Post Pregnancy Abdomen and Breast Surgery in Sydney

What Surgical Procedures are sometimes required after Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?

Motherhood is an enthralling and captivating stage in a woman’s life. However, fluctuating hormones, breast feeding, and pregnancy itself have profound effects on a woman’s body, and not all of these are positive or “natural”. Having multiple pregnancies often compounds these changes.

Dr. Kumar is very sensitive to your needs and concerns that may result from these changes. The operations that are offered are quite comprehensive, usually involving both the breasts and the abdomen, and are tailored to reconstruct those aspects that have become symptomatic following your pregnancy.

The main goal of surgery after pregnancy and breastfeeding in Sydney is to help alleviate symptoms that may develop after pregnancy and childbirth that affect your abdomen or breasts and potentially other areas (e.g. lower back pain and incontinence). It is typically performed as a single-stage procedure and aims to help women with conditions such as rectus diastasis (separation of the abdominal muscles) and restore volume and shape to breasts that may need this.

The procedure may incorporate a full breast reconstruction – e.g.  breast augmentation, mastopexy (lift), reduction, or reshaping – as well as an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Liposuction is also used to remove any stubborn deposits of fat and abdominal wall muscles are tightened, to improved core stability, and help improve lower back pain or incontinence. Occasionally, procedures such as a Labiaplasty may be incorporated if pregnancy-related changes have affected this area as well.

The overall surgical approach and techniques involved in post-pregnancy surgery in Sydney will vary depending on your individual requirements.

Guide to Abdomen and Breast Surgery Post Pregnancy

This complete guide to this procedure covers everything you need to know about this procedure including:

• What is a Surgery after Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?
• What procedures are available?
• Am I a good candidate?
• How to plan for your surgery
• Benefits of the different types of surgery
• Rest and Recovery
• Will Medicare cover my surgery?
• Answers to some of our most frequently asked questions

Am I a Candidate for Surgery after Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in Sydney?

If you are considering surgery, we advise that you aim for the following general guidelines prior to your consultation, as these have a large bearing on your final results:

• Your weight has to be stable for a duration of at least 3 months prior to surgery
• You are no longer breast-feeding, and this has been stopped for at least 3 months prior to surgery
• You must not smoke or use any nicotine products for at least 12 weeks prior to and 12 weeks after surgery

With regards to the types of surgery, if you feel you meet one or more of the following, then you may be a good candidate for Surgery after pregnancy and breastfeeding in Sydney:

MASTOPEXY (BREAST LIFT) – WITH OR WITHOUT IMPLANTS)

• Your breasts have lost their shape and volume, particularly in the upper half of the breast (upper poles)
• Your nipples fall below the breast crease or point downward (Breast Ptosis)
• Your breasts have developed a flatter, elongated shape
• Your breast tissue has stretched, and/or your areolae have stretched
• One of your breasts sits lower on your chest than the other (sometimes made worse after breast feeding)—Breast  Asymmetry.

ABDOMINOPLASTY (TUMMY TUCK)

• You have excess, loose skin, or persistent bulges around your abdomen that persist despite diet and exercise
• You would like to balance out your physique and overall body shape.
• You wish to gain greater control of your abdominal muscle wall (core strength) that has weakened or separated (Rectus Diastasis) as a result of pregnancy
• You have lower back pain or incontinence after childbirth

LIPOSUCTION

• You are at a healthy weight 
• You may be concerned about certain uneven or bulky areas even though you’re fit and healthy
• You find that these areas do not budge even after exercise and a healthy diet
• You want to target fat reduction in a specific area or number of areas, such as your stomach or hips, without impacting your entire body shape or size

LABIAPLASTY

• Your labial lips are long
• You are experiencing labial discomfort, pain, or irritation – particularly during certain activities or while wearing certain clothes
• You experience discomfort or embarrassment during intimacy
• You are experiencing dryness in this area

What are the Benefits of Surgery after Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in Sydney?

• The ability to address and incorporate two or more surgical areas into a single surgical session.
• One time under anaesthesia and one recovery period to schedule 
• Combined procedures may result in a cost benefit as there may be savings on hospital and anaesthetic fees.

Physical benefit of Breast Rejuvenation Surgery:

• firmer, lifted breasts
• An improvement in the appearance of ptotic (drooping) breasts by removing excess skin and lifting the inner breast tissue
• An improvement or correction of nipple appearance by reshaping and repositioning drooping or enlarged nipples
• alleviation of symptoms such as sweat rashes and crease infections.

Physical benefits of Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery:

• Smoother skin around your abdominal region
• Firmer, Flatter abdomen
• Contoured abdominal area helping define underlying muscles
• Greater Abdominal Muscle Control (Improved Core Strength)
• There may be improvement in lower back pain
• There may be improvements in incontinence
• More options for choosing clothing and finding clothing that is more in proportion to the rest of your body

Surgery After Pregnancy And Childbirth Cost

After your initial consultation with Dr. Kumar, you will be given a detailed itemised quote specific to the procedures that have been tailored for you. This will include Dr. Kumar’s fee, Anaesthetist fee, Surgical Assistant fee and the hospital fees.

We will also provide information on our payment plan and other ways to pay for your surgery.

Can private health insurance be used?

Weight loss patients

There is a Medicare item (#30177) for patients who have experienced significant weight loss and are suffering from excess skin and tissue that resulted from that weight loss. This weight loss cannot include the weight gained during pregnancy.

For the Medicare item number to apply, you must demonstrate the following:

• That you have had significant weight loss defined as 5 BMI points or more (unrelated to pregnancy) without weight fluctuations for at least 6 months,
• The level of excess skin is interfering with daily living
• The use of non-surgical treatment for skin irritation caused by excess skin has failed to work,
• If you have a hernia that can be documented on an ultrasound – it can also assist in seeking coverage.

All of the above should be discussed with your referring GP and documented in their referral to us. If you provide a referral, Medicare will provide you with a rebate of just over $75 from our initial consultation fee of $400.

Women with children (who have NOT experienced significant weight loss)

You may be eligible for a Medicare rebate for some of the breast procedures that are available. If you require a breast reduction, for example, then item code 45523 may apply. If you need a mastopexy (breast lift) and this can be clearly documented via measurements and photographs, then you may be eligible for an MBS code of 45558.

After Giving Birth

The Australian Federal Government has announced in its 2022 Budget that it will allow women who have had babies to have access to Medicare assistance again. This is provided that they can demonstrate some form of ongoing muscle separation (diastasis) causing pain and discomfort. Over $6 million has been allocated to make this possible.

CRITERIA

• Patient has an abdominal wall defect that is a consequence of pregnancy and must:

a) be at least 12 months post-partum;
b) have a diastasis of at least 3cm (measured by diagnostic imaging); and
c) have documented symptoms of at least moderate severity of pain or discomfort at the site of the diastasis in the abdominal wall during functional use and/or low back pain or urinary symptoms likely due to rectus diastasis; and
d) have failed to respond to non-surgical conservative treatment including physiotherapy

Recovery from Surgery after Pregnancy and Breastfeeding.

Recovery from this surgery is dependent on the extent of the procedures undertaken. In most cases, the limiting factor is the recovery from the abdominoplasty.

The operation will be performed under general anaesthetic and you can expect to stay in the hospital for a minimum of three days. There is usually minimal discomfort from the breast surgery, while there is a mild degree of discomfort in the early post-operative period with the abdominal component. This is usually controlled by intravenous medications prescribed by your anaesthetist. You will be switched to oral analgesia within a few days after the surgery.

As for an abdominoplasty, you will initially be nursed in a flexed position on your bed, and you will slowly straighten up over the next few days prior to your discharge. There will be drains in your abdomen and often in the breast, which are usually removed by the time of discharge.

Luckily, the vaginal area heals very quickly, meaning recovery for a Labiaplasty procedure is relatively minimal. Dissolvable stitches are used in the process of this procedure, which can result in discomfort for a few days as the stitches take around 7–10 days to dissolve.

While recovery time will vary from patient to patient based on the extent of surgery undertaken, you should plan for the following:

• A minimum of 2 weeks off work
• No driving for 1 week
• No heavy lifting for 6 weeks
• If you have young children, you will need support in caring for them for at least the first three weeks after surgery.

You will wear a compression garment for 6 weeks after the procedure. This compression garment provides support for the newly tightened skin, offering the best environment for a cosmetically pleasing result.

Maintaining Your Surgery After Pregnancy and Breastfeeding results

Good results depend on a collaborative approach and a healthy lifestyle. Please keep in mind that your results from your surgery may be impacted by fluctuations in your weight, early excessive activity, skin health, or Body Mass Index (BMI). No two patients are the same, and surgery results will vary from patient to patient. It is important to work together with Dr. Kumar to ensure you get the most out of your surgery and results.