Tummy tuck and breast augmentation

Breast augmentation and tummy tuck sequence

Abdominoplasty plus breast augmentation is a very common combination in plastic surgery. These can be done together or separately.

One fairly unique strategy that I use frequently (pretty much every week) is to separate the procedures by only one to a few days.

The obvious disadvantage is inconvenience. In my opinion, there are a lot of advantages as well. In my practice, both procedures can be done without a general anesthesia separately but not when combined (local anesthetic dosage limitations)

Tummy tuck and breast augmentation before

Without general anesthesia there is a lower risk of DVT/ PE and other risks specific to general anesthesia Less nausea Less pain (more local anesthesia can be used in each area when separated)

The “peak” of pain is much less severe. Although there are two peaks instead of one. Peak pain medication dosage necessary can be much less. In my significant experience with sequenced abdominoplasty / breast augmentation patients I have not once had to cancel or delay the second procedure because the patient wasn’t physically ready for another procedure or had a complication that would require delay.

I am pretty sure that none of my patients looking back would have rather had combined the procedures. I would agree with other comments that choosing a board certified plastic surgeon, operating in a certified facility and using board certified anesthesiologists are all very important.

Tummy tuck and breast augmentation after

I have a certified in-office operating room and use board certified anesthesiologists. This strategy works most effectively in an office based operating room setting, otherwise facility fees become a financial barrier. (York Jay Yates, MD, Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon)

Why not have both the tummy tuck and breast augmentation at the same time. If you are the right candidate, it may be possible to put the implants through your tummy tuck incision without needing an incision on your breasts. (Steven Wallach, MD, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck and breast augmentation timing

Tummy tuck and breast augmentation photo

It is ideal to have both operations at the same time because of the following factors:

One operation, one anethesia session
One recovery period
Financially beneficial to the patient
Most importantly, you may be a candidate to have your implants placed through the abdominoplasty incision avoiding any scars on your breasts. Having said all that, if you elect to have two separate procedures, wait three months in between. (Kevin Tehrani, MD, FACS, New York Plastic Surgeon)

How soon after a tummy tuck to have a breast augmentation?

Abdominoplasty and breast augmentation

Although some surgeons encourage patients to have their breast augmentation at the time of a tummy tuck, others think it is safer to perform these separately a few weeks apart. Both of these procedures result in a fair amount of discomfort, at least initially, so undergoing both surgeries at the same time or in short order can make mobility more difficult. If a muscle/fascia repair is done at the time of a tummy tuck, using your abdominal muscles to sit up is painful and generally discouraged in order to protect your repair.

If breast implants are placed under the muscle in a subpectoral pocket, using your arms to push yourself up from a lying position is painful and generally discouraged in order to avoid hurting or tearing the muscle. Therefore, getting up and moblized after surgery is difficult, and of course mobilization is important to reduce the risk of blood clots, which is a risk with any surgery and perhaps a little more so with tummy tuck. If you do the procedures separately, then waiting a few weeks in between would probably be best. (Robert M. Grenley, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

It is best to have these two procedures done at the same time medically and financially, but if you have to split them, I would recommend waiting 6 weeks after the tummy tuck to make sure there are no complications and to give you enough time to recover. (Antoine A. Hallak, MD, FACS, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)

Usually if a patient wants both procedures we do them at the same time. The length of recovery is the same for both as it is for one of the operations. But if you prefer two separate procedures, it should not be a problem after 3-6 weeks to do the second operation assuming your health permits that. (Ronald V. DeMars, MD, Portland Plastic Surgeon)