Post-pregnancy Abdominoplasty and Breast Surgery Sydney
Specialist Plastic Surgeon
Dr Ben Norris FRACS
Follow-Up Guarantee
Care for the rest of your life
Accredited Hospitals
Not performed in-clinic
The term “postpartum surgery”, or post-pregnancy surgery, describes a combination of cosmetic surgery procedures that commonly include abdominoplasty and breast procedures such as augmentation mammoplasty and/or mastopexy. The procedure combines multiple surgeries that address some of the common physical changes related to pregnancy. A woman’s breasts and abdomen are the primary focus.
At Form and Face, Dr Ben Norris tailors post-pregnancy abdominoplasty and breast surgery to each individual patient’s physiology and psychology. Dr Norris uses a customised approach to these procedures in order to ensure each patient is happy with their surgical plan.
7 benefits of a post-pregnancy abdominoplasty and breast surgery
There is a wide range of benefits associated with each of the procedures. The surgery can often help women who are seeking the following:
- More elevated breasts
- A change in breast shape
- A reduction in abdominal tissue
- Correction of abdominal muscles (diastasis recti)
The exact benefits might be different for each patient, according to their unique body, goals, and requirements. This means it’s important to get professional guidance from Dr Norris in order to decide if the surgery is the right decision for you.
Dr Ben Norris explains the basics of a post-pregnancy abdominoplasty and breast surgery
To understand how a post-pregnancy surgical procedures can help address concerns after pregnancy, it’s helpful to first understand what childbirth does to a woman’s body, especially her abdomen and breasts.
Abdominal skin that has stretched during pregnancy may not have the natural elasticity to snap back into place after a woman has given birth. Additionally, the muscles that run vertically along the abdomen (the rectus abdominis muscles) can become lax and separate, adding to a woman’s protruding abdomen.
Breast skin & nbsp;becomes over-stretched, and breasts become engorged during pregnancy and nursing, causing the breasts to become lax and lose volume.
At Form and Face, we offer a combination of abdominoplasty and breast mastopexy (lift) or augmentation mammoplasty (implants) specifically tailored to help our patients address unwanted changes after pregnancy. They can be performed alone or in conjunction with one another:
Breast Augmentation Mammoplasty
Alters the size and shape of breasts with the use of implants.
Breast Lift Mastopexy
Removes excess, stretched breast skin
and tissue, without altering
the size of the breasts.
Tummy Tuck
(Abdominoplasty)
Removes excess abdominal skin and tissue,
and addresses separated abdominal muscles.
Every woman’s body is different, and post-pregnancy procedures at Form and Face are tailored to fit the individual needs of each patient. Laser skin resurfacing, liposuction, cosmetic injectables, and other enhancement treatments may also be used in some cases, depening on the patient’s preferences and desired results.
Benefits of a post-pregnancy makeover for mums over 35
Today’s women are career-minded, health-conscious, and fortunate enough to live in an age when reproductive technology makes it easier to conceive later in life. Many women choose to postpone having children. This decision can often come with some challenging consequences.
Women who become mothers in their 30s often have more difficulty losing fat and restoring muscle tone. The body’s natural self-healing mechanisms begin to lose their power.
Post-pregnancy surgical procedures (abdominoplasty and breast surgeries) are useful for mothers at any age.
Are you a good candidate?
You are likely to be a good candidate for a post-pregnancy makeover (abdominoplasty and breast surgeries) at our practice if:
- You are in good general health
- You are in good physical shape
- You are at or close to your goal body weight
- It has been 6 months since the birth of your last child
- It has been 4 months since you stopped breastfeeding
These are just general guidelines to assess a woman’s fitness for surgery. During a comprehensive consultation at Form and Face, patients meet with Dr Norris to discuss their health, emotional wellbeing, and lifestyle.
When to have a post-pregnancy abdominoplasty and breast augmentation mammoplasty/mastopexy?
Timing of a surgery is a key factor in achieving the patient’s desired results. The body needs some time to recover from childbirth and do some natural healing on its own.
Patients at Form and Face are encouraged to lose some of their pregnancy weight gain before pursuing any post-pregnancy surgeries. Whatever your target weight might be, it’s a good idea to achieve it and then maintain it for a minimum of four months.
Another factor that impacts the timing of procedures is a woman’s interest in having more children. Dr Norris generally recommends that patients wait until they have had their last child before undergoing the procedures that comprise a postpartum surgery (abdominoplasty, breast augmentation mammoplasty, or breast lift mastopexy). The procedures do not affect a woman’s ability to conceive or nurse, of course. However, the physical demands of pregnancy and childbirth can undo many of the benefits of breast and abdominal surgery.
Although there is a recommended time frame for surgery, it’s never too early or too late to schedule a consultation with Dr Norris at Form and Face.
Actual breast augmentation mammoplasty and lift (mastopexy) patient of Dr Benjamin Norris
What happens during postpartum surgery (abdominoplasty and breast surgeries) at Form and Face?
Women who want to address physical concerns after pregnancy are generally focused on their breasts and abdominal area.
As an experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon and skilled aesthetic professional, Dr Norris works diligently to ensure that each patient’s surgery is designed to help her reach her personal goals. He can recommend or counsel against certain procedures based on a patient’s goals and her physiology.
For the majority of women who visit Form and Face for a post-pregnancy abdominoplasty or breast procedure, Dr Norris will recommend one or more of these three procedures:
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
Pregnancy can contribute to excess skin, fat, and lax muscles in the abdominal area. Abdominoplasty, the medical name for tummy tuck surgery, is a procedure that re-contours a woman’s abdomen. Many of the women who visit Form and Face for a post-pregnancy abdominoplasty also benefit from liposuction, which further enhances fat removal.
A patient’s physiology and goals influence which of a number of types of abdominoplasty surgery may be suitable for you. The procedure is performed under general anaesthetic and takes between three and four hours to perform. Recovery is in hospital and usually lasts three days.
For additional details about this procedure, including the cost, visit our page on abdominoplasty.
Breast Augmentation Mammoplasty (Implants)
Breast augmentation mammoplasty is probably the most commonly performed maternity procedure. The surgery restores lost volume and can increase a woman’s cup size modestly or dramatically. Dr Norris will help patients select the best shape, size, and type of implant.
To perform breast augmentation mammoplasty, Dr Norris makes small incisions, and then places the implants beneath the skin and tissues of the breast. This outpatient procedure is performed in about an hour under general anaesthetic.
For additional details about this procedure, including the cost of breast augmentation mammoplasty surgery with implants, visit our page on breast augmentation.
Breast Lift with Implants (Mastopexy with Augmentation Mammoplasty)
Pregnancy affects different women in different ways. For mums who are concerned about the appearance of breast laxity or deflation, a two-step approach involving both mastopexy and implants (augmentation mammoplasty) may be a good choice. The advantage is that the same incisions can be used to lift the breasts and re-volumise them, cutting down on the scarring that would occur if the procedures were performed separately.
Breast augmentation mammoplasty surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. Prior to surgery, Dr Norris discusses whether the procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis or if you will require an overnight hospital stay. The surgery takes two-and-a-half to three hours.
For more information about this approach to post-maternity breast surgery, including the cost of a breast lift with implants (mastopexy with augmentation mammoplasty), please visit our page on mastopexy with augmentation mammoplasty.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Also known as mastopexy, a breast lift is used to alter the shape of the breasts. Dr Norris uses this procedure to raise lax or stretched breasts on the chest wall without changing their size. Laxity and loss of shape of the breasts occurs as the skin loses its elasticity with the effects of gravity, the normal ageing process, pregnancy and breast-feeding, and significant weight loss.
Based on a patient’s needs, Dr Norris will choose from a number of breast lift mastopexy techniques that differ according to the placement of incisions and the subsequent scars. He has trained extensively in the use of short-scar techniques, which allow him to minimise the number and length of scars.
For additional details about this procedure, including the cost of a breast lift mastopexy, visit our page on mastopexy.
What is the average cost of post-pregnancy surgery (abdominoplasty with breast augmentation mammoplasty or mastopexy) in Sydney?
Every woman we treat is unique and so is every physical enhancement procedure we perform. Dr Norris is dedicated to providing highly personalised treatments, custom-tailored to help a mum achieve her desired outcomes, provided that she is a good candidate and has realistic expectations for what can be achieved. If you would like to know more about these procedures & costs that can be part of your personal surgical plan, please contact our practice on (02) 9387 3800 or use our online contact form.
What happens after the surgery?
The First Few Days After Breast Enlargement Surgery (Augmentation Mammoplasty)
When you return home, you will continue to take over-the-counter painkillers. You may expect to feel sore and fatigued for several days, so be sure to schedule enough time for rest. Dr Norris will advise that you wear a postoperative bra and compression bandage for extra support and positioning while you heal.
Some women experience tightness in the breast area during this time. This is normal. It’s due to the fact that your skin is adjusting to the size of your new implants.
The First Few Weeks Following Breast Augmentation Mammoplasty Surgery
The recovery time period for breast augmentation mammoplasty surgery depends on whether your breast implants have been placed over or under the muscle (under the muscle placement has a slightly longer recovery time) and what technique your surgeon has used to augment your breasts.
Breasts may remain swollen and sensitive to the touch for a month or longer. Dr Norris recommends that his breast implant surgery patients avoid any strenuous activities that could raise pulse and blood pressure, or which require strenuous use of arms and chest. This can be challenging, but not insurmountable.
Most Form and Face breast augmentation mammoplasty surgery patients return to normal activities within six weeks. Dr Norris cautions active patients to keep their incision sites out of direct sunlight for about a year because the skin in those areas is more delicate.
Possible complications
The breast and abdominal procedures that are typically part of postpartum surgery (abdominoplasty and breast augmentation mammoplasty or mastopexy) are surgical in nature and require anaesthesia. They expose patients to the risk of:
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Wound healing and scarring problems
There are also different risks associated with different procedures. These include
Breast Augmentation Mammoplasty Surgery (Breast Implants)
- Asymmetry (difference in size or shape of breasts)
- Contour problems
- Capsular contracture (a hardening of connective tissues)
Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation, which may be temporary or permanent
- Breast contour and shape irregularities
- Breast asymmetry
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
- Numbness and changes in sensation
- Changes in skin colour
- Fat necrosis, or death of fatty tissue located deep inside the skin
The above risks can be significantly reduced by following a few guidelines after surgery is complete. For example, good hydration and gentle stretching after surgery can accelerate healing and reduce the risk of blood clots.
Fortunately, these risks are decreased by following the post-surgical instructions we’ll give you. At Form and Face, surgery patients are given comprehensive post-operative home care instructions. Dr Norris carefully reviews each step with patients so they know exactly what to do to help their bodies heal.
Here at Form & Face, we provide patients with a
Lifetime followup guarantee
This means that we will be there for you far beyond the recovery period.
You can rest assured knowing that you can come to us about any
post-surgical concerns for the rest of your life.