Enhancing Your Breasts After Weight Loss
Andrew Smith, MD, FACS, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Every woman who comes in for a breast enhancement consultation shares a unique, personal story about why she is considering the procedure. One common thread for many women is that they have recently lost weight either after having children or through lifestyle changes, and they want to improve the size or shape — or both — of their breasts.
With that in mind, here is my brief user guide if you have lost weight and are now thinking about breast enhancement surgery. We’ll take a close look at the most common solutions — namely breast lift, breast augmentation, and combining the 2 surgeries. At my Orange County-based practice, these are popular, effective choices for a wide range of patients.
Find your cosmetic concern below and learn more about the solution that might be right for you.
A breast lift may be right for you. When a woman puts on weight, her breast tissue and skin stretches and grows. When she later loses weight, the youthful perkiness of her breasts is also lost because that stretched skin doesn’t “bounce back.”
If you are satisfied with the size of your breasts, but they are stretched and sagging, a breast lift can both elevate and reshape your breasts. I can also reduce the size of enlarged areolas (the darker skin surrounding the nipples) during a breast lift.
A good way to tell that your breasts have sagged enough for a breast lift is to check whether the nipples have sunken lower than the fold beneath your breasts. Also, if the nipples point downward rather than forward, a breast lift may be for you. This is one of the most common post-weight loss procedures for women, and it can achieve beautiful, feminine contours.
Breast augmentation surgery may be right for you. In some cases, weight loss may coincide with breasts losing volume, but not their perkiness. This is particularly common for younger women who have more resilient, elastic skin that wasn’t overly stretched when they were at a higher weight.
In these cases, I can restore volume using breast implants. With the variety of implants now available, I can customize breast augmentation procedures to suit each patient’s aesthetic goals. Most patients interested in augmentation now choose cohesive silicone implants because they look and feel so natural. I can restore your breasts to their size before your weight loss, or you can choose to go even larger if you prefer.
A combination procedure may be right for you. It’s very common for women to lose both volume and shape following weight loss. A combination lift-augmentation is the best solution in these cases. During this procedure, I can lift and reshape your breasts and insert breast implants through same incisions.
If you have breasts that have sagged and you would also like your breasts to be larger, this option may be a good choice. I can safely and effectively perform the 2 procedures during a single operation, addressing both concerns and resulting in a single recovery period. This combination approach can also include other common post-weight loss procedures, such as a tummy tuck, all in one operation.
I hope this guide has put you on your way to a clear understanding of the options. When you’re ready to find out for sure which procedure is the most appropriate for you, contact us to schedule a consultation.
Contact Andrew Smith, MD FACS Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Irvine, Orange County to schedule your consultation.
18 Endeavor Suite 102, Irvine, CA 92618