Post-Pregnancy Surgery Sydney

Post-Pregnancy Tummy and Breast Surgery Initial Consultation

On your first visit to our Sydney Plastic Surgeon, you will be able to discuss your concerns with Dr Eddy Dona.

Although the term Post-Pregnancy Surgery refers to addressing issues that arise from pregnancy, there is no set list of procedures. What goes into the surgical combination is very personal—no two women are alike, so each procedure is tailored to meet the woman’s individual needs. During your consultation, Dr Dona will assess and discuss your particular concerns and options available to you.

Further, although Post-Pregnancy Surgery generally refer to women who have given birth, you don’t need to be a mum to have this surgery. It is a popular term for having breast and tummy surgery at the same time, as these two surgeries pair well together. Women who have lost a significant amount of weight can also benefit from “Post-Pregnancy Surgery”, regardless of whether they are a mother. As such, it is often better to refer to this combination of procedures as a Total Body Reconstruction (regardless of the cause of the concerns).

What Does Post-Pregnancy Tummy and Breast Surgery Include?

Abdominoplasty (more commonly known as Tummy Tuck)

The Tummy Tuck procedure is the commonest procedure included in Post-Pregnancy Surgery.

Pregnancy, weight fluctuations and the aging process can result in damaged muscles, damaged and scarred skin, excess skin and stubborn fat accumulation.

Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure that’s designed to reconstruct the midsection. The procedure removes excess scarred skin, lifts the pubic region, and repairs weakened and separated abdominal muscles, and lifts up the pubic/mons region. The muscle repair component of a Tummy Tuck can sometimes improve two of the most common physical complaints experienced by women after labour and delivery— back pain and incontinence.
There are many variations of the Tummy Tuck including a Mini, a Standard, a Fleur De Lis, and an Open Book Tummy Tuck. These different variations are designed to address differing degrees on concerns and reconstructive requirements. During your initial consultation, Dr Dona will be able to advise you on which type of Tummy Tuck you would be best suited for.

Whilst a Tummy Tuck is often considered a cosmetic surgical procedure, for the vast majority of patients it is first and foremost a reconstructive procedure.

Patients seek Tummy Tuck surgery to:

• Repair structural abdominal defects such as Diastasis recti (separated abdominal muscles), hernias and other abnormalities caused by trauma, obesity, pregnancy and extensive weight loss.
• Alleviate itching, infections and irritations caused by excess skin.
• Improve mobility by removing excess problematic skin and repairing muscles.
• All of the above will improve lifestyle and well-being. The ability to wear different clothing that the individual will feel more comfortable in is an additional bonus.

Ultimately, the procedure removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and repairs loose and damaged abdominal muscles and lifts up the pubic/mons region. The result is improved functionality and therefore lifestyle.

To learn more, go to our TUMMY TUCK page.

Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation, also referred to as Bilateral Augmentation Mammoplasty (BAM), or Breast Implants, is a cosmetic surgery that involves using silicone implants to enhance the size and shape of your breasts. Breast Augmentation is a common cosmetic surgery in Australia and worldwide. This procedure may also restore breast volume, shape and symmetry after pregnancy or extensive weight loss.

To learn more, go to our BREAST AUGMENTATION page.

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

Mastopexy, also known as Breast Lift surgery, is a surgical procedure that lifts and reshapes the breasts. It can address ptosis (droop) and asymmetry caused by pregnancy, breastfeeding, aging, illness or defect. The procedure will not make your breasts appear larger. Instead, it involves removing excess skin, tissue and fat, to effectively create a lifted breast. However, a Breast Lift is often combined with a Breast Implant.

A Breast Lift is an option if:
• Your breasts have undergone ptosis (droop) with or without a loss in volume
• Your nipples and areolas point downwards
• Your nipples are low (below your breast crease is a crude guide that some may use).
• You have a very heavy underboob with a long distance from your lower breast fold to your nipple.
• Your breasts are asymmetrical, with one sitting lower
• Your areolas have stretched out of proportion to your breasts

Breast lift surgery effectively involves the process of deconstructing and reconstructing the breasts, while removing excess breast skin, to create the new breast form.

To learn more, go to our BREAST LIFT page.

Nipple & Areolas

When it comes to the breasts, the nipple and areola often draw the most attention. Women who are concerned with the appearance of their nipples or areolas can undergo surgery to address issues they may have with the size, length, thickness, shape and/or symmetry. These operations can either be performed in isolation or as part of other breast surgery – such as a breast augmentation, breast lift or breast reduction.

You may consider areola and nipple surgery if:

• Your areolas are disproportionately large
• Your nipples are exceedingly long or ptotic (droopy)
• Your nipples are asymmetrical
• Your nipples are inverted

 

An areola reduction is where an incision is made around the areola to remove pigmented areas. This procedure creates a smaller areola circumference while also addressing concerns with shape and symmetry.

To learn more, go to our NIPPLE AREOLA surgery page.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure that involves the removal of excess stubborn superficial fat. Liposuction is not a magical weight-loss method; instead, it is a method that reshapes certain areas of the body by removing excess fat deposits. Liposuction is commonly used to target areas of stubborn fat that do not respond to diet and exercises.

To learn more, go to our LIPOSUCTION page.

How Soon After Pregnancy Can I Undergo Surgery?

Post-pregnancy surgery should not be done until you have allowed time for your body to fully recover (3-6 months after breastfeeding is ideal). It is essential to get back to your optimal and sustainable body weight.

Preparation for Post-Pregnancy Tummy and Breast Surgery

You will need to disclose your complete medical history to your Sydney Plastic Surgeon, Dr Eddy Dona, including all health problems.

Do not take any blood thinning medications such as aspirin or any medicine containing aspirin, large amounts of vitamins or anti-inflammatory drugs for two weeks prior to any surgery.

Do not smoke for at least two weeks prior to surgery, as smoking increases surgical and anaesthetic risks and can lead to serious complications.

Post-Pregnancy Tummy and Breast Surgery Recovery

Your recovery process will be dictated by the type of procedures that you require. This information can be found on the relevant procedure pages on this website.

Your post-operative plan will be detailed and involve multiple weekly in-clinic post-operative care visits with our nursing team for several weeks. You will receive your post-operative clinic appointment schedule prior to your surgery. This is designed to allow our team of nurses and Dr Dona to monitor your progress, commence post-operative treatments and wound care, and ensure you reach all the correct recovery milestones.

We integrate light-based therapy into your post-operative wound healing process. Light therapy promotes the healing cells used to mature your surgical scars much faster, thus providing optimal scar formation.

Like with any surgery, you will experience swelling in the areas that have been operated on for the first few weeks. The combination of procedures you undergo will determine when you can see the final results. Breast Augmentation is a procedure that takes about one – two hours. The Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) is a much more personalised procedure, tailored to the individual depending on the amount of excess skin needing to be removed and the level of muscle tightening required.

After six weeks, you can slowly start returning to your normal day-to-day activities, as the bulk of the pain and swelling will have settled.

At the six-month mark, you will be able to appreciate the final results of your Post-Pregnancy Tummy and Breast surgery. Your breasts will have fully settled into position, and any swelling or tightness around your abdomen (associated with your Tummy Tuck), will have resolved. Surgical scars will have faded considerably by this time however, scars do take up to 2 years to fully mature.

 

When Can You Expect The Final Results?

As per any surgery, expect to wait at least six months after your surgery before you can truly start to appreciate the results.

However, no surgery stops the ageing process. Therefore, your body will continue to change based on your lifestyle, genetics, and any significant life event such as a subsequent pregnancy or weight changes.

Potential Complications

More information on general potential complications can be found on our site. LEARN MORE 

As with any surgery, there are always possible risks and potential complications associated with post-pregnancy pregnancy.

The possible complications will depend on exactly what procedures you have done. These details can be found on each relevant page on our website.

However, some general potential complication issues are covered below.

When someone has an anaesthetic, no matter what it’s for, things can potentially go wrong. That is why no surgery should be considered “minor”. Of course, whilst the chances of the following potential problems occurring are small, you still need to know about them:

• Anaesthetic issues – which can affect heart, lungs or cause strokes
• Allergic reactions – This can be very mild to life threatening.
• Clots

• Superficial vein clots, which is a complication of the cannula or drip that’s placed in your vein
• Deep vein clots – these can potentially spread to the lung and be life threatening. We do several things during surgery and after surgery whilst you’re in hospital to minimise the risk of you developing these.

• Wound problems – such as infection and breakdown
• Bleeding – early or late
• Death – whilst the chances of this is exceeding rare, any of the previous issues can result in this devastating complication.

All these potential problems are standard for any operation, although some operations and some patients have an increased risk of developing them.

Will Medicare or Private Health Cover Post-Pregnancy Surgery?

Post-Pregnancy Tummy and Breast surgery is an elective surgical procedure consisting of multiple procedures, including Breast Augmentation & Tummy Tuck. In patients experiencing significant amounts of excess skin, some surgery procedures may be partially covered by Medicare and your health insurance. During your initial consultation, Dr Eddy Dona will advise whether this applies to you.

How Much Does Post-Pregnancy Surgery Cost?