If you have been thinking about refreshing your body after pregnancy, losing a significant amount of weight, or just the natural changes that come with getting older, you may have wondered whether you can correct saggy breasts and imperfections in your midsection all at once.
You may be wondering, “Can you get a tummy tuck and breast augmentation at the same time?” Yes, you can, and many women undergo this surgical combination to reshape their midsection, repair damaged abdominal muscles, and enhance their breast volume.
Tummy Tuck and Breast Augmentation: What Do They Actually Do?
Each surgery provides correction for structural and aesthetic changes that have occurred to the breasts or abdominal area due to pregnancy, weight loss, or aging.
Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a surgery that is done to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen and to tighten the underlying muscles. Many women experience a separation of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy, or these muscles can be stretched out with significant fluctuations in weight, and a tummy tuck is one of the most effective ways to repair this damage. A tummy tuck leaves your midsection looking more toned and your abdomen looking much flatter and corrects issues that diet and exercise alone are unable to do.
Breast Augmentation
A breast augmentation uses special implants to add volume, correct issues with symmetry, or restore fullness that was lost due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, or substantial weight changes. Implants are available filled with saline or silicone and come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are chosen to match your body type and the results you are looking for. Some women also add a breast lift to restore their breasts to a higher, more natural-looking position on their chest if they have experienced significant sagging.
Together, these two procedures are often offered in a package called a “mommy makeover,” but any woman can take advantage of this combination to attain a more proportionate and younger-looking figure.
Why Do Women Combine a Tummy Tuck and Breast Implants?
The biggest reasons patients choose to combine a tummy tuck and breast augmentation are for convenience and completely balanced results. Going through two separate surgeries requires being put under anesthesia twice and two recoveries, and twice as much time away from work and family responsibilities.
Another reason is to create more dramatic and complete results that boost your confidence. Treating only one area can make the untreated area stand out more, which may lead to disappointment in your appearance and frustration while waiting to complete the second procedure.
Benefits of Combining a Tummy Tuck and Breast Augmentation
There are several advantages to having both surgeries at the same time, including:
- One recovery period;
- Lower overall cost;
- Several areas of concern are corrected at the same time;
- Smooth, balanced results;
- More dramatic transformation;
- Boost in confidence.
The team at IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa offers this surgical combination as part of a customized treatment plan based on each person’s specific anatomy and the results they want to accomplish.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Good candidates for a combination tummy tuck and breast augmentation are adults in good health who are close to their ideal weight and have realistic expectations of what the surgery can and cannot accomplish. Such candidates include:
- Women after pregnancy.
- People who end up with saggy breasts, loose skin, and stubborn fat on their abdomen after losing a great deal of weight that cannot be corrected with diet and exercise.
- Patients who want a curvier, more defined figure, including a flat stomach, a sculpted waist, and fuller breasts.
What to Expect During Your Tummy Tuck and Breast Augmentation Surgery
Your tummy tuck and breast implant procedure are normally done in one surgical session while you are comfortably asleep under general anesthesia. The surgery can last anywhere from three to five hours, depending on the circumstances.
Tummy Tuck Portion
The tummy tuck surgery is usually performed first and starts with the surgeon creating a low horizontal incision (normally hip to hip), or it can also include an additional vertical incision from the navel down to the horizontal incision, depending on the extent of correction needed.
Next, the surgeon removes unwanted fat deposits using liposuction if needed, eliminates the excess loose skin, and repairs and tightens the abdominal muscles before carefully closing the incisions.
Breast Implant Portion
The breast augmentation is then performed, with the surgeon creating an incision for the implants to be placed either above or below the chest muscle, depending on the patient’s anatomy and desired outcome. The location and type of incision made are determined by the type and size of the implant being placed. Silicone gel-filled implants usually require a longer incision than saline implants, which are filled after the empty shell is placed in the desired location.
After the implant placement, the incisions are closed and often stabilized with surgical tape.
Special compression garments are fitted to the patient that cover all the surgical areas and are designed to mitigate swelling and bruising and provide stability for the incisions while the body heals.
How Long Is Recovery For a Tummy Tuck and Breast Augmentation?
Recovery for this combination surgery usually takes between six and eight weeks, compared to each surgery taking approximately the same length of time for recovery when done individually.
The surgeon will send you home with aftercare instructions and pain medication to help you manage the discomfort for the first week, and most patients are able to use over-the-counter pain medications to manage any residual pain after that.
You need to wear compression garments for the duration of your recovery or until the surgeon guides you to stop.
You will most likely need help at home for several days, especially if you have small children or pets. It helps your recovery go smoother if you take steps to be prepared ahead of time, like setting up a cozy recovery area, having your prescriptions filled, your laundry and housework caught up, and some meals prepared before your surgery.
Most patients are able to do light activities after about two weeks and can often go back to desk jobs depending on their circumstances. Strenuous activities and heavy lifting must be avoided for six to eight weeks and until the surgeon clears you.
Is Combining a Tummy Tuck and Breast Augmentation Safe?
Yes, this surgical combination is considered safe when performed by a skilled, board-certified surgeon who has extensive experience in these procedures, like Dr. Angelina Postoev and Dr. Nilton Medina with IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa.
Safety is a top priority when combining surgeries, so it is very important to be selective when choosing the doctor you wish to work with. Choosing a skilled surgeon who has the expertise and credentials and regularly performs these combined operations is critical to get the results you want without complications.
How Much Do Tummy Tuck and Breast Augmentation Cost?
The tummy tuck and breast augmentation costs can vary depending on the surgeon you choose, your geographic location, the complexity of your surgery, and whether additional procedures are included.
In the United States, the average price of these combined surgeries ranges anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 and will depend on the specific details of your surgical plan. Your financial obligation will be explained in detail at your personal consultation, so you will fully understand the cost of your tummy tuck and breast augmentation. Sometimes, we run specials, which can lower the usual cost of this combination surgery.
Financing options are available at IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa, making this combination surgery more accessible for patients who want to spread the costs out into affordable monthly payments over a period of time.
Where Can I Get a Tummy Tuck and Breast Augmentation In Atlanta?
The highly trained, board-certified team of surgeons at IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa offers the combination surgery of a tummy tuck and breast augmentation in their state-of-the art surgical suite in Atlanta, GA.
Dr. Angelina Postoev, MD, FACS, is a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon and founder of the practice. She has decades of experience in body contouring procedures such as tummy tucks and breast augmentation, and performs them with precision and artistry that deliver the results her patients desire.
She is joined by Dr. Nilton Medina, MD, FACS, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in breast augmentation and body sculpting and has more than 5,000 surgeries to his credit. They both have a reputation for delivering the natural-looking results their patients want while making patient safety the priority.
If you are considering a tummy tuck and breast implants, contact IBI Plastic Surgery & Med Spa today to set up your personal consultation and learn how this combination of surgeries can be customized to help you achieve the aesthetic results you are looking for.
