Timing is everything, and that’s especially true for breast augmentation. Your breast augmentation should happen at the right time for you. Are you thinking about getting pregnant? Just finished having kids?  In between?  Here are some things to think about.

What Do Kids Have to Do with It?

Pregnancy and breast feeding can cause the breasts undergo a wide array of changes that may lead to flatter, deflated breasts. In general, pregnancy and subsequent breast-feeding cause the breast tissue, specifically the breast glands, to enlarge to allow for lactation. Once the breast-feeding stage is over, the breasts gradually reduce in size and settle. If you are lucky, they will be just like they were before pregnancy.  However, sometimes pregnancy and breast feeding can leave your breasts with stretched out skin and a substantial loss in volume, both contributing to droop. A breast augmentation can re-inflate the breasts, often not requiring a lift. If your implants were already in place before pregnancy, the changes mentioned can be more noticeable, requiring a lift to place the breasts back over the implant where they belong.

Other Considerations

Planning a breast augmentation is tricky for women who are planning on having more children, or thinking about having children in the future. If you are years away from having kids, you are in good company as this is the case with most women having breast augmentation.  If you are actively trying to get pregnant or anticipate trying within a year or two, it is best to hold off.  After the changes mentioned above, you may need a different kind of augmentation – size, shape, or even a lift.  Maybe you will not even need a breast augmentation if your breasts stay larger.

Is It Safe?

For women who do decide to keep having children after breast implants, several studies have shown that breast feeding after receiving implants is completely safe. While there have been some reports that production of milk is somewhat affected, breast feeding is still completely possible. Remember, about one third of women cannot breast feed, even without any surgery.

This is a question best discussed with an expert on the subject: a board-certified plastic surgeon. For a consultation with an experienced breast surgeon, contact CARE Plastic Surgery now, for a consultation with Dr. Brian Coan.

Return to Overview