Considering A Tummy Tuck After Gastric Bypass? Should You Have Breast Augmentation As Well?
If you've recently lost a significant amount of weight following gastric bypass surgery, you may be enjoying shopping for smaller clothing and participating in activities that were previously too difficult due to your size. However, losing major weight can sometimes leave you with sagging excess skin, and you may be considering following up your gastric bypass surgery with a tummy tuck to remove this lower stomach flap and leave you with the flat belly you've always wanted. For those whose breasts have also changed size with weight loss, combining tummy tuck surgery with breast augmentation can provide an even greater benefit. Read on to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages to having breast augmentation after weight loss surgery, as well as the benefits of having this procedure performed the same time as a tummy tuck.
How is breast augmentation after gastric bypass different from the typical procedure?
Many breast augmentation surgeries are done on women who are relatively small-chested and with little excess skin. During this procedure, the plastic surgeon will make a small incision beneath the nipple and insert an empty implant into this incision, then fill the implant with saline until it reaches the desired size. On the other hand, for those who have undergone gastric bypass and are dealing with sagging breasts or lots of excess skin, a breast augmentation may bear a greater resemblance to a breast reduction at first. Your surgeon will carefully remove excess skin and place your nipple at a more appropriate height, being sure to suture carefully to avoid any scarring. Once most of the excess skin has been removed, the implant will be placed and filled until it achieves a natural appearance.
Are there advantages to combining a tummy tuck and breast augmentation?
If you're already considering a tummy tuck procedure, having a breast augmentation performed at the same time can provide several benefits. First, it will help you avoid having to go under general anesthesia a second time if you later decide to have excess breast tissue removed. Although few people run into issues with this type of anesthesia, minimizing the number of times you need to be put to sleep is generally wise.
Breast augmentation can also often be performed more quickly when surgeons are already removing excess skin from other parts of your body. Although recovery from these procedures may be painful for a few days immediately following surgery, having them performed at the same time will prevent you from having to go through the healing process twice.
For more information, contact a specialist in this field, like one at Center For Plastic Surgery.
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