You may be thinking about how childbirth, breastfeeding and pregnancy after breast augmentation can influence your results, or how these exciting life experiences will need to be considered before undergoing the procedure.
While some patients may have completed their family by the time they are considering having a breast procedure, others may be thinking about the possibility of pregnancy in the future – in that case, it’s a good idea to consider how this will need to be factored into your surgical journey.
In this blog, we’ll discuss how a breast augmentation can be affected by pregnancy, when the right time to undergo the procedure may be and other factors to consider, such as how the procedure may impact breastfeeding.
Undergoing a breast augmentation at the right time
The first question you may have is whether a breast augmentation should be performed before or after pregnancy. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, pregnancy after breast augmentation may come with natural bodily changes that can influence the initial results – however, this does not necessarily mean that you should not have the procedure before pregnancy.
During pregnancy, hormonal changes will prepare your body for breastfeeding. The change in hormones can cause the breast tissue to swell, leading to an increase in breast size. Then, after childbirth and at the end of the breastfeeding period, the breasts will typically then shrink back in size as the milk-producing glands reduce.
For some people, this process can actually leave the breasts appearing slightly smaller or less firm than they were before pregnancy. When it comes to considering how this could come into play after a breast augmentation, if you’ve already had implants, these changes can potentially affect how the implants sit within the breast or how the breast tissue interacts with them.
While these changes can occur, they can still be addressed with a revision procedure, if you wish. Essentially, the right time for you may be before pregnancy, but it will be important to keep these potential changes in mind if you are open to the idea of having children in the future.
Whether you’re considering breast augmentation before or after pregnancy, the decision ultimately comes down to your personal goals and circumstances. A consultation with your plastic surgeon can involve a discussion about important factors to consider, which can help you decide if you are ready to undergo the procedure or would like to postpone for a later time in life.
Does a breast augmentation interfere with breastfeeding?
A breast augmentation performed with breast implants will involve the placement of implants either behind the breast tissue or beneath the chest muscle.
Most patients are still able to breastfeed after a breast augmentation, as the positioning doesn’t typically interfere with the function of the breast tissue or milk ducts. The implants are normally placed in a way that preserves the milk ducts and glands, whether they’re positioned under the breast tissue or beneath the chest muscle.
However, the possibility of having these areas affected can be a potential complication of the procedure. You can minimise complications of breast procedures as much as possible by making sure that you choose a qualified plastic surgeon to perform the surgery.
If you’re planning on breastfeeding after a breast augmentation, it can be helpful to discuss this with your surgeon during your consultation. Your surgeon can discuss how the surgical technique they will use can minimise the impact on milk production, particularly if the incision is made in the fold under the breast as this method avoids the milk-producing areas.
It can also be helpful to consider that the natural breastfeeding ability does also vary from person to person, regardless of whether you have had breast surgery. Factors like breast anatomy, previous surgeries, and individual physiology can all influence the ability to naturally breastfeed.
How pregnancy after breast augmentation can affect results
We briefly mentioned how pregnancy after breast augmentation can naturally alter your initial results, but so that you have a better understanding of what to expect, let’s go into more detail.
Just as natural breasts typically become larger during pregnancy, breasts with implants are likely to do the same. Depending on how much the breast tissue expands, this can stretch the skin and alter the way the implants sit. Sometimes, the breast tissue may not return to its pre-pregnancy state, which can leave looser skin around the implant.
For those who choose to breastfeed, milk production (and the process of milk production naturally stopping) can also influence breast volume and tissue elasticity. Essentially, while the breast implants themselves won’t change, the surrounding tissue may, which could affect the overall results.
When to undergo a breast revision procedure after a breast augmentation
As we mentioned, the natural changes in the breasts that can occur during pregnancy and alter the results of breast augmentation can typically be addressed with revision surgery.
A revision procedure may involve replacing the implants or incorporating a breast lift to address any loose skin that has developed around the implant.
While you may choose to have breast augmentation before or after you have completed your family, surgeons often recommend waiting until you have completed your family before having a revision procedure. This will prevent undergoing multiple revision procedures after multiple pregnancies.
Dr Craig Rubinstein: Qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Melbourne
Led by breast and abdominoplasty surgeon Dr Craig Rubinstein, Melbourne’s Coco Ruby Plastic Surgery is fit with a team of specially selected Specialist Plastic Surgeons who perform plastic and cosmetic procedures.
Specialist Plastic Surgeons must undergo extensive training, building their skills and learning refined techniques, to earn their title. The surgeons at Coco Ruby have decades of experience behind them and have participated in training conferences, taught in medical schools and contributed to research, industry advancements and more.
To book your consultation for a breast augmentation and discuss the right time to undergo the procedure, based on your personal circumstances, please feel free to contact our team.