Boobs or LBL first???

OK, I can only afford to have one done right now.  I know some surgeons will do both at the same time.  For those of you who did them separately, which did you do first and why??  I'm having a hard time deciding (I already had my arms done and will just keep getting stuff done in stages).

Laura

I did a breast lift and brachioplasty first (in january) and then a LBL in march. When I asked my surgeon which I should do first he told me we could go either way and he suggested doing whatever bothered me most first. I felt like I could hide my lower body more easily (thank you miraclesuit) than my upper body.

After my LBL I felt like my breasts had been pulled down a little bit- both positioned lower on my chest and also not as firm/perky. The lower on my chest might just be in my head- I'm not really sure (there are pics on my profile if you'd like to see). When I mentioned that I noticed right after surgery that they were not as perky my PS agreed- he had warned me before surgery that the skin has lost its elasticity and this could happen- years of being obese and going up to a 44H! had really damaged the my skin; I think i will always have some laxity there. He was surprised that it happened so quickly because they had been so tight and perky post op. But he said he wanted to watch it for a little while before immediately fixing it- after my LBL follow up on friday we booked my inner thigh lipo and lift- at that time we're probably going to do a small excision of the breast tissue so they're tighter again.

so OK i guess the point of this rambling is that I would suggest speaking with your surgeon and asking him if doing one procedure first can have an effect on the other. I really am happy with the way everything looks so if your surgeon does not feel that doing one first is better- fix whatever bothers you most.

best of luck, whatever you choose.

Christine,

Did you have a breast reduction at all or just a lift?  I am wondering if your breasts are still quite large and that might be the reason why they dropped a bit?  Since I'm going with a smaller implant (Full C) I'm hoping maybe it won't droop for me since I am hoping to have my BL/AUG before my LBL.  Top half of body first, then bottom for me.

Thanks for all of your helpful info!

Stephanie

I did have a slight reduction- and he kept the rest of the tissue to basically fold into my lifted breasts as opossed to using an implant.  My surgeon predicted I would be a C, maybe even on the smaller side, but I think I may actually be a small D.  I tried on a 36C bra of my sisters and it was pretty tight although i still had swelling.  Thing was by the time I could have gone bra shopping post lift I had my LBL with a revision to my axillary scar- so as the swelling from the first round was almost gone- it started to come back with round 2 so I am STILL in sports bras.  And now that we're doing a revision on the breast next month it seems silly to buy new bras now so I never went to to shop or for a fitting- so I'm really not too sure exactly what size I am lol.  I don't care I'm gonna buy at least one or two bras before round 3 just because I want a REAL bra. 

That being said after discussing things with my surgeon I believe the dropping has more to do with the poor elasticity of the skin than the size of the breast.  It's funny when I noticed the drop just after my LBL I was so upset- but others have commented on how nicely theyve dropped into place and it makes them seem so natural- but after having saggy boobs my entire lift (even as a kid because they were just so big) i want them to be as perky as possible! 

My surgeon prefers to do the LBL first - he warned me that all the pulling down of tissue would pull down on my breasts - and it did, they do appear to have migrated a little downward. He said with the breast lift he would move them back up a little bit to compensate. Now I want to emphasis this movement is very subtle - LOL age with gravity and massive weight loss did much more extensive damage.

The other factor I considered is I am able to mask the boob damage with a good bra, but I couldn't completely hide the hanging panni under my slacks. Plus I had a larger hernia which was causing problems - maybe you have a hernia too?

If you could only have this one surgery - which is the one thing that bothers you most?

Laura,

I had my LBL done first. Not really sure why since I've always hated my saggy boobs. Actually I think it was the timing and could get time off from work more in the summer. Also it's what my surgeon suggested doing LBL & arms then thighs and boobs. I guess I could have chosen the order but once he started talking removing the hanging belly skin I got excited. Once the saggy belly and butt were gone I didn't mind the boobs too much.

If you're  looking at doing it this summer I would recommend doing the LBL since you'll be off from school and the recovery is longer. The boobs you could easily do on one of your other breaks at Christmas or Spring Break if you wanted.

Good luck.

Sonya

Hi Laura. I'm still pre-op but I will be having my panni/TT done first.
two reasons:

First- It is the most bothersome. My panni is long and loose and blech.

Second- I did not want to have boobs done then have them pulled down but the lower body work. That was the suggection from my surgeon.

I will be having brachio done with the breasts.

DRAT!!!!

I have a Brachioplasty - breast lift/augmentation scheduled on 5/27 and am planning on having a LBL next winter when I have 4 weeks of vacation saved up... but now I am seriously doubting whether I should wait to do my breasts until AFTER the LBL???

Before my weight loss they were not large - they've always pointed for the ground - and I'd just like to get them pointing forward and to be more full.  My surgeon has assured me that I should be fine.. but I'm worried.

I would hate to pay all that money only to have them "lowered" by the LBL... although I am 44 and maybe it would make them more "realistic" looking?

Anyone else out there have words of wisdom gained by actual experience?

Thanks!!!

had my boobs done then LBL -- didn't pull down my boobs at all...i even asked my surgeon beforehand and he said not to worry. LOVE MY PS!

Best to do it all at one to avoid a second anesthesia, downtime, etc.  Breasts will not be pulled down by the tummy tuck to any large degree and an experienced surgeon will factor this in.