Pregnancy and childbirth can bring about many physical changes that affect the breasts and abdomen, along with other areas. Even after your weight has stabilised and you are back to your usual exercise routine, these changes can persist.
If you are interested in increasing the volume of your breasts and flattening your abdominal area through surgery, breast augmentation and abdominoplasty are two options that you may discuss with your surgeon. At Dr Ellis Choy’s practice in Sydney, each of our surgeries is customised based on different considerations such as the degree of change desired, recovery time, and your anatomy.
Physical Changes After Pregnancy
Abdominal Wall Separation
The abdominal muscles stretch during pregnancy to accommodate the growing uterus, and in some cases, the connective tissue between the two sides of the rectus muscles becomes widened. This condition, known as abdominal wall separation or rectus diastasis, can cause the abdominal area to protrude even after weight has returned to pre-pregnancy levels. The separation can also reduce core stability and make it more difficult to engage the abdominal muscles.
Breast Volume and Position
Hormonal fluctuations, breastfeeding, and the natural expansion and reduction of breast tissue can alter both the size and position of the breasts. Glandular tissue and skin may not return to their previous firmness or placement once milk production ceases. These changes can result in reduced volume, skin laxity, or altered projection that may be addressed through procedures such as breast augmentation or mastopexy.
Changes in Fat Distribution
Hormonal influences during pregnancy and after childbirth affect how and where fat is stored. You may find that certain regions, like the abdomen, flanks, and thighs, retain more fatty tissue than they did before, even when you are at a stable weight.
Changes in Skin Elasticity
The skin stretches rapidly during pregnancy, particularly across the abdomen, breasts, and hips. Collagen and elastin fibres that support skin structure can become weakened, which limits the skin’s ability to retract once stretching has occurred. Because of this, it is common to have stretch marks, loose skin, and folds in the skin after pregnancy.
Considering Surgical Options After Pregnancy
Post-pregnancy body changes are different for everybody, so no single surgical approach is suitable for every patient. We will assess your breasts and abdomen separately and talk about the concerns you would like to address. Some individuals undergo breast and abdominal procedures during the same operation, while others are only looking to treat one area.
What Breast Augmentation and Abdominoplasty Can and Cannot Address
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation can modify breast volume and shape using either implants or fat transfer. Implants will produce more noticeable results, while fat transfer breast augmentation is more subtle. Breast augmentation does not affect sagging. If you have descended breasts, we may discuss a mastopexy (breast lift) with you during your consultation.
Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty tightens the abdominal wall and removes excess skin and tissue that remain after pregnancy-related stretching. The surgery can address loose muscles, diastasis recti, redundant skin, and areas of localised fat. It cannot be a substitute for weight loss and cannot correct issues related to skin tone or fat distribution outside the treated area, so a thorough consultation is necessary to establish what outcomes are medically realistic.
What to Consider Before Your Surgery
Timing After Pregnancy
We recommend allowing the body enough time to recover and stabilise after your pregnancy before considering surgical intervention. Weight, hormone levels, and breastfeeding should return to a consistent baseline so we can have a more accurate assessment of your breast and abdominal tissues.
Future Pregnancy Plans
Future pregnancies can influence the results of breast augmentation and abdominoplasty because they may stretch the skin and abdominal muscles again or change breast volume. We advise our patients to complete their families before undergoing these procedures to maintain the integrity of surgical outcomes.
Health and Lifestyle
Good overall health supports the body’s ability to heal. A stable weight, balanced nutrition, and avoidance of smoking are important factors that influence recovery and tissue healing. We also evaluate any existing medical conditions and medications before scheduling your surgery.
An Overview of Breast Augmentation and Abdominoplasty
Breast Augmentation
During breast augmentation surgery, we create a pocket either beneath the breast tissue or under the chest muscle to position an implant. Dr Choy also favours a method called “dual-plane” breast augmentation, where the implant is placed in between two planes of tissue in front of the chest wall. The choice of implant type, placement, and incision site depends on anatomical features and the desired size and shape. If we are performing a fat grafting procedure, we will remove fat from another area of your body using liposuction, purify it, and inject the fat back into the breast area.
Abdominoplasty
The surgery begins with an incision across the lower abdomen, low enough to be hidden beneath underwear or swimwear. The incision gives us access to the abdominal muscles, which we will suture together to make them tight and flat. Next, we remove excess tissue, reposition the belly button, and close the incision with sutures. We will place drainage tubes below the incision to allow excess fluids to leak out and prevent them from collecting in the surgical area.
What to Know About Recovering From Your Surgery
During your breast augmentation recovery, you will have swelling, soreness, and discomfort with a feeling of tightness across your chest. You will need to wear supportive garments to keep your implants in the right position while your tissues settle. Plan to take one to two weeks off from work and avoid heavy lifting or intense exercise until we give you clearance.
Abdominoplasty has a longer and more difficult recovery period as the more major of the two surgeries. You can expect swelling, bruising, and soreness, and you will need to wear a compression garment. We encourage gentle walking right after your surgery, but you will not be able to bend or lift for several weeks.
If you are having both surgeries done together, you may have more restrictions and a more involved recovery. We will give you all of the information you need to prepare your recovery space and plan for the weeks after surgery.
Learn More About Breast Augmentation and Abdominoplasty in Sydney
Breast augmentation and abdominoplasty can address structural and volume changes that remain after pregnancy. Each procedure requires careful assessment to determine suitability, timing, and the most suitable approach for each patient. To learn more or arrange a consultation with Dr Ellis Choy, call us on (02) 8962 9388 or contact us through the online form.
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