Breast reshaping after weight-loss surgery

Weight-loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, comprises a series of procedures that can help individuals with obesity lose weight. With the right lifestyle changes and new healthy habits, weight-loss surgery can be very effective, helping patients lose weight fast.

After patients lose a massive amount of weight, they might have saggy, loose skin in different parts of their body. This happens because the skin becomes less elastic when it stretches as we gain weight. As a consequence, when we lose weight, the skin can hardly shrink and adjust to the new shape.

Breasts can also be impacted by visible changes after weight loss: the skin gets droopy and saggy, with nipples pointing downward. There are different procedures that patients can undergo in order to make their breasts more aesthetically pleasing after massive weight loss.

In this article, we are going to give you an overview of what type of breast surgery you may choose to undergo and what you can expect.

Why have breast surgery after weight loss?

Surgery to reshape the breasts after a weight-loss procedure is typically recommended to individuals who are dissatisfied with how their breasts look after a successful path of massive weight loss.

While weight-loss surgery is a powerful tool to set you on track toward a healthier lifestyle, weight fluctuations can cause saggy skin, which can prevent you from enjoying your results fully. When the folds of excess skin sag, you may also have rashes, discomfort and hygiene issues. This can represent a major psychological and physical burden and it’s the most common reason why patients choose to undergo aesthetic procedures to improve their results.

Who’s a good candidate for breast reshaping after weight loss?

Good candidates should be in good health, non-smokers (or willing to quit), and with no serious illnesses and medical conditions. Moreover, breast surgery is generally recommended if you have a stable weight: your weight should have stabilised after weight-loss surgery and you should have more or less reached your ideal weight.

You should also have realistic expectations of what breast surgery can accomplish. While it can help you reshape and improve your breasts, fat accumulation is possible by regaining weight. In most patients, however, breast reduction is permanent, so there will be no growth of tissue that could make the breasts much larger. Moreover, consider that ageing is a natural process! But if you follow your doctor’s recommendations and take good care of yourself, you will maintain your results as long as you can hope for.

Patients who want to treat more areas of their body, including their tummy or back, may choose to undergo a body lift.

How can you improve the appearance of your breasts after massive weight loss?

There are different aesthetic procedures that can help you achieve a more beautiful, proportionate breast shape after weight-loss surgery, including breast reduction and breast lift surgery.

Both procedures aim to create a more beautiful, proportionate breast shape, greatly improving the contour of your body. Patients who have their breasts reshaped as a consequence of massive weight loss are happy with the results and can finally feel good in their own skin.

Breast reduction and breast lift can be combined and performed in one session. Your surgeon will assess whether this is possible in your case. Below, a short explanation of how each procedure works; the exact procedure may change if they are both performed at the same time.

How does breast reduction work?

Breast reduction, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is a surgical procedure that aims to remove glandular and fatty tissue from the breasts. While many patients undergo breast reduction surgery to alleviate physical symptoms such as back, neck or shoulder pain, it can also have benefits from an aesthetic point of view: the excess skin is removed, breasts are lifted for a firmer look, and nipples are repositioned.

Breast reduction is performed under general anaesthesia and the duration varies from two to six hours, depending on each individual case.

The surgeon will make the incisions around the areolas and down each breast. Then, an inverted T or anchor shaped incision is made. Any excess fat, glandular tissue and skin are removed from your breasts. Then, your nipples and areola are repositioned, while the remaining breast tissue is reshaped.

Finally, incisions are closed and your chest is wrapped with bandages.

How does breast lift work?

Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that aims to raise the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue. There are many incision patterns and techniques for a breast lift. Your surgeon will choose the most appropriate one based on your case.

Overall, the procedure takes approximately 2-3 hours and is performed under general anaesthesia. The surgeon will start the procedure by making the incisions and will then lift and reshape the underlying breast tissue to achieve better contour and firmness. Then, the nipple and the areola will also be repositioned according to the new shape. Lastly, excess breast skin will be trimmed and removed. The surrounding skin will be tightened and incisions will be closed with stitches.

Breast reshaping after weight-loss surgery: Recovery and expectations

After breast surgery, patients usually stay at our clinic for 1 or 2 days. Right after surgery, it’s normal to feel some pain in your breasts. Your doctor will prescribe painkillers to support your recovery. You will have to wear a compression bra for a few weeks after the procedure. You should not carry any weights or do intense workouts for about 8 weeks. Avoid direct sun exposure for about 6 months.

While results will be visible right after the procedure, full recovery may take a few months.

Our specialists at KCM Clinic will give you detailed instructions for your recovery in order to improve results and avoid possible complications.