Combining a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) With Breast Surgery

Fri 10th Jul 2026

Sometimes, an individual seeking an Abdominoplasty may also want to have breast surgery. This is quite common in women after pregnancy or those who have lost a considerable amount of weight. Sometimes, it’s possible to combine these procedures under a single anaesthetic during the same surgery. While not appropriate for everyone, it can offer considerable advantages.

By combining a breast and abdominal procedure, you only require one general anaesthesia, combine two recovery periods into one, and typically save money by reducing costs for the facility, anaesthesia and surgeon’s fees compared to having two separate operations.

However, as everyone is unique, your suitability for combining procedures will depend on factors such as your overall health, medical history and desired outcomes.

Often, combined tummy and breast procedures are called ‘post-pregnancy plastic surgery’ as they are typically performed on a woman’s body after childbirth. However, it’s important to note that combining procedures is also popular with individuals of any gender who have experienced significant weight loss.

Types of Abdominoplasties

Mini Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

This is suited for some individuals with low body fat levels and a healthy body composition who only have loose skin and tissue below the navel, possibly with some muscle separation. They are happy with the appearance of their navel.

The incision runs horizontally, is much smaller than a conventional Abdominoplasty (slightly longer than a C-section), and is hidden in conventional underwear.

Standard Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

This is the traditional form of Abdominoplasty. It is more commonly performed than a Mini Abdominoplasty. Individuals may have loose skin and tissue below the navel, possibly loose or excess skin over the pubic area, and muscle separation.

The incision runs from hip bone to hip bone, and there is also a small incision that runs circumferentially around the navel. Any abdominal wall separation and any central hernias are addressed.

Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

This is typically reserved for individuals who have experienced significant weight loss. They have considerable excess abdominal skin hanging downward, as well as excess skin on the sides of the waist. A FLD has an additional scar to the standard Abdominoplasty, running along the entire midline of the abdomen up to the lower chest. This allows Dr Dona to address looseness in the lower abdominal wall from side to side.

Open Book Tummy Tuck™ (Abdominoplasty)

This procedure, created by Dr Eddy Dona, addresses the needs of individuals who have undergone massive weight loss (MWL). They have excess skin and require significant construction. The OBTT™ has the same scars as the Fleur-De-Lis Abdominoplasty, plus a third horizontal scar along the entire lower chest, at the lower breast fold. The midline scar joins the two horizontal scars. After the incisions are made, the skin is opened out in a pattern that resembles an open book.

Types of Breast Surgeries

A variety of breast surgeries can be performed with an Abdominoplasty. The surgery may be aimed at lifting the breast, reducing the breast or perhaps increasing breast size. All these breast surgeries are performed in a private hospital in Sydney under general anaesthesia.

Breast Augmentation (Breast Implants)

A Breast Augmentation (BAM or Bilateral Augmentation Mammoplasty) is a plastic surgery procedure performed to increase your breast size. Dr Dona inserts silicone implants to address the volume and shape of the breasts. The procedure is performed for cosmetic reasons or to reconstruct the breast in certain conditions, such as breast cancer.

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

A Breast Lift (Mastopexy) is a surgical procedure that addresses breast droop (ptosis). Dr Dona lifts the position of the nipple and tightens the hanging breast tissue beneath it. Often, there is an increase in breast volume, especially in the upper part of the breasts.

Sometimes, a Breast Lift may be combined with a Breast Augmentation.

Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammoplasty)

A Breast Reduction reduces the size of an individual’s breasts to help eliminate pain caused by large breasts and achieve their desired breast appearance. Often, these women have suffered health issues such as chronic neck, shoulder and back pain, skin irritation and chaffing, poor posture and problems exercising.

During the procedure, excess breast tissue and skin are removed while the breast is lifted and reshaped.

How Soon After Pregnancy or Weight Loss Can I Have Surgery?

If you’ve recently been pregnant, it is generally recommended that you have finished creating a family and finished breastfeeding at least three to six months ago.

If you’ve recently lost weight, you should have reached a weight you are happy with and are confident you can maintain it.

Important Considerations

Although combining surgeries can be convenient in some respects, it’s important to consider the following:

Longer Surgery: Combining operations will increase the total time you spend under anaesthesia. Therefore, you must be fit and well enough to undergo both procedures at once.

Recovery Demands: While you only have to go through one recovery and not two, recovering from two surgical procedures at once will mean that you will initially be more incapacitated and will need assistance with everyday tasks during the first week. Your recovery time may also be a little longer than recovering from a single procedure.

Planning For the Future: Ideally (but not essentially), potential patients should have finished creating a family before undergoing a combined Abdominoplasty and breast surgery. Further pregnancies may stretch the abdominal muscles and skin, and alter breast tissue.

Potential Candidates for a Combined Procedure

Potential candidates for combined surgeries typically:

have a healthy, stable weight
are in good mental and physical health
have finished creating a family
have finished breastfeeding at least three to six months ago
have realistic expectations
are aware of the potential risks and complications

Optimising Scar Healing

All surgery leaves scars, and a combined breast and Abdominoplasty surgery will likely leave several scars, depending on the procedures you have. Fortunately, though, there are several things you can do to help optimise healing and minimise the appearance of surgical scars.

At Bella Plastic Surgery, you’ll receive a personalised post-operative care plan, including regular follow-up visits with our nursing team. These appointments allow us to monitor your recovery, provide wound care and post-operative treatments, and help ensure you stay on track throughout the healing process.

As part of your recovery, you’ll receive our heaLED Post-surgery Care Program. This comprehensive aftercare program is designed to support healing, reduce swelling and discomfort and help minimise the appearance of scars.

This program includes the following:

LED light therapy
Rejuran therapy
micro-needling (skin needling)
Medical-grade skincare

Potential Risks & Complications

All surgery carries risks. You must become aware of all potential risks and complications before proceeding with surgery. To learn more about complications related to your specific procedures, please see the dedicated procedure pages on this website.

Some general potential surgical complications (similar for any procedure) include:

anaesthetic issues
allergic reactions
clots (superficial vein clots or deep vein clots)
wound issues
bleeding
death

The potential problems listed above are standard for any operation. However, some patients and procedures are at increased risk of developing such issues.

Your Initial Consultation With Dr Eddy Dona

To determine whether combining breast and abdominal surgery is suitable for you, your first step is to have a formal consultation with Dr Eddy Dona in his Sydney-based rooms.

During this appointment, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your goals and concerns, and Dr Dona can formally assess you. This assessment will include examining your medical history and taking clinical measurements.

If Dr Dona determines that combining surgeries may be appropriate, he will create a customised surgical plan with surgical options for you to consider. He will also cover expected outcomes, risks and the recovery period.

Dr Eddy Dona

Dr Eddy Dona (FRACS) is a Specialist Plastic Surgeons in Sydney, and a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Following his medical degree at the University of Sydney in 1996, Dr Dona then began a further 11 years of intensive training to become a Specialist Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon. Since starting private practice in 2007, Dr Dona has had patients from all over Australia seeking his expertise and specialist management. Dr Dona’s practice has grown and become heavily focused on breast and body reconstructive procedures, especially after massive weight loss including post-pregnancy. Despite running a busy private practice, Dr Dona spent the first 15 years of his specialist practice dedicating part of his time to one of Sydney’s largest teaching public hospitals, including training future plastic surgeons. This was where Dr Dona was often required to reconstruct the bodies of those affected by trauma and cancer.