Should You Get a Breast Lift or Tummy Tuck First?

A breast lift (mastopexy) and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) are two of the most common cosmetic procedures women turn to to achieve their ideal figure. 

For some women, mastopexy can be used as a substitute for breast augmentation and performed as part of a London mummy makeover, providing a comprehensive upper body transformation. 

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at breast lift and tummy tuck surgery, including which should be performed first for optimal results.

Our board-certified surgeon, Dr Omar Tillo, specialises in many body contouring surgeries – including breast lifts and tummy tucks. With extensive experience in the field, he can design a bespoke treatment plan for you. 

Benefits of Getting Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck Separately

• Less intense recovery period – While one recovery period is advantageous in terms of not having to go through two separate bouts of healing, a combined recovery can be more painful and intense as you’ll be recovering from multiple procedures at the same time.

• More room for flexibility – You may have a better idea of what you want one area of your body to look like after having the first part of your body re-contoured. 

• Ability to spread out the costs – Combining both procedures can make the one-off cost difficult to cover for some patients. Therefore, it may be more financially manageable to cover the cost of just one surgery before saving up and having the second procedure at another time in the future. Two separate procedures does, however, end up working out more expensive. 

Does It Matter if You Get a Breast Lift or Tummy Tuck First?

Either procedure can safely be performed before the other. However you’ll need to wait a few months between surgeries for your body to recover fully. Most patients tend to opt for the body area that’s bothering them most when choosing between the two.

Can You Have a Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck Together?

As mentioned, breast lift and tummy tuck procedures are often performed together in a series of surgeries known as a “mummy makeover”. 

These surgeries are ideal for women following pregnancy and childbirth who want to restore their pre-pregnancy figure or for women after significant weight loss. 

Some patients can also choose to vary the combination of surgeries involved in a mummy makeover according to their needs. For example, some patients opt for breast augmentation instead of a breast lift. 

Benefits of a Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck Together

Reduced Procedure Time

Patients undergoing a mummy makeover with a tummy tuck and breast lift benefit from a shorter amount of time spent in surgery compared to having each individual surgery separately. This is of great benefit to patients who have a busy schedule and can’t arrange several separate days in surgery. 

Reduced Cost

The price of a mummy makeover, including a tummy tuck, liposuction, and breast lift, is estimated at £19,900, a cheaper alternative than undergoing all three surgeries separately. As the procedures included in a mummy makeover can be complemented by other treatments, such as breast augmentations, the exact cost depends on the package decided at consultation. 

Reduced Recovery

By undergoing several procedures like a tummy tuck and breast lift at the same time, patients can benefit from a combined, shorter recovery time, making a mummy makeover a time-effective way to undergo a whole upper body transformation.

Reversed Effects of Pregnancy and Nursing

A mummy makeover helps to reverse the effects of pregnancy on the upper body.  

A tummy tuck can help to remove the excess skin left over from pregnancy, as well as tighten the abdominal muscles that can become damaged during pregnancy and childbirth. This can help to alleviate associated health issues such as back pain and urinary incontinence. Overall, this procedure can help to reverse the effects of pregnancy by flattening and contouring the stomach.

A breast lift can help to correct sagging caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding, creating a pre-pregnancy, youthful and perkier appearance.

Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck Procedure

Mastopexy is performed using one of the four breast lift incisions: crescent lift, periareolar lift, vertical lift, or an inverted-T lift. Treatment involves the surgeon removing the required amount of excess skin and then reshaping the breast tissue. The remaining skin of the breasts is brought back together and tightened, as the incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches.

A full, traditional tummy tuck first involves the relevant incisions being made along the bikini line and around the naval. Excess skin is removed from the lower abdomen, and any muscle separation is repaired. The remaining tightened skin is then draped back over the abdomen while the belly button is repositioned for a natural-looking tummy. 

The exact procedure of a combination breast lift and tummy tuck can vary depending on the surgical techniques used. A breast lift comes first when performed in a combined procedure, although Dr Tillo will discuss and design a bespoke surgical procedure with you during a consultation. 

Typically, Dr Tillo combines only simple breast lifts with a tummy tuck. This is because complex types of mastopexy such as the wise-pattern lift tend to be more effective when performed separately to abdominoplasty.

How Long is Recovery After a Combined Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck?

After 2-3 weeks, you should be able to resume light activities such as walking and complete simple chores around your home. A full recovery usually takes around 6-8 weeks – after which you can return to a full exercise routine.

You will also be asked to wear a compression garment for the first six weeks post-procedure to minimise swelling and speed up the healing process. 

When Can You See Results After the Combination Procedure?

The results after a combination procedure are immediate, with the breasts sitting in an elevated position and the removal of excess abdominal skin revealing a noticeably flatter stomach. 

However, these results gradually improve over the first few months as your body heals and the post-surgical swelling subsides. The final results of a combination procedure may take up to 6-12 months to become visible. 

Schedule a Consultation With CREO Clinic Today

If you’re interested in breast lift and tummy tuck surgery, contact us to schedule a 1-on-1 consultation with CREO Clinic today. Only the best and most experienced surgeons can perform the two procedures together, and Dr Tillo is one of the leading surgeons in the field.