Adrian Knox, MBBS, FRACS

Hello,

Ideally you should be at your target weight and stable at that weight for 3 months before you embark on surgery. But a consultation prior to that stage is probably a good thing. You can get good information from forums and research but a consultation will be specific to you and might point out areas that you may not have considered or give you more targeted detail on what you want. An early consultation doesn't commit you to surgery but it will probably optimise your knowledge and perhaps be even more of a motivator. 

Best wishes

Hello, Pain pumps are a part of "mainstream" management including after tummy tuck. However their effectiveness varies depending on which research study you might read. Pumps will reduce rather than eliminate pain and you can get powerful pain relief from careful injection of the "ab" muscles at the time of surgery - this gives good relief for 12-15 hours without a tube from your tummy to the external pump. Of course 12-15 hours is still short so like many things there is a trade-off. Generally, I can get very good pain control without these devices so I don't routinely use them - but I wouldn't criticise those who do.

The attached link might be of interest. 

Best Wishes

Hello anon6587,

"Recovered" can mean different things - by day 18 you shouldn't be bruised but you will still be a little swollen and you might feel nervous about being bumped in crowded areas like travel queues etc. If your implants are behind the muscle you will still be uncomfortable with shoulder girdle movements and wearing a backpack or even a day pack wouldn't be such a good idea. But if your bags/luggage is taken care of by others you should be OK. Perhaps check whether your surgeon would prefer that you stay close before leaving. 

Best wishes

Hello,

If the mark you have is definitely from suction then it's hard to see how you could develop a contracture - I think you can relax! But, just be sure that you are not mistaking it for some other deeper problem ie something coming up from deep rather than a skin mark from a partner. If in doubt, check it out!

Best Wishes

Hello and thanks for the photographs. A tummy tuck should flatten the lower abdo fold so you have no overhang unless you have your hips flexed. The operation will improve the bulge in the upper abdomen but the word is improve. You are right about weight  - this operation wont significantly change your weight. If you can realistically drop a little prior to any surgery then that will assist your result, but an unsustainable crash-diet is counter productive. I don't think you will get to the shape seen lying flat, but you will still be a lot more shapely. There is so much variation from person to person that it is hard to second guess your precise outcome. Your Plastic Surgeon should be able to show you a big range of results in girls of similar size and shape - that will probably be your best guide.

Best Wishes

Hello,

For only 2 weeks post-surgery you are looking nice and while the space between your breasts is less, you appear to have a little swelling rather than real tenting. You probably need to check with your surgeon about post op care, but reducing pec muscle activity (as far as that is possible) in the short term will probably be of more benefit than the thong - ingenious though it is! 

I'm sure you will be fine and best wishes.

Hello Meggie, A reduction almost always entails a lift so it's not a question of one or the other. I think the questions to ask yourself are firstly, do you want to be a smaller cup size? Judging by your symptoms I'm guessing that less volume (ie reducing cup size) might be a good thing. Once you've clarified that, then its would be worth seeing a plastic surgeon to see what differing cup sizes look like in the real world (as opposed to the glossies!)

The other question is whether you have finished having children. Breast shape and size can change dramatically with pregnancy. Planning more children doesn't mean you shouldn't have breast surgery now, but it might mean a revisional procedure later.

Best Wishes

Hello,

I think you have had a nice result and no, you aren't "bottoming out" in any of your photos. When your arms are down, your scars appear to sit nicely in the breast fold. Yous scars will always lift a little when you raise your arms. At rest your breasts have a great shape - and I think you and your surgeon have made a really good decision with your size. You also appear very slim and I suspect that if your implants sat much higher you would see the shadow of the upper pole of your implant against the ribs, and the bottom of the breast would have a sagging look.

I actually think you would be justified in feeling rather pleased with yourself.

Best Wishes

Hello,

If you replace your existing implants with silicone of the same size you are likely to feel that your breast have dropped a little once your swelling subsides. This is  certainly the case if you choose smaller implants. Whether you have an uplift is, in large part, your choice: if you just want softer implants regardless of breast position and if you are happy to use a bra to lift the volume, then why do a lift? However, you mentioned you are already not happy with the sagging. If you want to correct sagging and just maintain your current volume, then you will need a lift.

Good luck with your decision - there is a nice solution whatever you chose.

Hello,

A new lump, regardless of whether you have implants or not, should be assessed and investigated. You should probably make contact with your doctor as soon as you are able.

Best Wishes