Breast Reshaping After Weight Loss

Many women have empty,  breasts after rapid weight loss. If you are dissatisfied with your breast size or shape after reaching a healthy weight, a breast lift (Mastopexy) or implants (Augmentation mammoplasty) can help.

Body Contouring Surgery Clinic offers breast reshaping surgery exclusively to post-weight loss patients and postpartum women.

This page discusses breast reshaping after weight loss in-depth, including:

• How does weight loss affect breast size and shape?
• What are my breast reshaping options?
• What is a breast lift (Mastopexy)?
• What is breast augmentation (Augmentation mammoplasty)?
• Benefits of breast reshaping after weight loss
• Who is a candidate for breast reshaping?
• What happens during the operation?
• What is recovery like?
• How soon will I see results?

How Weight Loss Affects the Breasts

Many women develop lax skin and breasts after losing a significant amount of weight. The reason behind this is simple. As the breasts increase in size due to weight gain, the skin and ligaments tend to stretch and lose elasticity. Upon losing weight, many patients note loose skin as the breasts become smaller and flatter. As the breasts deflate, they lose fullness and cleavage.

Breast Concerns After Losing Weight

• Excess skin
• Breasts
• Ptotic nipples
• Loss of cleavage
• Flattening of the breasts
• Difficulty fitting in bras and swimwear

Breast Reshaping Candidates

Patients considering cosmetic breastwork should ideally wait until reaching and maintaining their goal weight for at least six months before the surgery. Smokers, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and individuals with certain medical issues may not be eligible for the procedure.

If you’re considering breast surgery, our body contouring surgeons will let you know if you are a candidate during your private consultation. We will only suggest a procedure if it is truly compatible with your aesthetic goals and lifestyle.

Cosmetic Breast Surgery Risks and Complications

Breast reshaping procedures are considered for each individual. However, every surgery carries a degree of risk. It is just as important to follow your surgeon’s pre-op and aftercare instructions as it is to seek a highly skilled surgeon. For example, smoking greatly increases the risk of complications.

At Body Contouring Surgery Clinic, we screen each patient to lessen the chance of complications. During your consultation, our surgeons will disclose all possible risks of elective breast surgery, including:

• Seroma
• Infection
• Asymmetry
• Blood clots
• Haematoma
• Haemorrhage
• Necrotic tissue
• Implant shifting
• Implant rupture
• Loss of sensation
• Wound dehiscence
• Undesirable scarring
• Capsular contracture
• Pulmonary embolism
• Dissatisfaction with results
• Complications from anaesthesia

The Operation: What happens during cosmetic breast surgery?

The nature of your surgical procedure depends on the type of breast reshaping you plan to have done.

Mastopexy Surgery

A licensed anaesthetist will oversee you during your procedure. Your surgeon will place incisions on the breasts through which they remove the excess skin. The incision pattern varies based on the extent of breast tissue excess. After resecting the lax skin, they will reposition the nipple-areola complex and close the incisions.

Breast Implant (Augmentation Mammoplasty) Surgery

While you are under general anaesthesia, your surgeon will make an incision on the inframammary crease, around the areola, or in the armpit. They will dissect the tissues to create a pocket for the implants. Implants can be placed either above or below the muscle. Next, they will insert your choice of silicone, saline, or anatomic implants into the breast pocket. After checking for ideal placement and symmetry, your surgeon will close the incisions.

Breast Reshaping Recovery

Most of our patients spend a night in the hospital. When you return home the next day, a caregiver should drive you. Your breasts will be quite swollen, firm, and tender initially. Bruising may also occur. Your surgeon may prescribe medications to ease discomfort.

You can take a shower, but do not get the PICO wound dressing wet. Your surgeon will remove the PICO dressing and replace it with Hypafix tape seven to nine days later. Once this happens, you can take a full shower. Around this time, you will likely feel well enough to start driving.

At 14 days post-op, most patients are cleared to resume light aerobic exercise. Avoid jogging and heavy lifting for approximately four weeks. At three months, you should start feeling more like yourself.

Scar maturation takes 12 to 18 months on average. The scars should lose pigment and fade over time, but they will never fully disappear.

Breast Reshaping Results

It can take six months to a year for the breasts to settle into their final position. Nearly 60 percent of the swelling subsides in the first three months. As each week passes, the swelling should continue to resolve, allowing the breasts to take on a softer and more natural appearance. Our surgeons will follow up with you to monitor your progress.