Careaga Plastic Surgery

It’s not uncommon to still experience intermittent shooting pains, aches, or “twinges” 7 months after breast augmentation, especially as nerves continue healing and scar tissue matures. The fact that it happens more after workouts can also point toward muscle or nerve irritation, particularly if your implants are under the muscle. That said, because you feel the pain is becoming more frequent rather than gradually improving, I would recommend following up with your plastic surgeon for an exam. They’ll want to check for things such as early capsular contracture, implant position changes, muscle-related irritation, or less commonly fluid/inflammation around the implant. A few reassuring signs are that the pain is intermittent rather than constant, and you didn’t mention redness, swelling, fever, or a major change in breast shape. However, if you notice increasing firmness, one breast sitting higher, visible swelling, warmth/redness, or worsening persistent pain, you should be evaluated sooner. In the meantime, it may help to temporarily reduce heavy chest workouts, wear a supportive bra consistently, and monitor whether certain activities or sleeping positions trigger the symptoms. Most cases end up being related to healing nerves or scar tissue remodeling, but since the pattern has changed, it’s reasonable to get checked for peace of mind as well.

At 5’3” and 110 pounds, you are definitely on the thinner side, but that does not automatically mean you’re not a candidate for a BBL. Patients with your body type are often considered for what’s commonly called a “skinny BBL.” The key factor is whether you have enough fat in areas like the abdomen, flanks, lower back, or thighs to safely harvest and transfer. With your frame, the results would likely be more subtle rather than dramatic. A skinny BBL can still provide improvement in projection and better rounding of the hips, creating a softer, more balanced silhouette, but it won’t typically produce a very large or exaggerated result. As long as your expectations are realistic and you’re looking for refinement rather than a dramatic transformation, you could potentially be a good candidate. As for gaining weight, it’s usually not recommended to intentionally gain a significant amount just for surgery, because weight gain doesn’t always distribute evenly or predictably. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon would help determine how much usable fat you have and what kind of outcome you could realistically achieve.

A torn bladder during a C-section is certainly an unfortunate complication, but the important thing is that it was recognized and repaired at the time. Four years later, if you’ve healed well and haven’t had ongoing bladder problems, it typically does not prevent you from having a tummy tuck. During an abdominoplasty, the surgeon works above the abdominal muscles and outside the abdominal cavity. The bladder, intestines, and other internal organs are not exposed or operated on. Muscle tightening (if needed) is performed on the surface of the abdominal wall, not inside it. Unless you have a significant hernia requiring deeper repair—in which case a general surgeon might be involved—a prior bladder injury and repair generally does not increase the risk of a standard tummy tuck. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, along with a review of your surgical records, would help confirm you’re a good candidate.

It’s very possible that your tummy tuck lifted and tightened the mons pubis area, and combined with natural fat loss over time in the labia majora, this made your clitoris more exposed. This isn’t uncommon after abdominoplasty, especially several years later. The most common way to address it is labia majora augmentation, usually with fat transfer (using your own fat to restore volume) or sometimes with fillers. Adding volume can help the labia come together more and provide the coverage you’re missing. A board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in vulvar or post–tummy tuck revisions would be the right specialist to consult.

This is a great question, and you’re right — liposuction of the upper abdominal flap during a tummy tuck is a controversial topic in plastic surgery. Some surgeons do it, especially with newer technologies, but many of us are more conservative and choose not to. The reason is that during an abdominoplasty the skin flap is already lifted and its blood supply is partially reduced, and adding liposuction can further compromise circulation. This increases the risk of serious wound-healing problems such as skin necrosis, which, while uncommon, can be disfiguring and very difficult to fix. So while it can be done, it does carry a higher complication risk, and many surgeons feel the potential downside isn’t worth the extra contour improvement. In that sense, your surgeon’s approach is common and reflects a safety-first philosophy rather than being outdated.