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 clinical before and after photos are of a 27-year-old woman before her surgery and 3 months after her combined abdominoplasty and breast lift surgery.
This Avery patient had lost over 30kg of weight through lifestyle changes over the previous two years, which left her with loose and mobile skin on her abdomen and a loss of volume in her breasts, which then sat lower against her upper chest skin as a result. The surgery included removal of 400ml of fat via liposuction - this is generally to the upper part of the abdomen and under the skin that will remain after surgery. The skin and underlying fat below the level of the umbilicus or belly button was completely removed, which for this woman weighed 1.4kg. Muscle separation of 3cm was also corrected during this surgery.
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 they were uncomfortable with exercise due to movement and skin irritation. The breast skin was tightened by removing excess skin and placing the breast (with the nipple and areola) in a higher position in this case, 9cm higher.
Three months post-surgery is early in the life of scar maturation. Further scar maturation and swelling reduction will continue to progress for at least 12-18 months following surgery and our team at Avery provide an extensive regime to follow to assist with the most optimal outcome for scars.
In July 2022, Medicare released a new item number (30175) for abdominoplasty for post partum mothers to surgically correct the separation of the abdominal muscles following pregnancy. This in turn means that health insurers will contribute to the cost of the surgery should the level of cover be sufficient. This was the result of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the community petitioning the Department of Health to reinstate this vital procedure to the Medicare Benefits Scheme.
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.