A Breast Lift (mastopexy) is a surgery that raises the breast. The process removes a part of the skin (excess skin) and tightens surrounding skin tissue. In short, a breast lift enhances the contour of the breast. A tummy tuck is medically known as abdominoplasty. It is a standalone surgical procedure that tries to obtain a flatter and firmer abdomen. Excess fat and skin is removed from the body, which may also include tightening of underlying muscles. Tummy Tuck and Breast Lift are serious body contouring procedures that are opted by individuals to improve appearance.
What Should I Understand About Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck Procedures?
A breast lift aims to raise and reshape breasts that have begun to sag. They cut away the extra skin and tighten the tissue that’ll remain. This procedure helps lift the breast and nipple to a higher and youthful position. The cause of drooping can be weight changes, getting pregnant, or just getting older. A breast lift will not change the size of your breasts. Breast enhacement, augmentation and reduction are all made possible with breast implants or a breast reduction.
A tummy tuck removes extra skin and fat from your abdomen. Usually, it also includes tightening of the abdominal muscles that may have weakened or separated also called Diastasis recti usually seen after pregnancy. This helps create a flatter and firmer stomach area. Tummy tuck is often combined with liposuction to enhance the shape further. It may also help get rid of some stretch marks on the belly.
Who Is a Good Candidate and What Are the Benefits of a Combined Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck?
Generally healthy, stable weight, and non-smoker are good candidates for these surgeries. It’s important to have realistic expectations. You may have lost shape and are sagging and wonder what is a breast lift. Many patients seek a tummy tuck due to concerns with loose skin or separated muscles after pregnancy or weight loss.
By combining your breast lift with your tummy tuck you can have a full body transformation all at once. There is now only one recovery period which is more convenient. Breast and tummy tucks can lead to more harmonious results, thanks to the breast and tummy tuck complementing each other. Doing joint surgeries may also reduce costs compared to carrying them out separately. There can be instances when a person is not suitable. Not being well-controlled includes active diagnosis, planning of future pregnancies, or serious health diagnose. Your best approach is to speak to a qualified surgeon about your unique situation.
What Are the Key Risks and How Is Recovery Managed After a Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck?
All surgeries have potential risks. Breast lift and tummy tuck procedures come with some general risks. There are possible issues with anesthesia, bleeding, infection, and blood clots. Following a breast lift there may be changes in nipple or breast sensation or differences in breast shape. You might have fluid collection under the skin that needs to be drained. This is called a seroma. You may also notice numbness of the abdominal skin. Scars are inevitable with any surgery, although the surgeon attempts to disguise it.
When surgeries happen together, the operation takes longer and these risks are slightly bigger. Recovery involves a period of rest and limited activity. You’ll probably experience pain, swelling and bruise, which we can handle with medication. Surgical drains may sometimes be used, especially with a tummy tuck to remove excess fluid for a short time. Following surgery, you will be required to wear a surgical bra and an abdominal binder for a number of weeks to facilitate healing. It is important to follow your surgeon’s instructions properly to avoid complications and manage problems.
What Happens During the Surgery and How Should I Prepare for a Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck?
Most often performed under general anesthesia, a combined breast lift and tummy tuck means you’ll be sleeping through the surgery. The surgery can take several hours. Incisions are made in a breast lift to remove overabundance skin, reshape the breast tissue, and lift the nipple and areola. Around the areola, vertical down from areola, sometimes in the crease below the breast are the common incision pattern.
Usually, an incision is made low on the abdomen, which is often low in the region of the C-section scar, but longer than the C-section scar. Another small incision is made around the belly button. The doctor if needed removes extra skin and fat and tightens the muscles. The belly button is then repositioned.
Preparing for surgery is crucial. This involves a thorough medical evaluation. You should plan to quit smoking cigarettes several weeks in advance as it can. Don’t use blood-thinning medication (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen) or supplements as these increase the risk of bleeding. It’s important to make arrange most of the help at home to recover.
Op. Dr. Erman Ak graduated from Ankara Hacettepe Tıp in 2014 and completed his specialization at Istanbul University Çapa Medical Faculty. He received advanced microsurgery training in Taiwan and, as an ISAPS fellow in Italy, training in facial and breast aesthetics. Dr. Ak holds the European Union Aesthetic Plastic Surgery qualification certificate from EBOPRAS and contributed to the establishment of the Plastic Surgery Department at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura Hospital. He currently accepts patients from Turkey and various other countries at his clinic in Nişantaşı.
