Should I reach my goal weight before my breast augmentation?
If you are on a weight loss journey, it can be thrilling to see your figure slimming down over time—except when it comes to your breasts, an area where most women would rather not lose volume. Breast augmentation can be the perfect solution for enhancing your breast shape and serve an important role in your personal transformation, adding curves back where you want them.
If you are not yet at your ideal weight, but already realize you’ll want to enhance your breasts, you may wonder when is the right time to undergo a breast augmentation. This blog is just for you! We will help you consider the relevant factors and decide whether you should pick up the phone to schedule your consultation now, or wait until you’ve reached your weight loss goal.
How close you need to be to your preferred weight for ideal breast augmentation results
There are two reasons we consider your weight before scheduling your breast augmentation, one practical and one aesthetic. First, you need to be at or below a BMI of 35 in order to safely undergo anesthesia at the time of your procedure. Second, your weight needs to be relatively stable so that your results will be, too.
Carrying extra weight plumps up the breasts, while shedding pounds usually deflates them, changing your bra size or the way that clothes fit. Weight-related variability makes it problematic to choose breast implants: you and your surgeon need to see your breasts close to their ultimate size to assess how much of a boost is needed. For this reason, it’s best to wait until you are at or near (within 10-20 pounds of) your preferred body weight before proceeding with breast augmentation surgery.
How weight loss or weight gain affects your results
Going into breast augmentation, it is critical to start with a solid foundation. While weight changes won’t affect the integrity of your breast implants, it can alter how natural your results look—and how happy you are with your breasts—in a few ways:
- Your breast size and shape may change. Breast augmentation results can easily be affected by a weight swing, sometimes in a dramatic way. Weight loss could lead the breasts to settle into a lower placement on the chest, leading to sagging. Conversely, weight gain may add unwanted volume after your surgeon has created your desired volumetric look.
- You may see a change in your proportions. Another element that may fluctuate with your weight is the way that your breast implant size looks in proportion with your figure. When helping you choose an implant size, your surgeon takes into account your frame and your current breast size. Choosing implant size is less about achieving an ideal bra size, and more about achieving the look you want in relation to your existing features.
- You may require a different procedure. Finally, your weight loss could affect the nuances of your procedure. For example, after losing a significant amount of weight, you may be left with some sagging in the breasts which would lead your surgeon to recommend pairing a breast lift procedure with your augmentation.
Don’t worry too much: small changes in weight should not overly affect your breast augmentation results
If you are within 10-20 pounds of your goal weight, the above reasons to hold off on surgery may not apply to you. Talk to your cosmetic surgeon about where you are on your journey and get their best recommendations about timing and sizing choices. Depending on your unique circumstances, you can likely achieve a look that you will continue to be happy with, even after you’ve lost a few more pounds.
Talk to your board certified cosmetic surgeon for a listening ear & personalized advice
The best way to decide how to time your cosmetic surgery is in consultation with an experienced, board certified cosmetic surgeon. For those in the Joplin, MO and Northwest Arkansas area, Dr. Talon Maningas would be happy to meet you for a consultation to discuss your breast augmentation options, wherever you are in your weight loss journey. Call our office at (417) 437-0303 or fill out our online contact form to set up your appointment today.