Guide to BREAST ASYMMETRY

December 2, 2023/by Dr. David Sieber

Even slight differences in the size or shape of your breasts can be frustrating and cause discomfort or self-consciousness in your daily life. When you have uneven breasts, it can be a challenge to find the right sized bras and undergarments, and you may feel self-critical when going to the beach or wearing tight clothing.

Still, many women don’t realize that breast asymmetry, as it is often called, can actually be fixed. It’s also more common than you may think.

How is breast asymmetry fixed?

The condition can be corrected quite easily with cosmetic procedures such as the fat transfer process or a breast augmentation. In some cases, a breast lift may be useful to fix the problem. Or, you may opt for a breast reduction to reduce the size of one breast in order to make it more even with the other, smaller breast.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about breast asymmetry, including how this common aesthetic issue can be easily fixed with help from a plastic surgeon.

All About Breast Asymmetry

When it comes to the female form, the breasts tend to be one of the most distinct and highly visible features. While every woman’s breasts naturally differ in shape, size, and proportion, most women at least enjoy the comfort of two breasts that are the same — or very close to the same.

A small percentage of women, however, struggle with the opposite: breasts that do not quite match each other.

Most often, the issue is that one breast has more breast tissue than the other. Of course, extremely small differences in breast tissue size and shape are only natural. Regular breast changes can be expected when a woman is pregnant, breast-feeding, or experiencing other hormonal changes during, for example, her menstrual cycle or menopause.

Issues that may require surgery, however, include those in which one breast is considerably larger than the other — at least a cup size or more.

This situation can bring about a number of related issues, some of which are cosmetic and others that may be medical.

Understandably, having two breasts that are differently sized can make many women feel self-conscious. For instance, the issue may become a larger problem where the woman’s intimate life is concerned. Or, she may feel uncomfortable in certain social situations — such as when she goes to the beach or chooses to wear a revealing dress to a party.

Any embarrassment resulting from uneven breasts surely isn’t mandatory; however, it is quite common. Helping women feel more confident and self-assured with their bodies is something that Dr. Sieber is passionate about. Women who have uneven breasts have a number of treatment options before them.

Breast Asymmetry Treatment Options

If you are struggling with breasts that are a different size, shape, or proportion, cosmetic surgery may be able to help. Depending on your unique situation and the goals you have for surgery, there are four different procedures that you may be able to choose from:

Breast Fat Transfer For Asymmetry

The fat transfer process is best for patients who have only a slight difference in the size, shape, or proportion of their breasts. When the difference is minimal, the least invasive procedure is often the best, and in this case, that would be a breast fat transfer for asymmetry.

How Fat Transfer Works

The fat transfer process involves removing unwanted fat from one area of the body and transferring it to the desired location that is to be augmented. In the case of asymmetrical breasts, the fat would naturally be transferred and injected into the breasts.

This means that the fat transfer process actually requires two steps. The first step is liposuction, which is used to remove or “harvest” the fat. The fat is usually taken from a place like the abdomen, flanks (“love handles”), or thighs.

The second step is to inject the harvested fat into the breasts. This must be done with a delicate hand and close attention to detail. Fat transfer is best for breasts that only require a slight adjustment in order to create symmetry.

Breast Augmentation

Depending on the breast volume asymmetry value a breast augmentation might be a good option. When the breasts have a more significant difference in breast tissue size, shape, or proportion, breast augmentation may be the best solution. This process involves the insertion of a breast implant into the smaller of the two breasts.

Breast implants are available in three materials: silicone, saline, or “gummy bear.” There are pros and cons to each option, and Dr. Sieber would be happy to discuss your optimal options with you.

Breast augmentation may require the patient to return every few years for an assessment of the implant. Although leaks are rare, it’s important to pay close attention to your new implant and follow the thorough care instructions provided to you by your surgeon.

Breast Lift

In some instances, a simple breast lift may help you achieve better symmetry of the chest. This tends to be the case when one breast sags and droops significantly more than the other.

A good way to check and see if a breast lift might be the best solution to your breast asymmetry is to see where your nipple line aligns with your breast fold. If the natural line of your nipple is below your breast fold, this usually means that a breast lift can help to perk up the breast and give you a more youthful appearance.

Breast Reduction

Lastly, if one of your breasts is significantly larger than the other and you would prefer that both of your breasts be more the size of your smaller breast, breast reduction surgery will be the best solution for you. Breast reduction surgery will require anesthesia and one or several incisions. At the incision points, your surgeon will go in and remove the necessary amount of breast tissue, skin, and/or fat.

Like breast augmentation surgery, breast reduction can be quite a significant procedure that require substantial downtime and recovery. As with any surgery, it’s important to follow the proper care instructions given to you by your surgeon in order to achieve optimal results.

Questions and Answers

Can asymmetrical breast tissue be indicative of anything else?

Asymmetric breast tissue has been found to be correlated with breast cancer. That doesn’t mean that every woman with breast volume asymmetry has breast cancer. But there is a correlation between those with higher asymmetry and breast cancer. There is a higher rate of developing breast cancer and cancer risk if you have a larger asymmetry between your breasts. It is important for all woman to regularly screen for breast cancer. If you are concerned about breast cancer due to your asymmetry, talk to your doctor about your breast cancer concerns so that a breast biopsy and breast ultrasound may be scheduled if deemed necessary.

What causes breast asymmetry?

Breast asymmetry manifests when one breast exhibits variations in size, volume, position, or shape compared to the other. This condition is widespread, impacting over half of women. Various factors contribute to changes in breast size or volume, such as trauma, puberty, and hormonal fluctuations.

Should I worry about asymmetry?

Irregularities in breast size are typically not a matter of alarm. Nevertheless, it is crucial to undergo routine mammograms to enable healthcare providers in the early detection of potential breast abnormalities. Research conducted in 2021 suggests that women with uneven breast density may face an elevated risk of developing breast cancer.

Can losing weight improve my breast asymmetry?

Losing weight can affect the contours of your breasts, yet the changes may not be uniform for each breast. Following weight loss, it is common to experience breast asymmetry, where one breast may appear larger or take on a different shape than the other. Additionally, women who breastfeed may encounter challenges related to breast asymmetry.

Are Your Breasts Asymmetrical?

Dr. Sieber is one of few double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeons in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has helped countless patients achieve the look and feel they desire for their bodies, including improving their breast asymmetry through fat transfer, breast augmentation, breast lift surgery, or breast reduction.

If you are interested in learning more about any of the procedures listed above, contact us today to book a consultation appointment. There’s no need to continue feeling self-conscious or uncomfortable with asymmetrical breasts. Call today!

References

https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-breast-augmentation#1

Renuvion Skin Tightening: The Latest Technology

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December 1, 2023/by Dr. David Sieber

Renuvion, sometimes referred to as Renuvion J Plasma or J-Plasty, is a state-of-the-art cosmetic technology designed to tighten loose skin, excess skin on any area of the body or face. It is no surprise this is becoming one of the most sought out plastic surgery procedures.

Renuvion skin tightening offers excellent results, extremely short recovery times, and minimal (if any) scarring. It’s perfect for those with loose skin who want to avoid invasive surgery and lengthy recovery periods.

How Does Renuvion Work?

The science behind Renuvion skin tightening can get a bit complicated, but to explain it as simply as possible, there are two core technologies being used: radiofrequency and helium plasma energy. Together, these energies contract loose skin tissue by heating it to a precise temperature.

Sound scary? Don’t worry — this won’t burn or damage your skin. The heat increase happens so quickly that it’s hardly noticeable (in under one second). At the same time, patients will be protected from any discomfort or pain through the use of local or general anesthesia.

You may have heard of Renuvion J-Plasma or J-Plasty before. Skin tightening is essentially the same as these procedures. The only difference is that the J-Plasma technology was updated and perfected and is, therefore, now rebranded as Renuvion.

Prepping for the Procedure

Before your surgery, Dr. Sieber will discuss any medications or supplements you are taking and have you stop taking any that may cause an increased risk of bleeding approximately two weeks beforehand.

On the Day of Surgery

On the day of your procedure, Dr. Sieber will decide whether you require general or local anesthesia. Largely, it will depend on where you are being treated and the extent of the treatment.

To start, once anesthesia has been administered, several extremely small incisions will be made in concealed locations near the target treatment areas. To prevent bleeding and assist with pain control once the procedure is over, epinephrine and lidocaine will be infiltrated into the target areas via a saline solution. A thin cannula will then be used to create tiny tunnels underneath the skin, and the skin will be heated with the Renuvion technology.

What Are the Benefits?

There are numerous benefits to skin tightening. First, although incisions are made at the beginning of surgery, they are extremely small and are always well-concealed. Recovery from Renuvion is also quite quick and painless, especially when compared with other cosmetic surgeries. Because this procedure addressing skin elasticity is minimally invasive, there is also a reduced risk of tissue injury.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Renuvion?

Those who have begun to notice loose, sagging skin on their face, neck, or body are all generally great candidates for a skin tightening procedure. It’s important that you be in good physical and mental health and be a non-smoker as well. You should also react well to anesthesia and not have a history of forming poor scar tissue during healing from other procedures (such as liposuction).

With that said, results from skin tightening can vary widely. For most patients, an improvement in skin laxity of around 30% is most common.

Should I Have This Procedure Together With Other Procedures?

When combined with other plastic surgery procedures such as liposuction or a tummy tuck, skin tightening can be particularly effective.

With tummy tucks, specifically, skin tightening can be used to supplement a mini tummy tuck so that a full tummy tuck is not necessary. In this case, skin tightening would be used on the upper abdomen while the mini-tuck would be used on the lower abdomen.

Perhaps more often than tummy tucks, liposuction is performed in combination with Renuvion. Liposuction addresses stubborn excess fat, especially around the abdomen or on places like the inner and outer thighs, buttocks, or upper arms. If you are interested in undergoing lipo along with Renuvion, Dr. Sieber will use traditional or Vaser liposuction to remove excess fat and then address any remaining loose or excess skin with a Renuvion procedure.

Recovery and Results

One of the main benefits of the Renuvion procedure is the quick recovery time. Compared to other procedures, most of any bruising or mild swelling that appears immediately after the procedure should disappear in approximately 3 to 5 days. Wearing the compression garments provided for you by our staff will help with any mild swelling.

Overall, you’ll need to wear the compression garments for a total of approximately two weeks. For the first week, you should wear them at all times, but for the second week, you need only put them on at night while you sleep.

Naturally, as is the case with nearly all cosmetic procedures, you’ll need to refrain from rigorous activities directly after undergoing Renuvion. Dr. Sieber will alert you when you are able to return to physical activity, including light exercise. This usually occurs around the two-week mark. Still, it’s important to get the go-ahead from Dr. Sieber before moving around too soon.

Once you can return to normal activities, consuming a healthy diet and leading an active lifestyle will help immensely with your recovery and in enhancing your Renuvion results.

When Will I See Results?

Skin tightening generally only needs to be performed once, with a single skin contraction treatment, in order to be effective. You should see your full results from this procedure in approximately 6 to 9 months.

The reason you likely won’t see results right away is that the procedure is actually instigating the process of collagen production. In order to see changes in the tightness of your skin, therefore, the collagen first needs to be broken down after the heating procedure, and then it needs to reform during collagen production.

Questions and Answers

How long does Renuvion last?

Anticipate lasting results of face and neck treatments for a minimum of five years, especially with diligent post-care skincare.

How much does Renuvion cost?

When it comes to the average Renuvion cost, the price tag is approximately $5,450 on average. Your final expense may vary based on the treated area’s size or if multiple body locations are addressed simultaneously. Consultation with your surgeon will provide precise pricing details.

How painful is Renuvion?

Facial Renuvion, a minimally invasive procedure, causes mild discomfort for most patients. Local anesthesia or numbing agents are applied for a comfortable experience.

How often are there complications from Renuvion?

All procedures come with some sort of risk. Renuvion complications can occur, but they are extremely rare.

Book Your Consultation Today

Wondering if Renuvion could be right for you? Book a consultation appointment with Dr. Sieber today to discuss your options and look at Renuvion before and after photos. We look forward to hearing from you!

Sources

Tummy Tuck Recovery Tips for Smooth Healing

Articles

November 30, 2023/by Dr. David Sieber

For many patients, tummy tuck recovery is a hot topic because they know those first few weeks can be especially challenging.

The good news is, however, that it’s doable. And if you’ve been struggling with loose skin, separated abdominal muscles, and stubborn tummy fat, the tummy tuck recovery time will be worth it. Here are some tips to get through this period with as little pain and discomfort as possible.

Top Tips for a Smooth Healing Process After Tummy Tuck Procedures

1. Wear your compression garments as directed.

After surgery, most patients will have a surgical dressing and an abdominal support garment to wear home. You’ll need to wear this consistently for at least four to six weeks. Over time, you can switch to just wearing the garment part-time.

An abdominal pressure garment is designed to reduce swelling, support the new contours of your abdomen, keep your incision sites closed, and deter the healing tissues from stretching.

2. Use pain medication to improve your comfort.

Most tummy tuck patients will benefit from pain medication to improve discomfort over the first few weeks. Pain is usually worst over the first few days.

Usually, after a week or more, patients can switch from a prescribed pain medication to an over-the-counter option. On top of taking pain medication, wearing an abdominal binder can help with discomfort as well.

3. Drink plenty of water, and eat a healthy diet.

Just as at any time in your life, eating a nutritious diet will add benefits to your health. Because you will be restricted physically, it may be a good idea to plan ahead and create some freezer meals before surgery. Some patients will ask a friend or family to cook for them, or you might even sign up for a meal delivery service.

During your recovery, you must avoid alcohol, foods high in sodium, and too much caffeine. Drink plenty of water and clear fluids. Believe it or not, staying hydrated can help flush excess fluid out of your body. Reducing fluid buildup can help get rid of swelling faster.

4. Care for your incision site properly.

All plastic surgeons have different instructions for proper wound care, so be sure to follow your surgeon’s unique directives.

Patients can usually shower after surgery, but some surgeons will have you wait a few days. If you have drains, you may need to take sponge baths only until the drainage tubes are removed.

If you are allowed to get your incision sites wet, be sure not to rub or agitate them. Naturally, you’ll need to remove your compression garment prior to bathing. Always pat (don’t rub) your incision sites dry.

5. Ease back into physical activity.

One of the major risks after surgery is the risk of blood clots. To prevent blood clots from forming, make sure you are getting up periodically to take short, easy walks. This will ensure good blood circulation.

As time goes on and your surgeon allows it, ease back into more movement. Take longer walks, and when you are cleared, start exercising again.

Just remember that reintegrating exercise into your routine will not happen for at least four to six weeks, and even then, you’ll need to take it slow at first. It may take up to three months or longer to return to more vigorous exercise.

FAQ: Recovery Time for Tummy Tuck Surgery

How long is recovery from tummy tuck surgery?

On average, patients need to take around two weeks off from work after a tummy tuck. But it may take several additional weeks to return to all your normal activities and six months to a year or more to see your complete tummy tuck results. To see a visual representation of the recovery time tummy tuck requires, take a look at some tummy tuck recovery week by week pictures.

Keep in mind that if you are undergoing additional procedures along with a tummy tuck or if your tummy tuck is part of a mommy makeover, the recovery period may be longer.

What are the don’ts after a tummy tuck?

Among the “don’ts” after tummy tuck surgery, you should not perform strenuous exercise, do any heavy lifting, submerge yourself in water (bath, pool, etc.), expose your incisions to sunlight, or drink alcohol or smoke.

How long before I can stand straight after tummy tuck surgery?

For at least two weeks, it may be advisable to walk with a slight bend at your waist. Usually after two to three weeks, you can stand with your regular posture again. It may take several more weeks to get your energy back and return to your normal activities.

How painful is a tummy tuck?

The tummy tuck procedure itself will not be painful as you’ll be under general anesthesia, which will keep you comfortable. Do expect some discomfort in the days and weeks following surgery, however. Your surgeon can prescribe pain medications to mitigate this.

Is the tummy tuck cost worth it?

Tummy tuck costs vary. We recommend scheduling a one-on-one appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon to learn the prospective cost of your surgery. Factors like your anatomy, your goals, the geographic location of your surgery, and your surgeon’s own unique fees will all influence the cost.

Will I have tummy tuck scars?

Yes, tummy tucks result in scars. All tummy tucks require a hip to hip incision that typically sits below the underwear line. But you may also require a belly button incision (full tummy tuck) or a vertical incision below the belly button (fleur-de-lis tummy tuck). Or, your lower lateral incision may need to be extended (extended tummy tuck).

Contact Us to Set Up a Consultation Appointment

If the tummy tuck recovery process is daunting to you, one of the best ways to confront this concern is to schedule a consultation appointment with a reliable board certified plastic surgeon. Speaking with a surgeon about your procedure can help calm your fears. They will be able to tell you exactly what you can expect and how you can manage all of your symptoms for optimal comfort.

Also at your consultation appointment, you’ll get a chance to browse tummy tuck before and after photos and see what your results could look like. Together with your surgeon, you’ll go over other topics such as what tummy tuck type is best for you and what, if any, additional procedures may help you achieve your goals even better.

Double board certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Sieber has helped countless other patients realize their desired outcome with tummy tuck surgery and other body contouring procedures. Please call our office today to set up your consultation.

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-tummy-tuck-recovery

How to Prepare for a Mommy Makeover Before and After

Articles

November 29, 2023/by Dr. David Sieber

Browsing through mommy makeover before and after photos can immediately make you realize how transformative this surgery can be. For moms who’ve been through multiple pregnancies (and seen the physical changes this experience can bring), a mommy makeover is often life-changing. It’s a chance to finally get your pre baby body back.

But how do you actually get ready for such an important surgery?

We’ve created a guide for those who are preparing for mommy makeover surgery. In this guide, you’ll find our best advice on how to approach your consultation appointment, how to choose the right procedures for your makeover, and how to prep yourself and your home for the recovery period.

Preparing for Your Mommy Makeover Consultation

All mommy makeovers start with a consultation appointment. You can schedule this appointment even if you’re not positive you want to move forward with surgery. Think of it as a fact-finding mission in this regard.

In addition to discussing your major concerns and desired outcomes, you’ll simply be getting a chance to become acquainted with your surgeon and ask any questions you may have. You will review your medical history and probably undergo a short physical exam as well.

Some of the other topics you may discuss at your consultation include patient candidacy, mommy makeover cost, potential risks and complications, and your anticipated mommy makeover recovery timeline.

Here are some recommendations when preparing for this appointment:

Review your surgeon’s before and after mommy makeover gallery prior to the appointment. Bookmark any mommy makeover before and after pictures that have outcomes similar to what you are looking for.
If you have pictures of yourself from the past, celebrity pictures, or similar, bring those as examples of your desired outcome.
Bring a pad of paper and pen to take notes. Pre-write your questions on your paper, and leave space for the answer beneath each question.
Bring any pertinent information on current medical conditions or ongoing treatments you may have.
Bring a list of medications and/or supplements you are currently taking.

How to Choose Your Mommy Makeover Procedures

Most women have a strong idea of what they want to change with their mommy makeover. But every mommy makeover case is unique, so it can take some dialogue with your surgeon to figure out for sure what procedures will work best for you.

Things like procedure compatibility (how well one procedure works with another being performed at the same time), patient budget, and patient health can all factor into the final decision. With that said, as long as a patient is a general candidate for this surgery, they should have the following procedures available to choose from:

Tummy Tuck

Also known as abdominoplasty, this procedure will remove excess skin on the abdomen. It usually includes liposuction to remove excess fat as well and muscle repair to bring together separated abdominal muscles (a frequent result of pregnancy).

Liposuction

Liposuction removes stubborn body fat from areas like the waist, thighs, and arms.

Breast Enhancement Surgery

This is typically either a breast lift or a breast augmentation. A breast lift does not increase breast size. Rather, it lifts the breasts, making them appear perkier. Breast augmentation does increase the breast size with either a fat transfer procedure or breast implants.

BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift)

The goal of a BBL is to remove unwanted fat (usually from the abdomen) and use it to fill areas on the thighs and buttocks that would benefit from more volume. Most BBLs help to facilitate more of an hourglass figure for women.

Other Procedures

Keep in mind that other procedures can be incorporated into a mommy makeover as well. If you are interested in improving other areas of your body, talk to your surgeon about your options.

Prepping for Mommy Makeover Recovery

Preparing for your mommy makeover recovery may take most of your time and energy prior to surgery. This is largely because, while certainly manageable, the recovery period following this procedure tends to be longer and more challenging than with other surgeries.

Here are some tips to help you prepare yourself and your home for the recovery process:

#1 – Ask for time off work far ahead.

Don’t wait to get the time you need off from work or school. As soon as you know your surgery date and how much time you’ll need, book your sick leave or vacation days.

#2 – Prepare your space.

At home, you’ll want to prepare several rooms for your recovery. First, your bedroom may require special pillows or medical gear to assist you with getting in and out of bed. Next, you may need specialty topical products (silicone gel, for example) or wound care items for your bathroom. Talk to your surgeon about these things.

When you’re resting during the day, try to spend time in another space so that you can reserve your bedroom for nighttime sleeping only. A couch or comfortable recliner (that you can easily get out of) are great. Put things like your phone charger, books, magazines, tissues, water, and snacks within easy reach.

*Keep in mind that with certain procedures, you may need to sleep or rest in special positions (for example, after a BBL, you cannot put pressure on your buttocks). Therefore, also talk to your surgeon about whether you need to purchase special pillows or other assistive devices as well.

#3 – Plan your meals and snacks.

A little food prep can go a long way for your recovery. Whether you plan to eat freezer meals, get a food delivery plan, or ask a friend or family member to help with cooking, be sure to set this up ahead of time.

#4 – Plan to track your progress.

Lastly, before your recovery even begins, figure out how you are going to track your progress. This is a great way to stay motivated during your recovery.

You might plan to take a daily photo, write in a journal, or jot notes on your calendar. Whatever it is, stick to the plan as you heal so that you can see how far you’ve come as you get better!

FAQ: Mommy Makeover Surgery

Is a mommy makeover only for women?

No, it is a male female procedure and can be performed on men as well. “Mommy makeover” is really just a marketing term that is used for this type of combination surgery because many moms seek it out when they want to restore their pre baby body.

If you are looking for before and after mommy makeover photos of men, when looking through galleries of pictures filter cases or apply filters by gender.

How much is a mommy makeover before and after insurance?

Mommy makeover surgery is not a medically necessary procedure. Therefore, it is unlikely insurance will provide coverage. However, you can always call and ask what requirements and at what age provider companies may provide coverage.

Call to Schedule a Mommy Makeover Consultation

What are you hoping to achieve with your mommy makeover?

To be sure, having children is one of life’s most beautiful experiences. But women can frequently lose themselves during the process, and the result can be a challenge for everyone in the family. If you would like to restore your pre baby body — and diet and exercise just aren’t getting it done — you may be an excellent candidate for a mommy makeover.

To schedule your consultation with double board certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Sieber, please contact our practice today.

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/balancing-motherhood-and-self-care-the-role-of-mommy-makeovers-in-reconnecting-with-yourself

Do You Need a Breast Lift After Weight Loss?

Articles

November 28, 2023/by Dr. David Sieber

Losing a significant amount of weight is a huge achievement. Whether you’ve done it with diet and exercise or through plastic surgery, the journey is never easy.

Of course, as with many things, the journey doesn’t end as soon as you hit that goal weight. Many individuals who have lost a large amount of weight are left with several physical features that they like to tweak further. One such feature is the breasts.

Fortunately, a breast lift may be able to help you if you are in this situation. The following article will go over why weight loss often causes sagging, drooping breasts and what a breast lift can do to ameliorate this issue.

Dealing With Sagging Breasts After Weight Loss

For many women, sagging, drooping breasts are a common symptom of weight loss. When more fat was on the body prior to their weight loss, they may have had breasts they were happy with. Essentially, the added fat “filled up” the skin on the breasts, so to speak, and that made them appear fuller and rounder.

Unfortunately, when the body drops fat because of weight loss, it has a tendency to take weight from all parts of the body (not just those “trouble spots” that annoy you). This leaves the breast tissue devoid of the fat it used to have, which is just one of the reasons why your breasts may appear sagging and flat after weight loss.

The other reason is that the excess fat that was on the body prior to weight loss (in particular, that fat on the breasts) may have stretched the breast skin beyond its normal size. Later, when fat was reduced through weight loss, the skin may have retained the larger size, and again, this could make the breasts appear flat and lack volume.

Drooping Breasts After Weight Loss

Many women find that throughout weight loss, they are simply focused on living a healthy lifestyle, dropping fat, and ideally, toning up with exercise. Once they achieve their goal weight or clothing size, however, they may be looking for ways to refine their results and perhaps even give themselves a little confidence boost and gift for losing all that weight. Excess skin is often the result after working hard to lose weight. The excess skin on the breasts can be frustrating after working so hard to achieve significant weight loss results. A lift targets this excess skin.

A range of cosmetic procedures can help fix or improve some of the issues that arise after massive weight loss. For example, body contouring is a common procedure. Body contouring can refer to a host of procedures aimed at targeting problem areas resulting in a more pleasing physique. With body contouring, you are addressing problems of extra fat and excess skin. Alternatively, liposuction of those last, hard-to-lose 5 or 10 “vanity” pounds is popular. Tummy tucks are also frequent after massive weight loss as they can take care of excess skin on the abdomen.

As for the breasts, patients have several different options.

For starters, if the patient has always wanted bigger breasts and never felt that they had the breast size that fit their body shape, breast augmentation may be an option. Breast augmentation can be achieved through breast implants or through the fat transfer process. Many patients wonder about a breast lift vs breast reduction and what is right for them. Whether breast reduction is right or not all depends on the patient. Often, it tends to be patients with very full breasts who opt for a breast reduction.

However, breast augmentation is usually performed when the patient wants to go up one or several cup sizes and is not as concerned with how perky the breasts are or where they hang on the chest. In other words, breast augmentation is not generally the best option for sagging, drooping breasts. After weight loss breast lift surgery is an often ideal option.

Instead, most patients with these symptoms go for a lift to target and remove excess skin. When there has been massive weight loss and the breasts seem to be “deflated” with loose skin as a result, a lift is the best procedure to fix the problem. Of course, many women opt for a lift even when they haven’t lost a significant amount of weight as well. Sometimes, time, aging, and gravity simply make the breasts appear to lack volume and perkiness.

Likewise, after pregnancy and breast-feeding, many women feel the same about their breasts and want to raise their nipples and give their bosom more youth and vivacity without necessarily going up several bra cup sizes.

Breast Lift Procedure

A lift is a common cosmetic procedure that involves lifting the breast tissue and nipples in order to give the breasts a more youthful, perky appearance. The exact features that will be altered in a given plastic surgery will depend on the individual. In general, however, excess tissue will be removed, and the nipple line will be raised above the breast crease.

In some cases, breast lifts are also combined with breast augmentation surgery.

The Ideal Candidate

One way to know if you could benefit from a lift is to look in the mirror without a shirt or bra and specifically look at your nipple line (where your nipples are an association to your torso). If your nipple line is below your breast crease, a lift might be for you.

Secondly, look at the overall direction that your nipples are pointing in. If they tend to point downward, again, a lift may benefit you. Many patients also have questions about breast lift risks and safety.

Future Weight Fluctuations

One important final note to make when it comes to post-operative care is that future weight gain and/or weight loss (after breast lift surgery) may affect your breasts’ appearance. That is, achieving a certain healthy weight is critical before plastic surgery, and equally important is maintaining that weight after surgery.

Unfortunately, any future weight gain could alter the appearance of your breasts, or if you gain and then lose the weight a second time, this could further impact your breasts’ appearance in a negative way. Keeping a healthy diet and doing light to moderate, consistent exercise are the way to go to stay in a healthy BMI (body mass index) range.

Questions and Answers

What other surgeries are common after major weight loss?

Other common surgeries after major weight loss include tummy tuck and a body lift. A body lift is similar to any other lift in that it targets loose skin. With a body lift, the entire body is the subject. With a body lift (sometimes referred to as a lower body lift) the trunk and legs are the focus of surgery. There is also an upper body lift, but the general body lift is most common after major weight loss.

Will insurance cover a breast lift after weight loss surgery?

Typically, breast lift surgery is deemed cosmetic, making it unlikely for insurance coverage. Approval as a covered procedure requires demonstrating its medical necessity.

Is breast lift recovery painful?

During your breast lift recovery time you can expect discomfort and redness around incisions post-breast lift. Numbness in nipples, areolae, and breast skin may persist for about six weeks. Follow your healthcare provider’s pain medication advice in the initial days.

How long does a breast lift last?

Expect your mastopexy results to endure for about a decade, possibly 15 to 20 years if done at a younger age. Factors can impact longevity, though.

Schedule a Consultation Appointment

Dr. Sieber is a double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who treats patients in the San Francisco Bay Area. His extensive experience and unique expertise with breast lift surgery has helped a range of patients improve their appearance and confidence.

If you have recently lost a significant amount of weight and are looking for ways to prove the perkiness and overall appearance of your breasts, contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment.