There are lots of different things to think about when choosing whether or not to have breast enlargement after bariatric surgery. You may want more information on what size implants would be best for your body type or if there are any risks with having surgery after losing weight. If so, we recommend talking with an experienced plastic surgeon who can help guide you through all of these decisions before getting started on planning out your next procedure!
In this guide, we review the aspects of Breast Augmentation After Weight Loss Surgery, what happens to breasts after gastric sleeve, how to get breasts back after weight loss, and Can I get a breast augmentation if I am overweight?
Breast Augmentation After Weight Loss Surgery
If you’ve lost a lot of weight and have sagging breasts, you may want to consider having breast augmentation surgery. If at all possible, it’s best to wait about six months after having weight loss surgery before getting breast implants. You’ll want to make sure the skin on your chest is still tight enough not to sag and that your body has had time to adjust fully from losing all that weight. Also, many plastic surgeons don’t recommend getting an implant until after nine months or so because they say there could be some changes in how well your body responds to anesthesia during this time period.
How quickly can I have breast augmentation after weight loss?
As far as how quickly you can have breast augmentation after weight loss surgery and whether it will be safe, this depends on several factors:
- How long it takes for you to recover from your weight loss surgery.
- How long it takes for your body to have fully healed and recovered from the weight loss surgery.
- How long it takes for the implants to “settle” into place and feel natural on your body.
- How long it takes for swelling around your breasts (and other parts of your body) following breast augmentation surgery to go down entirely.
- And lastly, how long exactly do scars from breast augmentation heal?
What size of implants do I need?
You should have enough breast tissue to fill out the implant. The larger the implant, the more it will sag over time. This can be avoided by choosing an appropriate size for your frame.
Implants are usually made with silicone (gel or saline) and come in different sizes. You need to choose a size that is proportional to your body type and won’t look unnatural when you stand up straight. Your surgeon will help you decide which size would best fit your body type.
The most important thing is that they do not look too big or too small!
What are the advantages of saline over silicone?
If you are worried about the long-term effects of silicone, saline is a good option. There is little evidence that saline implants cause any more problems than silicone, but some people report that their saline implants feel less firm and natural than silicone ones.
It’s also helpful to consider your choice if you have allergies or sensitivities to certain materials; saline does not contain any additives that could trigger an allergic reaction. If you are having surgery in the near future (such as breast reconstruction following cancer treatment), then choosing saline may be ideal because it allows for quicker healing times than silicone.
Which procedure is the best for me?
The best procedure for you depends on your body type, how much weight you have lost and what your goals are. This is a decision that should be made after discussing the options with your surgeon. The best surgeon for your procedure is one that has experience in this area and has published their results.
The most important thing to remember when choosing a breast augmentation doctor is to find someone who will listen closely to your needs and desires, as well as provide you with all of the information needed so that you can make an informed decision about which breast augmentation procedure is right for you.
Do I need a breast lift with my breast enlargement?
In general, a breast lift is not needed if you are just looking to increase the size of your breasts. However, if you want to improve the shape as well and make them more youthful-looking, then a breast lift can be helpful.
- A breast lift can improve the shape of the breast by:
- lifting up sagging breasts that have lost their firmness and fullness;
- fluffing out an overly droopy nipple;
- reducing the size of large areolas (the dark area around your nipples).
Are there any special concerns following post-bariatric surgery breast augmentation?
While you are healing from bariatric surgery, there are some special concerns to keep in mind if you intend to undergo breast augmentation. You will probably not be able to eat as much as you used to and may need to take extra care of your body after surgery. Another thing to consider is that you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days following your procedure. Also, it’s important that you don’t lift heavy things for at least six weeks after undergoing breast augmentation surgery because it can put undue stress on your new implants.
Breast Augmentation After Weight Loss Surgery
If you have had bariatric surgery or another form of weight loss surgery, then there are certain precautions that should be taken when choosing a surgeon for breast augmentation surgery. It is very important that the person who is performing this procedure has experience with patients who have had weight loss surgeries before their own procedures took place so they know how best handle any issues that might arise during recovery time from either procedure (or both). By choosing wisely when selecting who will perform these procedures on yourself or loved ones who might need them done soon after undergoing bariatric surgeries themselves makes all the difference between success story versus failure story!
Weight loss can change how your breasts look. A breast enlargement may help make you happy with your body again.
If you have lost weight, your breasts may appear smaller. This is because of the change in your shape. A breast enlargement will help you feel better about your body and give you more confidence.
If you are not satisfied with how your breasts look after weight loss surgery, a breast augmentation might help to restore the size and shape of your breasts. Breast implants are an option if:
- You want larger breasts than those found naturally on most women
- You have lost weight, which has led to sagging or drooping of the breasts
what happens to breasts after gastric sleeve
After massive weight loss, breasts have poor shape, projection, and skin elasticity. The nipples are distorted and ptotic. Mastopexy is difficult and historically includes the use of excess nearby tissues. The senior author reviews his experience with 24 patients over the past 4 years. Body contouring is offered after the weight loss is stable. Breasts may be reshaped by mastopexy and/or augmentation; three examples are presented. More often the breasts are reshaped during an upper body lift. This lift is a reverse abdominoplasty that ends along the inframammary fold scar of the Wise-pattern mastopexy and extends laterally along the back roll. When the breasts need enlargement, nearby discard tissue is used for augmentation. The spiral flap has been devised for that purpose. When more tissue is needed, silicone implants are used. The long inframammary scar of the McKissock vertical bipedicle mastopexy forms the junction between the breast and reverse abdominoplasty. Proper inframammary fold construction is pivotal to the upper body lift. We have successfully combine breast reshaping with upper body lift for this difficult deformity after massive weight loss and present two demonstrative examples. Breast reshaping is best performed during an upper body lift.
Breasts change dramatically after massive weight loss. The reduced volume of fat results in poor shape, projection, and skin elasticity. Most breasts resemble a pancake, with distorted and ptotic nipples. Since joining the Bariatric Center of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Center of the University of Pittsburgh in late 1998, the senior author (D.J.H.) has contoured more than 70 patients with weight loss between 80 and 230 pounds. The breast deformity has been treated in isolation or as part of the upper torso deformity in 24 patients. This is a report of an evolving experience for improving breast shape and serves as an introduction to the spiral flap for breast augmentation.
BACKGROUND
Following the initial success of intestinal bypass surgery for managing obesity in the 1970s, Zook established the foundation for body contouring.1 After a complete examination, all indicated surgical procedures were identified, followed by a coordinated surgical plan, “so that as many as possible can be done simultaneously.”1 With two or three teams working simultaneously, the arms and breasts could be contoured at the same time as the belt lipectomy.1,2 He declared post–weight loss contouring not aesthetic, primarily due to the scars.2 Loosely hanging breasts were “an extremely difficult problem.”1 He cited others’ and his own experiences that normally discarded flaps should be de-epithelialized and placed deep in the breasts.1 He applied the Pitanguy mastopexy with de-epithelialization of the keyhole as well as the whole undersurface of the breast, which was then under turned upward beneath to give it bulk and forward projection.1 The inferior incision sometimes needed to be carried posteriorly around the trunk to remove undesirable bulk and to correct skin redundancy of the back and arms.1
Contemporaneously, Palmer et al preferred to resect only one area at a time because of the extent of each excision.3 Recognizing the skin folds below and lateral to the ptotic breasts, his group aimed to build up the breast, “using the loose tissue surrounding it.”3 They used the Wise pattern4 and popular McKissock5 vertical de-epithelialized bipedicle nipple mammoplasty to gather the remaining glandular tissue under the nipple. In all three patients they combined this “with a wide excision of the submammary fold.”3 In 1979, Shons noted the variety of breast presentations after massive weight loss, preferring the McKissock technique with removal of excess skin through the Wise pattern.6 None of these authors demonstrated their breast reshaping technique.1,2,3,6
The identification and use of the superficial fascial system (SFS) for high-tension closures of the skin was pioneered by Lockwood.7 Permanent suture closure of the SFS improved projection and scars following reduction mammaplasty and mastopexy.8 For tightening the loose inframammary fold (IMF) and improved breast projection, he advocated fixing the IMF at “the appropriate elevated position by nonabsorbable sutures from the SFS of the inferior skin wound edge to the underlying muscular fascia.”8
THE EVALUATION
The goals of body contouring surgery are to remove loose skin and excess fat followed by reshaping the remaining tissues into an attractive gender-specific form with as few scars and stages as possible. After massive weight loss, the breasts sag and flatten. In some, the breast volume remains excessive and, coupled with severe ptosis, results in back and shoulder pain. In most, the atrophy is profound, leaving an inadequately filled skin sack. Midtorso rolls of skin and fat may lie beneath and lateral. These unattractive breasts, contiguous with excessive midback rolls, may be difficult to manipulate into and confine to brassieres.
PRINCIPLES OF TREATMENT
Body contouring is offered as soon as the weight loss is stable, as no further skin shrinkage and a slight weight gain are anticipated. Breast reshaping is best performed within the context of the torso deformity. When the breasts need enlarged, nearby tissue is used for augmentation. The inferolateral breast spiral flap technique has been devised for that purpose. When more tissue is needed, silicone implants are used.
Women with massive weight loss seeking abdominoplasty and breast reduction need to understand that these back rolls are best treated by direct excision followed by long, tight suture line closure. We incorporate reshaping of the breasts into the upper body lift.9 The upper lift consists of raising the IMF, a reverse abdominoplasty, excision of the midtorso back rolls, and reshaping the breasts. A total body lift consists of an upper body lift combined with a lower body lift and circumferential abdominoplasty.9 Due to the magnitude of the case, the total body lift is usually a two-staged procedure. A single stage is best for young, healthy, and small patients.9 The single-stage approach better narrows the waist, by virtue of pulling both inferiorly (at the belt line) and superiorly (at the bra line).
ISOLATED BREAST RESHAPING
Diffuse breast atrophy with mild nipple ptosis and minimal midtorso laxity may be treated with silicone implant augmentation and a mastopexy. When the implant becomes the dominant volume of the breast, gel fill is preferred. It is softer and more cohesive than saline. Lax breast tissue is unlikely to adequately support a saline-filled implant, resulting in rippling. Figure Figure11 shows a 32-year-old woman before and 10 months after the use of a 450-mL gel-filled implant with a concentric ring mastopexy immediately following abdominoplasty, lower body lift, and medial thighplasty.
(A, C) Preoperative and (B, D) 10-month postoperative photographs of a 32-year-old woman. She is 5′ 6″ and weighs 150 pounds and has lost 130 pounds through dieting and exercise. After a lower body lift, medial thighplasty, and abdominoplasty, a concentric ring mastopexy and a partial subpectoral 450-mL smooth-walled gel-filled implant augmentation was done. The nipple position, areolar shape, and breast shape, size, and feel are excellent.
For large, broad-based, and severely sagging breasts, both Wise-pattern/McKissock and vertical-pattern breast reductions have been done.10 Because of the excess skin, the nipple should be marked slightly medial than the nipple line, ∼11 cm from the midline, or the final position will be lateralized. The generous retention of breast parenchyma will push the new nipple superiorly so the new nipple’s location should be planned low (Fig. 2).
(A, C) The preoperative and (B, D) 1-year postoperative photographs of a 45-year-old, 5′ 4″, 170-pound woman who lost 120 pounds after gastrointestinal bypass. She had an abdominoplasty and Lejour-type minimal breast reduction. The new nipple position was not adjusted medially and consequently is slightly lateralized. She is pleased with her breasts and lower abdomen, but regrets leaving behind the loose upper abdominal skin.
Although the vertical techniques avoid the inframammary scar, it is difficult with severe glandular ptosis to adequately reduce the excess skin between the areola and IMF. This is because the vertical elliptical excision between the areola and IMF is often greater then 15 cm in length. The reshaped lower breast will rest on the chest, which is objectionable. To minimize this outcome, generous and rather thin skin flaps are undermined about the entire inferior breast to redistribute the skin along the shortened purse-string vertical closure. Lateral rolls of puckered skin may not flatten and might need to be removed later.
The major advantage of the vertical techniques is the reliance on the direct approximation of the medial and lateral parenchymal flaps to narrow and project the breasts. The nonresilient, inelastic breast skin in the weight loss patient cannot be relied on to hold the new breast shape. The vertical techniques raise the lowered IMF. The vertical techniques avoid the inframammary scar, which is not really a concern in this patient population.
For reshaping large pancake breasts, vertical-pattern mastopexy is modified with two central de-epithelialized pedicles. The superior flap includes the nipple-areolar complex and is folded as the areola is sewn to its new position. The inferior tonguelike flap, extending from IMF to inferior areola, augments the breast as it is repositioned directly over the pectoralis muscle fascia and under the approximated medial and lateral parenchymal flaps. Then or at a later stage the brachioplasties are vertically extended with skin excisions along the midlateral chest to remove some of the lateral chest roll and impart lateral definition to the breasts (Fig. 3).11
(A, C) The preoperative and (B, D) 1-year postoperative photographs of a 42-year-old, 5′ 7″, 190-pound woman who lost 140 pounds after gastrointestinal bypass.11 She had vertical mastopexies, a lower body lift, circumferential abdominoplasty, and medial thighplasty and then 4 months later a facelift and brachioplasties that extended down her chest lateral to her breasts. A superior de-epithelialized vertical pedicle was used to raise the nipple and an inferiorly based de-epithelialized pedicle to fill the central breast.
UPPER BODY LIFT/ BREAST RESHAPING
The upper body lift is a reverse abdominoplasty that ends along the IMF scar of the Wise-pattern mastopexy and extends laterally with excision of the back rolls (Figs. 4–8). It is performed immediately (as the second part of a single-stage total body lift) or some months after the circumferential abdominoplasty and lower body lift.9 Moderate breast atrophy dictates the need for soft tissue augmentation from upper abdominal and lateral chest discard.
Planning for the upper body lift begins after the lower lift/abdominoplasty is drawn or previously performed (Fig. 4). If a single-stage procedure is planned, then the anticipated inferior torso skin closure tensions are considered. With the patient upright, the existing IMF, which has descended toward the costal margin, is identified, marked, and registered transversely over the sternum. The breast is held upward to similarly sight and draw the new IMF.
These four views show the markings for a total body lift and brachioplasties on a 5′ 8″, 195-pound, 35-year-old woman who lost 180 pounds after bypass. She had a prior abdominoplasty. A transverse line over the sternum marks the new IMF. (A, C) The extended Wise pattern and both ends of the abdominoplasty. (B, D) Continuation of the pattern around the chest, surrounding redundant midback rolls, with an aim to closure in the bra line. Augmentation will be from de-epithelialized inferior and lateral flaps of skin. The vertical chest extensions of the brachioplasties will meet the lateral extension of the back rolls.
The reverse abdominoplasty removes the excess upper abdominal skin transversely, followed by undermining and advancement of the inferiorly based flap. To judge the excision, the excess upper abdominal skin is pushed upward and laterally until the umbilicus is pulled. Obesity and/or marked costal margin flare makes this maneuver difficult to judge. The end of the flap is marked at the new IMF and continued laterally along the bra line. Because the lateral skin redundancy is more than medial and a transsternal scar under tension may hypertrophy, we rarely excise across the midline. Symmastia is an exception. In most cases the excess upper abdominal skin is pushed superiorly and laterally and a dipping transverse line is made that demarcates the removal of this skin and places the closure along the newly designated IMF.
The reverse abdominoplasty incision line continues laterally and inferior to the midtorso back roll. The excess back skin and fat is gathered and pinched and a superior transverse line of excision is drawn near the midback to the lateral limb of the Wise pattern. After the back roll is excised, a bra will cover the suture line. Augmentation of the superior pole of the breast will be provided by a de-epithelialized lateral extension of the central breast pedicle that includes the lateral 50% of the back roll. With augmentation, the Wise pattern is modified according to the fill flaps, to improve projection and reduce skin tension. The anticipated nipple position is lowered, and the vertical limbs are lengthened.
With the single-stage total body lift, the upper body lift continues after the lower body lift is completed. The excess midback skin is excised and the defect closed in two layers while the patient is prone. The lateral portion of the back roll is left attached to the central breast.
Then the patient is wrapped in a sterile surgeon’s gown and turned. The high lateral tension abdominoplasty is completed with little undermining. Next, the previously marked upper abdominal transverse incision is reconsidered by pushing the skin superiorly to its higher IMF location. When confident of the amount of redundant upper abdominal skin and fat and the need for additional breast bulk, this skin, the bipedicle breast flaps, and lateral roll are de-epithelialized (Fig. 5). The transverse incisions at the superior margin of the reverse abdominoplasty flap are made, and the flap is undermined over the rectus abdominis fascia toward the costal margin. Only in the midline is there continuity with the undermining of the abdominoplasty. A broad midabdominal band of undissected skin with its perforating vasculature is left behind. The inferior breast is undermined to the new IMF, which is several centimeters superior. Interrupted, large braided, permanent sutures are placed through the SFS and along the sixth rib. After about eight sutures are placed, the flap is pushed up to the IMF and the sutures are pulled taunt and sequentially tied.
The operative sequences for the right-side upper body lift. (A) The extended Wise pattern. To avoid midline excision the vector of pull is superiolateral, as indicated by the arrows. (B) The de-epithelialization is completed and the reverse abdominoplasty edge has been secured along the sixth and seventh ribs to create the IMF. (C) The superior, suprapectoral space opening to receive the de-epithelialized flaps, which are supported by the surgeon’s hand. (D) The clockwise spiral rotation of the flaps into position.
With the IMF established, the reshaping resumes by mobilizing the de-epithelialized lateral thoracoepigastric flap. It is raised lateral to medial including the fascia of the latissimus dorsi and serratus muscles until a row of perforating vessels along the anterior axillary line are identified and preserved if possible. Both the lateral and inferior flaps have been de-epithelialized in continuity with the inferior breast pedicle. The inferior breast flap is folded against the inferior breast pedicle and advanced laterally as the lateral thoracoepigastric flap is turned along the lateral breast and the end positioned under the superior nipple pedicle. Sutures secure the dermis to the pectoral fascia for superior pole fill and along the anterior axillary line for improved lateral fullness and definition.
For the right breast, a clockwise spiral of inferior, lateral, and breast de-epithelialized flap is made. On the left, the composite flap spirals counterclockwise. The nipple is then sutured into position and the medial and lateral flaps are approximated. If the vertical lengths of the flaps are too long, they can be shortened at this time. See Figure Figure66 for results on the operating room table, Figure Figure77 for the result at 9 months. Figure Figure88 shows a two-stage total body lift. If the soft tissue fill remains inadequate, a pocket is created through the medial breast flap and under the central breast to accommodate an implant.
The immediate result of the total body lift shown in Figures Figures44 and and5.5. The augmented breasts project well and are proportional to the reshaped hips.
(A-D) The 9-month postoperative view compares to Figure Figure4.4. Scars are even and lie within a two-piece bathing suit, which is reflected by the tan lines. The raised arms reveal no restricting or unsightly scars along the axilla or IMF.
Two-stage body lift. (A, D) Preoperative lower body lift, medial thighplasty, and circumferential abdominoplasty views. (B, E) Preoperative upper body lift views 1 year later. (C, F) Final postoperative views 1 year later of a 200-pound, 5′ 8″, 33-year-old woman who lost 230 pounds after bypass surgery. Preoperative upper body lift views reveal that the first stage did nothing to improve the midtorso. The new IMF and nipple positions are registered over the sternum. The excision of skin is planned with an upward and outward reverse abdominoplasty as indicated by the arrows. A Wise-pattern mastopexy is drawn without the areolar cut out. Final postoperative views show the 1-year result of the torsoplasty and breast reshaping as well as bilateral brachioplasties.
DISCUSSION
With the increased efficacy, safety, and popularity of bariatric surgery nationwide, plastic surgeons will treat more patients after weight loss. With attention to postoperative breast shape and contour and proper positioning of extensive incisions, most patients have improved proportions with lengthy but strategically placed scars. Hence, we disagree with Zook1,2 on postponing surgery for an extra year and that patients will have unaesthetic results.
Breast reshaping should be integral to an upper body lift. Tissues that would be discarded during a reverse abdominoplasty and back roll excision are de-epithelialized and spiraled around the central breast like the 1920s Biesenberger technique.12
The IMF is a fascial condensation adhering dermis to the chest muscle fascia along the sixth rib. Proper IMF construction is pivotal to the upper body lift. It contributes to breast shape and position. It hides the anterior scar of the reverse abdominoplasty under the breasts. It allows for maximum removal of redundant and lax midtorso skin flaps by a secure fixation to the chest wall. Although the new IMF establishes the end of the reverse abdominoplasty, its positioning focuses on the breast. The new IMF lies along the brassiere line and relates to the ultimate nipple location.
Secure fixation is essential. For creation of a new IMF after tissue expansion for breast reconstruction, an incised de-epithelialized dermal flap to chest wall fascia is considered optimum.13,14 To avoid parallel transverse breasts scars, others favor internal suturing of subcutaneous fascia or dermis to the chest wall.15
The IMFs we have created approximate the SFS to muscular fascia,8 and despite considerable tension caused by the reverse abdominoplasty, they barely drift. The anterior thoracic SFS is well defined with sparse fat. We minimize injury to the SFS by scalpel incision. The suprafascial undermining goes to the coastal margin or beyond. We place interrupted, large braided, permanent sutures with generous vertical bites using tapered needles from just lateral to the sternum to the anterior axillary line. We tug on each suture is ensure secure placement. By forceful upward push on the reverse abdominoplasty flap, tension is relieved as the sutures are tied. They may temporarily dimple the skin. This closure is painful for weeks. No IMF scar has hypertrophied, except for the lateral, unsecured extensions.
The spiral breast flap is a combined inframammary and lateral thoracoepigastric flap that augments and projects the breast. These flaps are tissue salvaged from upper abdomen and lateral back roll that would otherwise be discarded. The de-epithelialized lateral thoracoepigastric flap is based at the anterior axillary line and includes underlying muscular fascia. Similar flaps as long as 22 cm have survived, except in high-risk patients.16,17 The blood supply is from lateral branches of the superior epigastric arteries and ventral perforators of the sixth and seventh intercostals vessels.16 In the weight loss patient the perforating vessels are large, which permits some vessel interruption during mobilization.
how to get breasts back after weight loss
Breasts sag after weight loss because the ligaments that support the breast and the breast skin only have a limited ability to retract as the fatty element of the breast lose volume.
Why do breasts sag after weight loss?
The skin envelope is relatively larger and the internal ligaments are overstretched by this point.
This effect can be compounded by genetic variance in skin elasticity and natural collagen levels. Patients, who naturally have large breasts, will also always suffer more than those with a flat chest since there is a greater weight and more to sag. Pregnancy can have the same effect.
Breasts sag after weight loss because the ligaments that support the breast and the breast skin only have a limited ability to retract as the fatty element of the breast lose volume. The solution is to remove the sagging skin by breast lift (mastopexy) or increase the volume via a breast augmentation or natural breast augmentation, or a combination of the two.
As you gain weight, the fatty tissue in your breast expands as it does in all areas of the body. This makes the breast area heavier and larger, putting more strain and pressure on the connective tissue and ligaments that connect the breast to the chest.
When you then lose that extra weight, the fatty tissue in the breast shrinks away, but does not tighten the stretched underlying supportive ligaments.
The overall effect after weight loss is therefore a noticeable deflation of volume in the breast envelope, and the appearance of inelastic pocket of excess surface skin. This ‘sagging’ is often perceptible to the eye, and the cause of a degree of psychological distress.
There are three key surgical treatments to correct breasts after you have lost weight and they have sagged, and to restore their original volume and contours.
It is also very common to combine a lift procedure with an augmentation procedure of your choice for the optimal outcome. Your specialist breast consultant can answer all of your questions and provide guidance at your consultation.
Do your breasts get perkier when you lose weight?
Unfortunately, weight loss does not automatically mean perkier breasts. When weight is lost, the fatty tissue in the breast shrinks away, but this does not tighten the stretched underlying supportive ligaments. As a result of losing this volume, the breasts take on a deflated, sagging appearance.
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Founded in 2004 by world renowned plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, we now work with over 100 leading consultants and successfully treat over 20,000 patients each year. We have been winning industry awards since inception.
All of our treatments take place at our beautiful boutique premises in Chelsea. We have six consulting rooms and five operating rooms, as well as a dedicated pre and post-operative suite, and a full team of specialist nursing staff.
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We were founded in 2004 by world renown plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, best known for his pioneering work in the area of liposuction, lasers and microvascular surgery. We continue to collaborate with pioneers in our field.
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We offer surgical consultations in London, Birmingham, Chelmsford and Bristol, and attract international patients from all corners of the globe such as as the USA, the Middle East and Europe.
How do you fix saggy breasts after weight loss?
Surgery is by far the best way to fix sagging breasts following dramatic weight loss. We offer three different breast surgeries here at the Cadogan Clinic which will help to restore volume and contours.
How can I lose breast fat without sagging?
Unfortunately, there is nothing which can halt the sagging process. Surgery is the only effective way to correct sagging breasts, restoring a more youthful, perkier appearance.
Breast lift surgery restores the elasticity of the female breast tissue by removing excess sagging tissue in the breast and reshaping and repositioning the breast mound and nipple. The blood supply is preserved at all times. A slight ‘over-correction’ is typically performed in order to anticipate the breasts dropping into a more natural position as the swelling subsides. The overall effect created is a more ”pert” and rejuvenated looking breast which falls naturally and proportionally in relation to the rest of the chest.
To ensure the best possible results, your surgeon may also recommend a breast enlargement or reduction, to be performed alongside your breast lift. This will be discussed at your initial consultation.
Breasts can vary greatly from person to person. Through the course of a woman’s life, her breasts will also constantly change and develop.
Breasts can sag for a variety of reasons, including age, pregnancy and weight fluctuations. A good diet, exercises which target the chest muscles behind the breasts, maintaining good posture, nourishing the skin and investing in a good quality supportive bra can help to slow down breast sagging. However, any promise to deliver a meaningful breast lift without surgery or lift your breasts naturally should be treated with extreme caution and care.
How can I tighten my loose breast fat without sagging?
The best solution for saggy breasts, and the restoration of more youthful perkier breasts, is via a breast mastopexy or breast uplift procedure. During this type of breast surgery, the surrounding tissue is tightened. The overall effect is to lift the breast position in order to generate a rejuvenated appearance of the breast. Breast uplift surgery does not significantly increase the size of the breasts.
Of course, the ageing process continues beyond the surgery, but a woman can expect her newly uplifted breasts to remain in their new position for a long time after surgery.
However, it is worth noting that the timing of breast lift is important to ensure the optimum result of breast lift surgery. Going through a pregnancy after breast uplift surgery is likely to stretch the breasts again. You may wish to wait until you have finished your family before undergoing breast uplift surgery. It is also advisable to wait at least six months after you have finished your breastfeeding journey, to allow your breasts to regain shape.
Breast lift surgery can help increase body confidence and self-esteem for women whose breasts have sagged as a result of ageing, pregnancy or genetics.
If you are considering this surgery, you will have a consultation with one of the Cadogan Clinic’s expert surgeons which will allow you to express what you hope to achieve through breast uplift surgery. In turn, our expert surgeon will be able to discuss in detail what may or may not be possible given your existing breast anatomy, bone structure and skin quality.
Cadogan Clinic is an award-winning specialist cosmetic clinic, with a track record of delivering safe, high-quality cosmetic surgery. We specialise in breast surgery and the latest surgical breast techniques. We have a roster of top breast specialists on our team.
Can I get a breast augmentation if I am overweight?
Breast augmentation currently ranks as the second most popular cosmetic surgery procedure after liposuction. It is important for a woman to have adequate information about the procedure and its pros and cons in order to make the best decision about going ahead with this surgery. The breast surgeon will discuss all aspects of the breast implant procedure during the pre-op consultations, and will address the patient’s questions and concerns in detail.
Dr. Bryson Richards is an experienced plastic surgeon providing breast augmentation and various other procedures of the breast, body and face. Dr. Richards will carefully assess the patient’s existing anatomical condition, medical history, and her personal aesthetic goals before recommending breast implant surgery. He provides various procedures for the breast, body, and face to patients in Las Vegas, NV and other locations.
Some women may like to know whether body weight or BMI (body mass index) may be one of the criteria for being a suitable candidate for breast augmentation plastic surgery. Most breast surgeons are of the opinion that body weight is not a major factor in determining the candidacy for breast implant surgery. The procedure may be applicable to women with a lower or higher than the ideal weight or ideal BMI.
The primary concern for a surgeon will be to ensure that the woman is in good general health and does not suffer from any such medical condition that may pose a risk during the procedure or create difficulties in recovery. As long as she is declared fit to undergo the surgery, the body weight issue would not generally create a major concern.
The FDA has approved saline implants for women above the age of 18, and silicone implants for women above the age of 21. Approved sizes of implants range from 120 cc to 960 cc. Therefore, women with a wide range of body and breast size can receive this procedure, as long as the cosmetic surgeon finds them fit to undergo the surgery on all counts.
While there are no particular weight limitations when a woman is considering breast implant surgery, most surgeons would agree that the body mass index (BMI) should not place the woman in the obese category. In ideal conditions, it is safer to perform any cosmetic surgery procedure such as breast implants for patients who are not obese.
Some medical professionals recommend that the BMI of 30 or below should be treated as the limit before a patient is ready to undergo an elective surgery such as breast augmentation. The risk of complications is reduced during and after the surgery when such limits are followed.
If the woman exceeds the BMI limit of 30, it may be a fabulous idea to first work on weight loss, and achieve a healthier BMI. A surgeon may be able to refer the patient to a prolific weight loss and fitness program to achieve this goal. Once a safer BMI is achieved, the patient may move forward with breast augmentation. Dr. Richards receives patients from Las Vegas, NV and nearby areas for this surgery.