Post-Pregnancy Plastic Surgery Sydney

WHAT IS POST-PREGNANCY PLASTIC SURGERY?

Post-pregnancy plastic surgery refers to any number of procedures typically performed on a woman after childbirth. Usually, they involve some type of breast surgery and a Tummy Tuck. The breast surgery may be a Breast Lift (with or without implants), Breast Reduction or Breast Augmentation (with implants). The type of Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) may also vary, depending on the patient’s requirements. It can address such issues as abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti), loose skin, stretch marks around the abdomen and noticeable cesarean scars.

Although post-pregnancy plastic surgery generally refers to women who have had a child, you don’t need to be a mother to have this surgery. Other individuals (particularly those who have lost a large amount of weight) may also require breast and tummy surgery and find it suitable to have both procedures performed simultaneously under one anaesthetic for convenience and efficiency.

WHO IS THE IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR POST-PREGNANCY SURGERY?

The ideal candidate for post-pregnancy surgery has returned to a sustainable body weight. In most instances, they should have finished having a family and stopped nursing their last child at least three to six months ago. The ideal candidate should also be in sound physical and mental health, and aware of all risks and complications.

YOUR POST-PREGNANCY INITIAL CONSULTATION IN SYDNEY

If you’re interested in having post-pregnancy surgery, the first step is an Initial Consultation with Dr Dona at his Sydney clinic. During your appointment, you can discuss all your concerns and objectives and ask any questions. Dr Dona will then thoroughly examine your body and discuss the suitable surgical options for you.

It’s important to stress that there is no set list of ‘post-pregnancy surgeries’; each individual will have procedures recommended that will be uniquely tailored to their needs.

PROCEDURES INCLUDED IN POST-PREGNANCY SURGERY

Typically, post-pregnancy procedures are aimed at addressing concerns regarding the bust and tummy area. However, other areas may also be included. Here is a list of the most common post-pregnancy procedures:

Upper body procedures

• Breast Augmentation (Breast Implants)
• Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
• Breast Reduction
• Nipple/Areola surgery
• Liposuction – to the abdomen, waist, back, arms

Lower body procedures

• Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
• Genital surgery
• Liposuction

HOW SOON AFTER PREGNANCY CAN I HAVE POST-PREGNANCY SURGERY?

You must wait for the appropriate time for post-pregnancy surgery. In particular, you should have finished creating a family and nursing your last child at least three to six months ago.

PREPARING FOR POST-PREGNANCY PLASTIC SURGERY

There are a few things you’ll need to do to prepare for your post-pregnancy tummy and breast surgery:

• You must disclose your complete medical history to Dr Dona, including all health problems and current medications.
• Avoid taking all blood-thinning medications (e.g., aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and large amounts of vitamins).
• Avoid smoking for at least two weeks before surgery. (Smoking increases anaesthetic and surgical risks and can lead to serious complications.)

POST-PREGNANCY PLASTIC SURGERY RECOVERY

As every surgery is tailored to the individual, every surgical recovery will also differ. To learn more about the recovery process of your surgeries, please view the relevant procedure pages on this website.

Regardless of your procedure, some recovery activities will remain the same. For example, you’ll be given a post-operative clinic appointment schedule before your surgery. This will outline your weekly post-operative care visits with our nurses in-clinic and will continue for several weeks. During these visits, Dr Dona and our team of nurses will carefully monitor your progress, start post-operative wound care and ensure you reach all the correct recovery milestones.

Additionally, you’ll be given light-based (LED) therapy to help encourage your wound healing and promote optimal scar formation. With some surgeries, you may also be given PRP therapy. This therapy involves extracting platelets from your blood and injecting them into the scars to enhance healing.

Swelling is expected in the surgical areas for the first few weeks. The amount of swelling and the time it takes to see noticeable results will depend on the number and type of surgeries you’ve had.

At six weeks post-surgery, the bulk of your pain and swelling will have passed, and you should be able to return to your normal daily activities.

After six months, you should be able to enjoy the results of your Breast Surgery and Tummy Tuck procedure. Your breasts should have settled into position, and swelling and tightness in your tummy area should have subsided. Additionally, your surgical scars should have faded. However, please note that scars take a good two years to mature completely.

HOW SOON CAN I SEE THE RESULTS OF MY SURGERY?

As with any surgery, you must be patient while waiting for your results. Typically, you’ll need to wait at least six months after your surgery to truly appreciate the results.

WHY IS MY TUMMY STILL SWOLLEN AFTER A TUMMY TUCK?

After any surgery, you’ll have considerable swelling; this is normal and part of the healing process. But with tummy surgery, the swelling can be quite profound. To help keep this under control, you’ll be given a compression garment to wear for a good six weeks. A compression garment stimulates circulation and helps the body reabsorb fluids released into the area faster. Even still, you may have to wait several months before all swelling subsides.

On a separate note, a Tummy Tuck only removes the subcutaneous fat and skin tissues above the abdominal wall. There is also another type of fat called visceral fat. This is belly fat found deep within your abdominal cavity and surrounds your internal organs. Visceral fat cannot be surgically removed and can only be reduced through diet and exercise.

POTENTIAL RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS

No surgery should be considered ‘minor’, as complications can arise when anyone has a general anaesthetic. However, the possible complications will depend on the procedures you are having. For more information, please visit each relevant procedure page on our website.

Some general potential surgical complications are similar for any procedure, such as the following:

Anaesthetic issues – these can affect the lungs and heart or cause strokes

Allergic reactions – these can be very mild to life-threatening

Clots:

Superficial vein clots – a complication of the cannula or drip placed in your vein

Deep vein clots – these can potentially spread to the lungs and be life-threatening. To minimise the risk of deep vein clots, we perform several activities during and after surgery while you’re in hospital.

Wound issues – such as breakdown and infection.

Bleeding – early or late

Death – while the chances of this are exceedingly rare, any of the previous issues can result in this devastating complication.

The above potential problems are standard for any operation. However, some patients and operations have an increased risk of developing such issues.

HOW MUCH DOES POST-PREGNANCY SURGERY COST?

As every post-pregnancy surgery is tailored to the individual, it is not possible to give price estimates over the Internet. The only way to determine the cost of your procedure is to book an Initial Consultation with Dr Dona. After a thorough assessment, he can provide you with a list of surgical options appropriate for you, along with the exact pricing.

WILL MEDICARE PAY FOR MY POST-PREGNANCY SURGERIES?

Most post-pregnancy surgeries (including many Tummy Tucks and all Breast Augmentations) are elective procedures and will not warrant a Medicare rebate. However, if, after your pregnancy, you’re experiencing significant amounts of excess skin or significant abdominal muscle separation that is causing considerable health problems, some surgical procedures may be partially covered by Medicare and your health insurance. The amount covered will be only a small portion of the total cost. To determine whether Medicare and your health insurance could cover you, you must have an Initial Consultation with Dr Dona, who can determine your eligibility.