Are you considering breast surgery after weight loss? Both men and women can feel discouraged by the appearance of their breasts after losing a substantial amount of weight. Because of how this area of the body changes as pounds are shed, you may not feel comfortable with what you see in the mirror. Breast shape changes are sometimes visible through clothing, making it hard to find styles that conceal the looser tissues. Thankfully, you have options for the improvement of your breast appearance through plastic surgery.
There are many options for breast surgery after weight loss. With a consultation with Dr. Michael Zenn at Zenn Plastic Surgery in Raleigh, NC, you can learn which type of procedure will help you achieve your goals.
BREAST SURGERY AFTER WEIGHT LOSS FOR WOMEN
For women, there are four primary types of breast surgery after weight loss. These include:
- Breast lift, also called mastopexy
- Augmentation
- Augmentation and lift
- Breast reduction
BREAST LIFT AFTER WEIGHT LOSS
Fast weight loss takes a toll on the breast skin, just as it can affect other areas of the body like the abdomen and thighs. The skin’s elasticity decreases, leading to sagging. Unfortunately, exercise cannot return the elasticity to these tissues. But a breast lift after weight loss, also called mastopexy, removes the excess sagging skin to lift breast tissue. With a board-certified plastic surgeon’s help, you can have the more youthful, attractive, and pert breasts you desire.
To know what you can expect from your breast lift after weight loss, schedule a consultation at Zenn Plastic Surgery. You will learn how much skin must be removed to meet your appearance goals. You will also learn about nipple placement and which type of incision will work best for your mastopexy.
This type of outpatient breast surgery after weight loss typically takes two to three hours under general anesthesia. Recovery takes four days before returning to work and about two weeks for resuming your regular activities.
Benefits of breast lift after weight loss include:
- Removes excess skin from your breasts
- Moves the nipple and areola to the best position
- Recovery is quick
Drawbacks of this type of breast surgery after weight loss include:
- Visible scars
- Does not restore lost volume to the breasts
BREAST AUGMENTATION AFTER WEIGHT LOSS
If your deflated-looking breasts lack fullness, there is a breast surgery after weight loss that can restore lost volume. Through breast augmentation, you can again have fuller, larger breasts to suit your appearance goals. This fullness is the result of a breast implant.
For breast augmentation after weight loss, you have multiple options in types of breast implants, implant shape, scar location, and implant placement. Your plastic surgeon will help you determine what is best for your body.
While some of the volume can be replaced with a breast implant, fat grafting also plays a role and can restore up to 25% of the breast. Fat grafts are harvested with liposuction, processed, and placed within the breast with injections during the same procedure. This technique adds volume and a natural softness to the cleavage area. Dr. Zenn has been performing fat grafting to the breast area successfully for more than a decade.
As with other breast surgery after weight loss, this procedure involves the use of general anesthesia. It is also performed on an outpatient basis. You can expect to return to work in about three to five days after your surgery and get back to regular activities in about two weeks.
Benefits of having a breast augmentation after weight loss include:
- Restored volume to the breasts
- Only minor scarring
Drawbacks of this type of breast surgery after weight loss include:
- You may still have loose skin because of the weight loss and the droop can recur
BREAST AUGMENTATION AND LIFT AFTER WEIGHT LOSS
Because a breast lift removes excess breast skin and a breast augmentation restores lost volume, many women seek a breast augmentation and lift after weight loss. This combined procedure is the best of both of the above breast surgeries for women with significant skin sagging and volume loss.
This breast surgery after weight loss starts with placement of the breast implant, then removal and tightening of excess skin, and if needed, enhancement with fat grafting. If you choose a breast augmentation and lift after weight loss, you can expect to receive general anesthesia for your outpatient surgery. Most women return to work in about five to seven days and resume their regular activities in about two to three weeks.
Benefits of breast augmentation and lift after weight loss include:
- Restores lost volume
- Removes excess skin
- Long-lasting results
Drawbacks of this type of breast surgery after weight loss include:
- Possibility of visible scars
- More complex procedure
BREAST REDUCTION AFTER WEIGHT LOSS
For many women, losing weight from other parts of their bodies does not reduce the size of their breasts enough and leaves them appearing to droop more. This can lead to prolonged pain, discomfort, and self-consciousness of large breasts. If you have experienced major weight loss and want more proportionate breast size and shape, a breast reduction after weight loss can help you achieve your goal. At the same time, you will benefit from reduced or diminished back, neck, and shoulder pain caused by heavy breasts. You can also say goodbye to bra strap marks, under-breast rashes, and physical activity restrictions caused by oversized breasts.
Generally, outpatient surgery is performed under general anesthetic; this procedure is highly individualized. You can expect to get back to work in about five to seven and a normal daily routine two to three weeks later.
Benefits of this type of breast surgery after weight loss include:
- Smaller and proportionate breasts
- Back, shoulder and neck pain relief
- No more painful bra strap marks
- No more under-breast rashes
Drawbacks of breast reduction after weight loss can include:
- Potential for visible scars
BREAST REDUCTION FOR MEN AFTER WEIGHT LOSS
Many men experience enlargement of their breast tissues called gynecomastia. After major weight loss, these men are left with sagging skin, fat, and dense breast tissue. And working out and building up chest muscles just makes the breast tissues look bigger. It is often possible to see the redundant tissue through clothing. For many, this extra tissue causes embarrassment and reduced body image and self-esteem.
Breast reduction for men after weight loss removes the excess fat and glandular tissue that dieting and exercise do not. The elasticity of the skin allows it to reduce with the reduction of volume, so large visible scars are rarely needed. It is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthetic. Most men get back to work in about a week and do regular activities in two to three weeks after their breast surgery after weight loss.
Breast Surgery after Weight Loss at Zenn Plastic Surgery in Raleigh, NC
If you have recently lost a significant amount of weight and do not like the appearance of your breasts, schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Michael Zenn at Zenn Plastic Surgery. Dr. Zenn has more than 25 years of experience and is an innovator in the field of breast surgery. Call (919) 480-3885 today to learn about your options and what you can expect from breast surgery after weight loss.
