Breast augmentation continues to rank among the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed each year, and for good reason. It’s the perfect way to achieve fuller, more shapely breasts, giving you volume and confidence in just one procedure. However, many women who are considering breast augmentation surgery also have questions about how future pregnancies might affect their results, and, conversely, how their results might impact pregnancy and breastfeeding. In this blog, we’ll delve into what you need to know about breast augmentation and pregnancy so you can be well-informed before moving forward with surgery.
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Reasons to Wait Until After Pregnancy to Have Breast Augmentation
Pregnancy Can Affect the Appearance of Your Breast Augmentation Results
Even though breast implants are designed to maintain their shape, the surrounding natural breast tissue is not. During pregnancy, your breasts naturally enlarge as your body prepares for breastfeeding. This increase in breast volume can stretch your skin and alter your breast shape, whether you end up breastfeeding or not. After pregnancy and breastfeeding, many women notice that their breasts may look deflated, their nipple position has changed, or they’ve lost fullness in the upper pole of their breasts.
While these breast changes happen to women during pregnancy with or without implants, having implants can sometimes make them more noticeable. For example, your once-perky breasts may appear heavier or sit lower on the chest wall due to lax skin, creating the need for a breast lift or revision after pregnancy. If maintaining your breast augmentation results as long as possible is your goal, delaying the procedure until after pregnancy may extend your results and reduce your chance of needing additional surgery.
Pregnancy Can Cause Changes in Your Breast Tissue
Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy cause changes throughout your body, but did you know they can also impact your natural breast tissue? The glandular tissue in your breasts expands, your milk ducts enlarge, and your skin stretches to accommodate shifts in breast size and shape. For some women, these changes aren’t permanent, but for others, the tissue may not ever return to its pre-pregnancy firmness or volume.
For women who undergo breast augmentation before having children, this natural tissue change can affect how your implants sit, feel, and look. In some cases, the imbalance between your natural breast tissue and the implants may lead to visible implant wrinkling, rippling, or a more “bottomed-out” appearance. Although not guaranteed, these possibilities lead many women to wait until their family is complete before getting breast augmentation to minimize unpredictable postoperative changes.
Pregnancy May Make Breast Revision Surgery Necessary
Many women enjoy their breast augmentation results for years before becoming pregnant. However, once pregnancy and breastfeeding occur, breast revision surgery may become necessary to restore a youthful, balanced appearance to your breasts.
Breast revision needs vary, but common reasons to undergo the procedure include:
- Loss of breast volume or fullness
- Sagging or a lower nipple position
- Changes in implant placement
- Stretched skin, resulting in a less lifted appearance
A breast revision procedure may include implant replacement, implant repositioning, a breast lift, or a combination of techniques. If you’re hoping to avoid multiple surgeries, waiting until after pregnancy to get breast augmentation may help reduce the likelihood of needing future revisions. That said, many women do have breast augmentation first and simply accept the possibility that they’ll need touch-ups later. The right answer for you depends on your priorities and how you feel about the potential for needing additional breast procedures to maintain your results.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Augmentation and Pregnancy
Are Breast Implants Safe for Pregnancy?
Yes, breast implants are considered to be safe during pregnancy. They will not interfere with natural hormonal changes, do not affect your baby, and do not increase your risk of pregnancy complications. Your natural breast tissue will still grow and change just as it would without implants.
The most important thing to remember is that implants do not protect your breasts from natural stretching or volume fluctuation. Your breasts will respond to your pregnancy in their own unique way, and the implants just move along with the surrounding tissue. However, while your breast augmentation results may change, the implants themselves pose no danger to you or your baby.
Will Breast Augmentation Surgery Affect My Ability to Breastfeed?
In most cases, no, breast augmentation will not prevent you from breastfeeding. Your ability to breastfeed successfully depends on several factors, including your natural anatomy and whether your milk ducts, nerves, and glandular tissue remain intact. Fortunately, most modern breast augmentation techniques avoid those structures completely, making it less likely that you’ll experience difficulty breastfeeding due to breast augmentation.
Women who have trouble breastfeeding after breast augmentation usually do so because they have challenges that would have existed even without implants. However, choosing an experienced plastic surgeon and discussing your future breastfeeding goals can help ensure that your personalized surgical plan supports your long-term family plans.
How Long After Pregnancy Should I Wait Before Getting Breast Augmentation?
Most surgeons recommend waiting at least three to six months after you’ve finished breastfeeding before undergoing breast augmentation surgery. This gives your breasts time to stabilize so your surgeon can accurately assess your shape, volume, and degree of sagging.
Hormones, milk production, and weight fluctuations can temporarily change the size and appearance of your breasts. Operating too soon may cause your breast augmentation results to shift once your body fully returns to its natural baseline. For mothers who did not breastfeed, waiting to get breast augmentation until three to six months after giving birth is recommended. When you come in for your consultation, Dr. Jack and Dr. Oliver will help determine the ideal timeline for your breast augmentation surgery based on your body’s recovery.
Explore Breast Augmentation Options in Birmingham
If you’re torn between getting the breasts you’ve always wanted and waiting until after you’ve had children, it’s time to schedule a breast augmentation consultation with Dr. Jason Jack or Dr. Robert Oliver at Plastic Surgery Specialists. They’ll work with you to map out a plan based on your individual anatomy, long-term goals, and family timeline, so you can move forward confidently in whichever direction you choose. To make an appointment, call our office today at (205) 298-8660 or fill out our online contact form.