalized plan for you. To get started, call our office at 305-230-4326 or start your journey online with our virtual consultation tool. 

If you’re considering a Miami Makeover, you may still have some questions. Here are a few of the things patients want to know most.

Miami Makeover FAQs 

Can I get a mommy makeover without a tummy tuck?

Yes, but at PURE, we call that a Miami Makeover. A traditional mommy makeover typically includes a tummy tuck along with breast surgery and, often, liposuction. For patients who don’t need abdominal skin removal or muscle repair, the Miami Makeover pairs breast enhancement with liposuction instead.

Do I need a tummy tuck, or is liposuction enough?

Liposuction can reduce localized fat and improve definition, but it doesn’t remove loose skin or repair separated abdominal muscles. If pregnancy left you with minimal laxity, a Miami Makeover with just liposuction may be enough. If you have excess skin or abdominal wall separation, a mommy makeover that includes a tummy tuck will likely be the better option. 

Can a Miami Makeover include a breast lift instead of implants?

Absolutely! The breast enhancement portion of a Miami Makeover can be customized to your anatomy and goals. Some patients may benefit from breast augmentation, while others may prefer a lift, with or without implants. 

Can I add a BBL to my Miami Makeover?

No. In Florida, liposuction is limited to 1 liter when combined with another procedure like breast surgery, which doesn’t provide enough donor fat for a BBL. If you want to improve the volume or projection of your buttocks, we typically recommend getting your Miami Makeover first, then coming back for your BBL at a later date. 

Can I get a Miami Makeover if my BMI is 29?

At PURE, patients with a BMI between 20 and 26 are the strongest candidates for a Miami Makeover. The procedure is designed for refinement throughout the breasts and midsection rather than extensive body contouring. 

When can I pick up my child after a Miami Makeover? 

Wait until your surgeon clears you to lift your child, which may take several weeks. Dr. Vidal learned this firsthand when a family emergency required her to lift her toddler too early, causing one breast incision to separate. It was a clear reminder that recovery restrictions are there for a reason and gave her a deeper appreciation for how vulnerable healing tissues can be.