Conflicting Information about Mommy Makeover - do I need a lower body lift? (Photos)

Question

I have been intersted in having a mommy makeover for 6 years now. I am a 48 year old AA female. Soon to be 49 in 1 week. Overall healthy no issues, no medications other than vitiams. I had a gastric sleeve in 2016. My highest weight was 274. My current weight is 183...I have been in a 7 pound window for the last 6 years. I had 3 c-sections 1999,2000 and 2009. Partial hysterectomy in 2011. I have all the usual issues having kids and weight loss. Ideally I would like to have a mommy makeover and tackle everything at once. And recover from 1 surgery instead of multiple ones. I want lipo, tummy tuck and breast lift..with a fat transfer because I lost a considerate amount of destiny in them. Over the years I have been told that 1) cant have all those procedures done at the same time 2) I need to have breast reduction 3) they suggest a lower body lift. The body lift seems like more of major procedure than what I want and I can't get my breast done at the same time. I really want to be 1 and done...I dont wanna rack up debt for multiple surgeries. I am content with my current butt size and shape...I know the body lift will give it a little toot, but thats not my main priority. I would really like to know if it's possible to really have the procedures I want....or do I need multiple surgeries to achive what I want. I appericate you reading to the end and I welcome all feedback. Also I forgot to add that i also am very content with my current breast size 38F. So no reduction.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

I would begin with your breasts. Since you are size 38 F you do not need implants or fat transfers but need a breast lift using the Bellesoma. This will reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. Vertical scars are avoided and nipple sensation (in 95%) is maintained. This technique also lifts the upper abdominal skin and makes doing a tummy tuck easier. The areolas can be reduced to the size you desire. At the same time, a tummy tuck can be done. Safe operation time is 6 hours. The breast lift will take 4 hours and the tummy tuck will take 2 hours. You will not be able to have a body lift or other procedures done at the same time.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski,  M.D.

Luis A. Mejia, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for the question and photos... a Mommy make  over can be done without a problem if your current health is good, and Hemoglobine levels too. A Breast lift can be done without a reduction, but the will be a little smaller than now because the skin need to be resected to lift. A complete Tummy Tuck in needed with muscle repair to improve your abdominal area, and Liposuction with VASER technique to im prove skin retraction along with a ULTRASOUNG GUIDED  fat transfer to have a safe surgery.

Yasemin Aydinli, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your history so thoroughly, and congratulations on maintaining a stable weight for six years &mdash; that stability makes you a good candidate for body contouring. To answer your central question: combined procedures can absolutely be performed, but only in patients whose general health and pre-operative blood work are suitable, and your safety has to come before the convenience of doing everything at once. In patients over 40, operations lasting more than about four hours carry an increased risk of blood clots, so longer combined cases need to be planned carefully rather than maximized.
There is a second consideration that is specific to you. Because you have had a gastric sleeve, you may have vitamin or nutritional deficiencies that can slow your body's healing response. Stacking several major procedures into one very long operation places a heavy demand on your body's ability to recover, and a post-bariatric patient can struggle with that load. For this reason, I would not recommend trying to do absolutely everything in a single surgery, even though I completely understand the appeal of being "one and done."
The safest plan for you would be to combine your breast surgery and your abdomen (tummy tuck, with liposuction as appropriate) in one session, which is a reasonable and common maximum combination. Then, in a separate session, anything additional &mdash; fat transfer to restore the volume you've lost, and a lift to the back if needed &mdash; can be done once you have healed from the first stage. Regarding your breasts, please know that even if a reduction is recommended, an implant can be placed at the same time to restore the upper fullness you feel you've lost, so you do not have to choose between the two.
The conflicting advice you've received largely reflects different surgeons' judgment about how much to safely combine, which is normal. The best next step is an in-person consultation where your blood work, nutritional status, and tissue can be assessed so we can build a staged plan that gets you the result you want as safely as possible.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Based on your nicely post photos, it is always best to consider doing stage surgical procedures for your safety and better results. Best of virtual council  for better explanation. But as I review your post photos, I would recommend to start with an extended tummy tuck breast lift with slight reduction  liposuction as stage one after a healing period of a minimum of three months then determine if a secondary stage is needed and what exactly thatwould be again best of virtual consult with expect fees to range from $10,000-$25,000 per stage.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your impressive weight loss!  From the photos and description of your goals you can consider a breast lift with an extended tummy tuck.  Liposuction can be added for further contouring.  I recommend implants if you are wanting larger breasts versus fat grafting.  The rationale is that transferred fat can form microcalcifications that can interfere with future imaging studies.  If you're happy with the size of your breasts but are wanting to enhance shape in addition to the lift you may be a candidate for an autoaugmentation.  This approach uses your own tissue to create upper pole fullness in the breast.  It is not fat transfer.  I've included a video that I hope you find helpful.

Conflicting Information about Mommy Makeover - do I need a lower body lift? (Photos)

Answers (5)

More Mommy Makeover Questions

Can I have a mommy makeover with a high WBC count?

Mommy Makeover - how soon can I have the procedure after pelvic congestion syndrome surgery?

38, 2 c-sections, 130 lb. weight loss - 360 or extended tummy tuck? Implants or fat transfer? Arm lift or skin tight? (Photos)

Mommy makeover - do I need a tummy tuck? What other procedures? (Photos)

What would be best for my body? Tummy tuck, back lift and 360 lipo? (Photos)

Breast lift and panniculectomy - smaller breasts, excess skin and mons lift. Would this also lift my thighs? (Photos)

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS