Mommy makeover: will the results heal and look better if the breast lift/implant exchange is done separately from the tummytuck?

Question

I like two separate doctors, one for breasts and one for a tummy tuck. What is the best order of operations? And how long between surgery?

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @Alwaysresearching, thank you for your question. For my patients I always tell them to work on body first because a tummy tuck and lipo 360 implies a weight loss even thought this procedures are for giving a better shape to the body they are going to affect the final appearance on the breast. Liposculture is a surgery for molding the body making it more harmonious, you do loose weight. So, you also lose weight in your breast because part of the mamary tissue is fat. What I see when the breast surgery is performed with full body Lipo and tummy tuck is the first few days you are perfect, with the results you want, but as the months go by, the breasts begin to fall and you begin to see that they become flaccid and smaller and you are unhappy with the results in the long term. It is important that you have a consultation with a board certified specialist to determine a surgical plan according to your needs. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS.

Brian K. Reedy, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question!
Are the surgeons in the same practice? If yes, they could possibly operate together. Having these two procedure at the same time will be easier for you. One recovery. Reach out to your surgeon to discuss options. Best wishes!

Emmanuel De La Cruz, MD · Answer

The decision to combine or stage procedures in a mommy makeover, such as a breast lift/implant exchange and a tummy tuck, depends on various factors, including your overall health, the extent of the surgeries, and your surgeon's recommendation. Both options have their advantages and considerations:

Combined Procedures:

Advantages: Combining surgeries can be convenient as it reduces the overall recovery time, minimizes the need for multiple anesthesia sessions, and may offer cost savings.
Considerations: More extensive surgeries might increase the initial postoperative discomfort, and the recovery period may be slightly longer compared to staging procedures.
Staged Procedures:

Advantages: Staging procedures allows for a more focused recovery, addressing one area at a time. This approach may be suitable if you prefer a more gradual recovery or have concerns about the potential challenges of healing from multiple surgeries simultaneously.
Considerations: Staging procedures will require separate recovery periods, potentially delaying the final results compared to a combined approach.
The decision to combine or stage procedures should be made in consultation with your plastic surgeon. They will evaluate your individual case, discuss your aesthetic goals, consider the extent of surgery, and provide recommendations based on their expertise.

Keep in mind that the healing process and the final results depend on various factors, including your body's response to surgery, adherence to postoperative care instructions, and your overall health. Open communication with your surgeon is crucial to ensuring that your goals and expectations align with the recommended surgical plan.

Ryan Rebowe, MD · Answer

Staging surgeries is never a bad option. In general, it will take about 3-6 months for the results to settle out. I would wait wat least 3 months between surgeries, as any revision work that may needed will be evident at the time of the staged procedure. Generally speaking, revision surgery on breasts is more common than revisionary surgery on the abdomen, so I would suggest performing the breast surgery first if there is an option to do that.

Irena Karanetz, MD · Answer

Hello, 
And thank you for the question.
It is typically recommended to wait 2 to 3 months between elective surgeries under general anesthesia. However, this recommendation may be different depending on the health status and age of the patient.
Some Plastic Surgeons may choose to perform both breast and abdominal procedures at the same time to minimize recovery time for the patient.
I suggest that you seek an in person consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to further discuss your options, concerns and expectations. 
I hope this helps.Good luck!
Dr. Irena KaranetzBreast Fellowship-TrainedBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

The best order is to do the breast lift first and then the tummy tuck.  If the tummy tuck is done first the breasts are pulled down making it more difficult to lift the breasts as high as possible.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

George Bitar, MD · Answer

Whether you do the breasts or tummy tuck first should not affect your aesthetic outcome.  I would recommend waiting at least 6 months between surgeries.  It takes about 1 year to fully appreciate the results from the first surgery, but at 6 months, your plastic surgeon would have a general idea of the outcome of the tummy tuck and plan the breast surgery accordingly, or vice versa.  Any necessary revisions on the first surgery can be planned with the second surgery.  I do the mommy makeover in one sitting most of the time, addressing both the breasts and the abdomen.  The advantage is that you only have one anesthesia and one recovery.  Think about it!

Vishnu Rumalla, MD · Answer

Thanks for your inquiry and honestly I do not think there is one right answer in terms of order of surgeries, you should wait at least three months apart to recover from anesthesia and healing time, best of luck.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Providing that you are in a good health, both procedures could be done together. In our practice, breast lift with implant exchange, abdominoplasty with limited liposuction (up to 1 litter) is done in general anesthesia and it takes 2.5 to 3 hours; patient goes home after surgery. If you decide to do these procedures separately, I would suggest breast surgery first followed with TT which requires longer recovery. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Alwaysresearching,
I understand your concern. It is best however that you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine whether you can have several aesthetic surgeries in one session, as this would depend on various factors including but not limited to your general health condition, the type of anesthesia that will be used, and the type of surgeries that will be performed among others.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Mommy makeover: will the results heal and look better if the breast lift/implant exchange is done separately from the tummytuck?

Answers (19)

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