An abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is a surgical procedure that aims to reduce excess loose skin, primarily from the lower part of the abdomen or stomach, as well as tightening the remaining skin. A breast lift (or mastopexy) is when excess skin is removed and breast tissue is reshaped to raise the breasts.
These photos are of a 37-year-old woman before and 8 months after her combined abdominoplasty and breast lift surgery. She lost over 35kg of weight through lifestyle changes following weight loss surgery (a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy). Loose skin is common following significant weight loss and in this case was particularly problematic with exercise and limiting clothing options. Her surgery included removal of 1200mL of fat via liposuction - this is generally to the upper part of the abdomen, under the skin that will remain after surgery. The skin and underlying fat below the level of the umbilicus or belly button is completely removed, which for this woman weighed 1.5kg.
Breast surgery can be performed at the same time as an abdominoplasty with the advantage of one anaesthetic and one recovery period. This patient’s main concerns were the position of her breasts. She noticed they had dropped with her weight loss and were uncomfortable with exercise due to movement and skin irritation, both related to excess her skin.
A breast lift was performed to address the patient’s concerns. The breast skin was tightened by removing excess skin and placing the breast (with the nipple and areola) in a higher position. Breast lift surgery results in a scar commonly referred to as an anchor scar. The scar is located around the outside of the areola, which has been reduced in diameter, as well as extending from the 6’oclock position of the areola down the front of the breast joining a scar in the infra-mammary fold. It is important to note that while there is a scar around the areola, the areola remains attached to the breast with the skin being adjusted around it.
Patients considering any form of surgery will need to come in for a consultation with Dr Avery to discuss your expectations, along with the surgical options for how these can be achieved. During your consultation with the Avery team, we will ensure that the surgery you are considering is the appropriate choice for you.
At Avery, we welcome the opportunity to have an open conversation with you to understand the changes you are looking for with surgery. Our patients’ stories matter a great deal to us.
Wherever you are on your personal journey, we would like to assist you. Your reasons for having surgery and your expectations from surgery are important conversations to have before undergoing surgery. Dr Avery will also assess your health and medical history to ensure any surgical procedure you are considering is a safe and appropriate choice for you.
You can also see more of before and after images, here. Dr Avery has extensive experience performing surgery and as we take our patients’ privacy very seriously, we do not display our full gallery online. All patients with photographs in the gallery have provided written consent.
These photos are of a real patient who has given their consent for their photos to be shown and depict surgeries performed by Dr. Gary Avery (MED0001633092) a registered medical practitioner, with specialist registration in Surgery – Plastic Surgery .
Please note that individual results will vary depending on the individual, their genetics and lifestyle factors, and all surgeries have associated risks. Before proceeding with any surgery, it is advisable to seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified medical practitioner such as a Plastic Surgeon.
Plastic Surgeon is a regulated term that can only be used by surgeons who have completed specialty training within plastic surgery and are Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS). The specialty training undertaken by Plastic Surgeons includes the surgical skills required for excellence in aesthetic surgery.