Losing a significant amount of weight through bariatric surgery, weight loss medication, or lifestyle changes is an incredible achievement. It can dramatically improve your health and quality of life. However, many people find that after shedding those excess pounds, their breasts sag and look flat. Cosmetic breast surgery, including breast augmentation, restores the shape and fullness of the breasts and enhances your weight loss transformation.
Addressing Volume Loss and Sagging
Most people who lose significant weight are hoping to lose fat rather than muscle. Breasts are mostly fat, so major weight loss takes a toll on their volume. In most cases, however, sagging and excess skin accompany the loss of volume. When I consult with post-weight loss patients who want breast surgery, I consider those 2 issues separately. I explain the options for rejuvenating and filling the breasts and consider sagging separately because not every person has as much laxity or loss of volume.
You can see the differences when you scroll through these before-and-after photos of my patients who wanted cosmetic breast surgery after weight loss:
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Timing Is Everything: When Can I Get Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss?
As a general rule of thumb, you should maintain a stable weight for at least 6 to 12 months after a lot of weight loss. Again, this is a general recommendation, but I consider every case unique, and your situation may differ.
Other guidelines involved in the timing of your surgery include:
- Ensuring you’re fully recovered after bariatric surgery: Your body needs time to heal fully from the weight loss surgery. Some people heal more quickly than others, but you’ll typically need about a year for your body to be ready for cosmetic surgery.
- Nutritional status: After weight loss surgery, your body may be depleted of essential nutrients. It’s important to work with your doctor to ensure you’re in optimal health before undergoing another surgical procedure.
If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight, you may also be considering body contouring procedures to address loose, sagging skin in other areas. For example, we may combine breast augmentation or a breast lift with an extended tummy tuck or a lower body lift to remove excess skin in the midsection, thighs, and buttocks. In some cases, you may need to stage operations if you want to address sagging skin in multiple areas of the body, which can also affect the timing of your transformation.
Breast Augmentation or Breast Lift After Weight Loss?
If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your breasts after losing weight, plastic surgery is an option. Whether you can benefit from breast augmentation or a breast lift—or combining breast implants with a lift—depends on the degree of sagging, your aesthetic goals, and your lifestyle.
Many women lead much more active lives after significant weight loss, which may include running, lifting weights, hiking, and other activities. Larger breasts may interfere with enjoying these activities, so that’s something you should consider. Of course, you could choose smaller implants for a more modest increase in breast size.
Breast Lift Surgery
When performing a breast lift without augmentation, I reposition the breast tissue and remove excess skin to create the desired breast position and contours. Repositioning the nipples and areolas is usually necessary for optimal, natural-looking results.
Combining Breast Implants With a Breast Lift
Many post-weight loss patients choose this option because it enhances the shape and volume of their breasts. It’s also one of my specialties. Over the last few years, I have co-authored several important clinical research papers on the topic and made multiple presentations at the most prestigious plastic surgery meetings.
The choice of breast implants is based on my discussions with you and how the implant sizers I use in the operating room look. After inserting the implants, I complete the breast lift to create a beautiful breast shape over the new implant. The combination of these techniques dramatically improves the appearance of your breasts, giving you the fuller, perkier look you desire.
What Is Recovery Like?
Your recovery will depend on whether you combine other body contouring procedures with breast surgery. If you undergo breast augmentation with or without a lift, you can expect some swelling and discomfort for the first few weeks, but most patients can return to light activities within a week or two. As with any breast augmentation procedure, it can take several months for your implants to settle into their final position.
Remember, every person’s journey is unique. What works for one individual might not be the best choice for another. The key is to work closely with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has experience in post-weight loss body contouring. I’ve dedicated much of my career to performing plastic surgery after weight loss, and I can guide you through the process, help you understand your options, and develop a personalized treatment plan that aligns with your goals and lifestyle.
Complete Your Physical Transformation
Getting plastic surgery after weight loss, whether it’s cosmetic breast surgery alone or a suite of body contouring procedures, will help you fully enjoy your weight loss journey. To discuss your options, request a consultation using the online form or call our Marina del Rey plastic surgery practice at (310) 300-1779.
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